Plans to demolish historic Albion Mill after fire guts building A historic flour mill in Brisbane has been destroyed by a blaze believed to be deliberate. PART of the historic Albion Mill will be demolished today after it was gutted by fire this morning. The landmark brick building sustained significant structural damage during the blaze, with a large crack opening up in the city-facing wall. Engineers spent several hours on site assessing the extent of the damage aftera massive crack opened in one wall following a blaze which roared through the iconic building in the early hours. Reader Picture: Andrew Mitchell Fire crews are dampening down the building to prevent any further outbreaks of fire. Trains on the northern lines have been stopped as a precaution. The landmark brick building was expected to be the centrepiece of a new residential and retail precinct. Police say the blaze broke out in the empty Albion Flour Mill on Hudson Rd, in Brisbane's inner-north, about 2.15am. Flames soar through the wreckage of the Albion Mill this morning. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited Emergency services rushed to the scene after nearby residents spotted a large amount of smoke and flames coming from the site. Fire crews has the blaze under control by 3.30am but the building had already sustained significant damage across all four storeys. But more than five hours after it started, the fire was still burning. Fire crews were using high-pressure hoses to try and fight the blaze but there were fears the structure could collapse. Firefighters worked for hours to douse the flames at Albion Mill. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: CourierMail Large flames were seen leaping out of the building. The sound of brick walls collapsing and the metal roof hitting the side of the building could be heard from the street. The building was deemed too unsafe for fire fighters to re-enter. Police blocked off Hudson Rd in both directions as a safety precaution due to loose metal roofing hanging precariously from the building. Trains were stopped on northern lines running through Albion station. Fire crews dampen down the Albion Flour Mill to prevent further outbreaks of fire. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze but believe it could have been deliberately lit. The site was being developed into luxury apartments but a police media spokeswoman said the site has been known to be used by squatters. The developer behind the $330 million Albion Mill urban village renewal is at the site assessing the damage. FKP executive general manager Developments Queensland and Victoria Gary Kordic said engineers had gone on site to for an initial assessment. "There are concerns some parts may not be stable," he said. Fire crews work to dampen the flames at Albion Mill this morning. Mr Kordic said if the mill building needed to be demolished FKP might have to reassess their plans for the mill site. He had not been able to access the site and hoped to establish whether the sales office next to mill had been damaged. Senior FKP staff have already inspected the site of the iconic flour mill which was expected to be the centrepiece of a new residential and retail precinct. FKP had planned to "pay homage to the history of the famous flour mill" including showcasing the impressive timber interior which has now been gutted. The gutted Albion Mill this morning. The development site spans more than 7000sq m with stage one residential tower The Hudson featuring 146 apartments. Buyer interest in the apartments has been strong with all three penthouses sold out and more than $35 million in sales of the one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Redevelopment of the historic building was not planned for another few years, as part of a stage five. The Albion flour mill was Brisbane's sole working flour mill for 72 years. It was constructed by Scottish migrants around the economic depression of the 1930s, and changed hands several times until it closed in 2004. An artist's impression of the FKP development of the Albion Mill. The fire is the second at a historic Brisbane landmark in two weeks after the heritage-listed Belvedere mansion in South Brisbane was destroyed by fire. The fire at Albion Mill is the second historic building to be destroyed by fire this month. Investigations into the blaze at Belvedere Place on Edmonstone St, South Brisbane found the fire was not suspicious. "Investigators found the fire had not been deliberately lit," a police media spokeswoman said. They have ruled out a criminal aspect. additional reporting: Paula Shearer, Bill Johnston and Rob Kidd Fire has destroyed the historic Brisbane landmark the Albion Flour Mill.