South Australia, October 1948

Adelaide Cafe fire

Quick Statistics

5 Fatalities

A fire occurred on 27 October 1948 at an Adelaide restaurant, a three storey building in King William Street. Flames from a griller on the ground floor ignited the ventilation flues and flames spread quickly to the upper floors. The manager arranged evacuation of the diners without incident.

The restaurant staff, approximately 40 altogether, were trapped for a time on the lower floors. Five staff died.

Source

State Library of South Australia, ‘Covent Garden Restaurant: October 1948’, website viewed 8 March 2012
Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Five killed as fire sweeps cafe in centre of Adelaide’, viewed on Trove website (ID 18090146), 8 March 2012