On 25 December 1975 at approximately 5:00am, a fire spread through a five-storey hotel in Sydney’s Kings Cross. The fire started when a stack of newspapers was set alight in the hotel foyer. An old fashioned staircase enabled it to spread through the entire hotel. Of the 60 guests staying at the hotel for Christmas, 15 were killed (14 from carbon monoxide poisoning and another from burns) and 22 were injured.
Fire - Urban - Kings Cross
Quick Statistics
15
Fatalities
22
Injured
1
Businesses Destroyed
Information Sources
Ministry for Police & Emergency Services, 1975 December 25 Kings Cross fire, 18 September 2007, website viewed 19 October 2011
Parliament of New South Wales, Hansard Legislative Council: High Culpability life sentences for murder without a non-release recommendation imposed pre 1989 legislation, 5 May 2005, website viewed 19 October 2011
The Daily Telegraph, ‘The burning desire that left 15 people dead’, 13 May 2010, website viewed 19 October 2011
The Sun Herald, ‘Fire practice for Savoy arsonist’, 24 April 1993, website viewed 19 October 2011
The Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Murderer gets parole after 34 years in jail’, 25 April 2010, website viewed 19 October 2011