Notorious Melbourne Nightclub Destroyed in Suspicious Early Morning Fire
A notorious Melbourne nightclub has been completely destroyed in a suspicious fire that tore through the building in the early hours of Thursday morning. Love Machine, located on the corner of Chapel Street and Commercial Road in Prahran, was engulfed in flames around 2am, with police who patrol the area nightly discovering the blaze.
Firefighters Battle Intense Blaze
Huge flames were seen leaping from the top of the two-storey building as dozens of fire trucks rushed to the scene. Firefighters used aerial booms to attack the fire from above, with crews still on site this morning and smoke continuing to billow from the building. The club was empty at the time of the blaze, and fortunately, no one was injured.
Police Treat Fire as Suspicious
Police are treating the fire as suspicious, particularly because the venue has been shut down for some time. The nightclub has an infamous history in Melbourne, including being the scene of a double fatal shooting in 2019 and facing trouble with liquor licensing authorities for exceeding patronage limits more recently. The venue has also been linked to numerous brawls and fights involving bikies.
Road and Transport Disruptions
Malvern Road in Prahran remains closed to traffic and trams in both directions between Chapel Street and Surrey Road. Drivers should instead use High Street, Dandenong Road, or Toorak Road. The road closures will also impact trams on route 72, which will divert via Dandenong Road and Glenferrie Road. Buses will replace trams along Malvern Road between Stop 25 Commercial Road and Stop 43 Glenferrie Road. The transport department has warned drivers to expect congestion in the area throughout Thursday morning.
