A plan to travel around Australia in a beautifully restored bus is in tatters after offenders torched it to the ground in Mount Isa.
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Peter Hargreaves is originally from Warrnambool but for the past five months he has living in Mount Isa and running the Central Point motel with his wife Rochele and 20-month-old baby Avyanna.
“That’s what we do, we go around different places looking after motels, it’s a good way to see the country,” Mr Hargreaves said.
About three months ago he bought one of two 1994 Mercedes Benz buses from the Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the intention of restoring it.
“My wife and I were going to go on holidays to Darwin and Adelaide in it, we’ve never been out that way,” he said.
“Now all that is on hold.”
Mr Hargreaves had put in a double bed, a shower recess and carpeted the kitchen in the van, which was parked near the motel.
The family was resting at home one night last week when Mr Hargreaves heard noise about 11.30pm and then a huge bang.
While emergency services stopped the blaze from spreading, the bus was in burnt ruins and the culprits had fled the scene.
The bus was not insured as they were waiting for it to be roadworthy.
“Yes, we’re out of pocket, there was nothing to be salvaged,” he said.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed, but we’ll probably stay here another couple of years.”
Mount Isa police are investigating.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
