Charges laid over historic grandstand fire

The storage area beneath the stand’s seating was gutted in the fire, and the seating area was left black and charred.

The stand had stood the test of time for 140-odd years — having been moved to new locations a couple of times during its history.

Police arrested two people on Tuesday, March 4, and have charged them over the fire.

A 29-year-old Mooroopna man and a 29-year-old Mooroopna woman have been both been charged with arson and lighting a fire in the open air during a fire danger period.

They have been bailed to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in June.

Police investigations into the fire are continuing.