Bundeena RSL Sub-branch president Paul Griffiths said the club was still smouldering and Fire and Rescue inspectors were going into investigate.
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‘‘We are being kept across the road but we can look into the club and see that the ceiling has collapsed,’’ Mr Griffiths said.
‘‘It’s almost destroyed the club. It’s gone up through the roof cavity. The top floor ceiling has caved in."
‘‘All the windows have blown out in the front of the club."
‘‘The fire started about 2am. Neighbours looked out the window and saw a glow coming from the club and called Fire and Rescue."
‘‘The fire alarm went off but not the burglar alarm, so we don’t think it’s a break."
‘‘The club recently received a $20,000 state government grant for new electrical wiring but we don’t think it was an electrical fire.’’
Mr Griffiths said that the club was planning a week of events to mark the Anzac centenary and it was now uncertain whether these would go ahead.
‘‘Fortunately, I can see that we have not lost our memorabilia cabinet but it looks like we have lost our RSL sub-branch room which contained all our records.’’
‘‘The community is devastated."
‘‘This is the hub of Bundeena. It’s where everyone congregates."
‘‘Four to five years ago, when it looked like the club was going to close, the community got together and raised $445,000 to keep the doors open."
‘‘The community will rally again.’’
