Queanbeyan residents have been left devastated after more than a century of history went up in flames.
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Fire and Rescue NSW were called to the historic Cantle's Cottage at Booth Street shortly after 7.30pm on Tuesday night.
They were soon joined by ACT Fire and Rescue and NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers.
No one was injured in the blaze that destroyed the former golf club, which had been standing since 1893.
At one point, eight pumpers and an aerial appliance were being used to fight the fire.
Investigations are continuing into the cause.
Local author, Nichole Overall, married to Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall, was "absolutely devastated" to see the cottage burn.
"It is another piece of history that has been destroyed, and we have such few pieces left, and to see it go this way is just heartbreaking," she said while holding back tears.
"It has been poor condition for some time, but I conduct tours of Queanbeyan and have been trying to bring attention to it and bring it back to its glory days."
Nearby resident Renate Braper said watching the flames was "like attending a funeral".
"I think the council should have done more to protect one of the last heritage buildings, it was very beautiful and I used to walk past it every day before I went to school," she said.
"For it to come to this, it is very sad. It is one of the last heritage buildings that the council hasn't destroyed."
Members of the Queanbeyan Golf Club had been concerned for years about people constantly breaking in to the building and graffitiing inside.
Ex-director at the club, Des Byrne, said he called the fire brigade when teenagers set fire to the building earlier in the year.
"I suppose Queanbeyan doesn't look after their heritage listed buildings too much, but they should," he said.
"Kids were always going to get in there and burn it at some stage in the game because there was a lot of paper and books in there."