More than 500 campers have had to be evacuated from Adels Grove after a fire destroyed the main building at the popular tourist resort in the early hours of Tuesday July 9.
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The office and restaurant were destroyed as was their communications set-up as fire services came from Lawn Hill station, New Century mine, Doomadgee and Burketown to deal with the blaze.
Owners say they successfully evacuated all people from the packed camp during school holidays and there are no reported injuries.
Resort Manager Michelle Low Mow told the ABC they woke up at 12.45am to find the resort's main building alight.
"We are totally devastated, we've been here 19 years and we've never seen anything like this," Ms Low Mow told the ABC.
The restaurant and kitchen area have been destroyed in the fire.
"Lawn Hill Gorge is still perfect, so we have to see if our campground can keep operating," Ms Low Mow said.
Mount Isa police station officer in charge Snr Sgt Renee Hanrahan was on holidays with her family at the park when the blaze broke out.
"Made it to Burke and Wills. Just met the elderly lady who was the one screaming fire and was able to thank her," Snr Sgt Hanrahan said.
Adels Grove is located 10km from the Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park and 50km from the world heritage Riversleigh Heritage Centre and is about a three hour drive from Mount Isa.
The property of Adels Grove occupies 30 hectares (80 acres) from Lawn Hill Creek to Louie Creek.
It was originally gazetted in 1904 as a Miners homestead lease. In 1920 Albert de Lestang took up the property as an experimental Botanical Garden (hence the name "Adel" arose from Albert's initials). Albert planted many species of trees and shrubs and supplied the Botanical Gardens of the world with the seeds produced by his nursery.
Ironically, in the early 1950s a fire swept through the grove while Albert was absent destroying the building and all his work.
The camping ground now known as Adels Grove was opened in 1984 and purchased by the current owners including the resident Managers Rod and Michelle Low Mow.
The award-winning ecotourism resort became world famous in 2018 after it was revealed Chris Hemworth's "Crocodile Dundee" superbowl ad was filmed there.
