News / Emergency
Two decades of hard work goes up in smoke
Bike shop had become a Brunswick institution before fire on Wednesday
Brunswick Voice
Updated: Friday, May 29, 2026
A fire which ripped through a Brunswick bicycle workshop on Wednesday night has left its devastated owner pondering an uncertain future.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at Off Course Bike Shop – formerly known as Commuter Cycles – in Prentice Street at about 9.43pm and arrived to find flames issuing from the single-storey brick building.
No-one was inside the building at the time.
They attacked the inferno with multiple hose lines and 35 firefighters from seven trucks and an aerial appliance but were unable to save the buildng from extensive damage.
It was brought under control at 11.06pm with firefighers remaining at the scene overnight. The store was gutted and dozens of bikes and equipment inside were destroyed.
Concrete slab buildings on both sides of the bike shop were protected from the blaze.
Smoke and flames from the fire could be seen from nearby apartment buildings and a warning was issued for smoke in the area.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is being investigated, but neighbours told the ABC they heard a series of explosions before the building was engulfed by flames.
In a social media post on Thursday, the bike shop’s owners said the business would be closed until further notice.
“We are currently working with the authorities and insurance to establish the extend [sic] of the damage,” they wrote.
They said they would contact any customers whose bikes were in the shop for repairs or servicing but were looking forward to “rolling with you again very soon”.
Huw Vellacott, who opened the shop in 2008, told journalists on Thursday morning that he was determined to rebuild.
In an update again posted on social media on Friday, he said the store was insured and some stock in a warehouse across the road had been saved.
Vellacott said he and his staff had been overwhelmed by “the insane outpouring of love” they had received from the fire with total strangers making spontaneous contributions towards the rebuild.
“For now we’re all okay, we’re working this out with the insurers,” he said.
This article was first published on Thursday, May 28 and has been updated with additional comments from Huw Vellacott.
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