Former Coolibah Café worker Rhiannon Collins wake up on Thursday to 15 missed calls from friends and found out her second home had burnt down.

The memory will stay with her forever.

Ms Collins said she had worked at the centre for more than five years.

Residents love the centre that was dedicated to Winton’s connection with the unofficial national anthem and its author, Banjo Paterson.

Tourists travel from worldwide to view Australia’s historical artefacts.

The community is devastated by the loss.

“Everyone is distraught, but everyone has pitched in, the community is making coffee and food to help out,” Ms Collins said.  

“It was a second home. It was always welcoming.

 “You could walk in there, and make a coffee and it felt like home.

“It took a piece out of my heart.”

Ms Collins said food, a washing machine and dryer were salvaged from the café, but everything else was lost.

“We got to go in and see what was left,’’ she said.

“It is just a mess.

“It is such devastation. I worked in the information area for a while and I have had people from the UK, Finland and everywhere come through.

“I have had people come all the way from America just to see the Matilda Centre.”

An Anzac display recently opened in the centre and a lot of information about family histories, including her own, were destroyed.

“Everyone here has a piece of history that was destroyed in the fire,” Ms Collins.

“The history on Waltzing Matilda and Banjo Paterson and what made Winton today is what has been lost.

“We still have a lot of heritage here and we still welcome tourists with welcome arms.

“It will just take a while to get it all back.”

The Winton community is supporting employees by offering them replacement jobs until the centre is restored.