Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club destroyed as fire rips through building

A sports and rugby league club “at the heart of the community” on the NSW mid-north coast has been destroyed after a blaze erupted at the venue in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The fire broke out at Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club on Sports St about 6am.

Multiple NSW Fire and Rescue and RFS crews were on site battling the inferno, as part of the building collapsed.

“Multiple crews remain on scene, working to bring the fire under control,” a Fire and Rescue spokesperson said.

“There are reports of partial building collapses, and crews are expected to be on scene for a number of hours.”

The venue was home to a number of local rugby league, football, and cricket clubs, and included a Chinese restaurant and function spaces.

The club also hosted a number of events, including fundraisers for the local community.

Social media users have posted their shock at the loss of the beloved club.

“Clubs are the heart of our community. Devastated to see this post this morning. Wish all those working on the fire safety and a quick resolution,” one social media user said.

“Oh my gosh, what a terrible loss for those who used this building. So sad for the community,” said another.

A third person said it was “so sad to see, lots of memories from the beginning of the club and the early days”.

A number of historical photos and memorabilia were said to be inside the building at the time of the fire.