Emergency services were called to the building on Lions Club Drive during the early hours of Saturday, May 27.

While the blaze was extinguished quickly, the damage to the old building was severe, with an estimated bill of $100,000 to repair. 

Councillor Bobby Bourke, who has long been involved with the Op Shop, said it also lost around 90 per cent of the donated items that were inside at the time of the fire. 

“We lost all the books, probably over 500 books,” he said. “All the clothing and linen. About 90 per cent of it all [was lost].” 

Three weeks after the fire, the volunteers were able to start trading again, although not inside the building. 

Instead, they used sheds out the back and the building’s surrounding veranda to keep items out of the elements. 

Five weeks later, the Op Shop is still using the sheds, as well as a donated tent and containers on loan from Dawson’s Removals. 

No work has been done to the damaged building, but assessments have been carried out to determine the extent of the repairs. 

“It is probably another three months of work to get the building back,” Cr Bourke said.

He said the hardest thing has been people not realising that the Op Shop was open, so the business is unable to generate much money. 

Without money it can’t pay the bills still coming in or purchase more items for its already low supplies. 

The Op Shop now has plenty of clothing to offer, but is still in desperate need of quality blankets and furniture.

Anyone that can help is asked to bring items to the Op Shop, which is operating behind the building. 

Cr Bourke said the shop will continue to operate and he hopes more people will visit them when they are in need. 

One person who has stuck by the Op Shop through its tough times is Joe Rhowes, who has continued to shop there since the fire. 

He couldn’t understand why someone would intentionally set the business on fire. 

“It was shocking. I read it on the news and I really wasn’t happy about it,” he said.

“What kind of lowlife would do that? It would have been a real loss.” 

Mr Rhowes said the volunteers at the store were “friendly” and “reasonable”, and the community should support the Op Shop while it gets back on its feet. 

Cr Bourke also acknowledged the volunteers, who have come to work during the cool conditions to keep the Op Shop alive.