Ruhno’s General Store, Rosewood. Early 1970s. This was the store before the fire.
Photo: Picture Ipswich   (Gordon Yarrow Collection)

Rosewood History

Ruhno’s store, which was situated on the corner of Albert Street and Railway Street, Rosewood, was destroyed by fire on the 10th April 1979. The photo shows smoke still rising from the ashes and embers the next morning. The photo and article are taken from The Queensland Times, Thursday, 12 April 1979, page 16.

HISTORIC ROSEWOOD STORE RAZED

A ROSEWOOD landmark for nearly 100 years, Ruhno’s Store, was completely destroyed by fire late on Tuesday night. The large wooden general store was built by Mr William Ruhno about the 1880s and has remained in the family ever since.

The present proprietor, Mr Lloyd Ruhno, Lanefield Rd, Rosewood took over managership from his father, Norman Ruhno. Mr Ruhno said yesterday the building was insured, but he was unable to estimate the damage.

SMOKE SMELL
The fire was first noticed by railway carpenters, Ron Clarke and Greg Inwood, who were in a camp van at the Rosewood Railway station across Railway St from Ruhno’s Store.

“I was in the camp van watching TV when I smelled smoke.” said Ron Clarke. “Greg had just gone to bed. I looked out and thought I saw a flicker of flame through the lantern roof at Ruhno’s. I woke Greg and then raced down the road to the Police Staton to give the alarm.”

50M FLAMES
Mr Clarke said that within five minutes the fire was really under way.” At the height of the blaze flames leaped 50 metres into the air. “The station was lit up like day,” he said. “And new paint on the front of the station was blistered by the heat.”

He said the Rosewood Fire Brigade was at the fire quickly and a unit from the Ipswich Brigade followed about 10 minutes later. Firemen made an excellent save of an old wooden building in Railway St only a couple of feet from Ruhno’s.

UNDAMAGED
The building, rented by Mr Gordon Horn, of Rosewood, and used for mower repairs, was undamaged. Mr Horn, assisted by local volunteers, removed his property from the building while the fire was raging.

Rosewood police said the Rosewood and Ipswich brigades had done an excellent job in confining the fire to Runhno’s building. Mr Inwood said that within an hour the fire had done its destructive work. However, firemen were at the scene until the early hours of the morning damping down. A store shed at the rear of Ruhno’s premises had one corner slightly damaged by fire.

Mr Ruhno said it was the first fire the firm had experienced in its long history. Nothing was saved.

He said he would like to continue in business in Rosewood, where the family business had served generations of farmers and townspeople.

When I found this article, the digital archivist from the Ipswich Library arranged for 4 great photos, taken at the time of the fire, to be put online. They are much clearer than the one above from the old scanned newspaper. The photos are still in copyright, so you can view them at Picture Ipswich.  Ruhno’s General Store destroyed by fire, Rosewood, 1979.

Rear side view of Ruhno’s store from Albert St, early 1970’s. Photo: Courtesy of Dave Brown

Photo of the fire courtesy of Eirys Heit

© Jane Schy, 2024