An intense fire erupted overnight at Melbourne’s historic Jam Factory, a former entertainment complex on Chapel Street in South Yarra, sending thick plumes of smoke across nearby suburbs.
The blaze, reported around 1:30 a.m., affected a third of the brick building, including the sub-floor, first floor, and old stairway. Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and brought the fire under control within an hour, though crews remained throughout the morning to fully extinguish lingering flames.
No one was on site during the fire, and there were no injuries. Victoria Police have deemed the incident suspicious and are investigating its cause.
The Jam Factory is currently undergoing a multibillion-dollar redevelopment by GURNERTM Group, which began demolition works in December. The project will transform the heritage-listed site into four residential towers, two hotels, a new cinema, and 15,000 square meters of office space.
Originally established in the 1850s, the site has a long industrial history, including use as a brewery and jam production facility. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the fire to contact Crime Stoppers.
