Suspicious Fire Destroys Part of Multi-Million-Dollar Mansion on NSW Mid North Coast

A fire has destroyed part of a multi-million-dollar mansion on the NSW Mid North Coast that once belonged to mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.

Flames swept through Coffs Harbour's most expensive house on Tuesday night, just weeks after the vacant headland home was approved for demolition.

Coffs Harbour Fire and Rescue station officer Scott O'Shea said when crews first arrived at the address at 5:40pm, a small portion of the building was alight.

"They managed to knock it down and then they left approximately three hours later," Mr O'Shea said.

Multiple 000 callers reported a renewed blaze had reached the roof just before midnight.

"There were four Fire and Rescue appliances in attendance and they were on scene for about four hours with about 15 firefighters," Mr O'Shea said.

This morning, he assessed the property as a quarter burnt and reported the luxury beachfront property as "derelict".

"The gardens are overgrown and the house is being vandalised and there's a lot of windows broken."

In a statement, a NSW Police spokesperson described the two fire call-outs as "a single incident, with what appears to be a self-reignition".

"The property was abandoned and unoccupied and the fire is being treated as suspicious," they said.

Police have urged people with information or vision to contact CrimeStoppers.

The Sapphire Beach home was sold by Mr Tinkler for $16 million during his bankruptcy.

Boasting travelator access to a private headland beach, the 1.8-hectare property north of Coffs Harbour was purchased by Jamie Craven, father of online gambling tycoon Ed Craven, in 2024.

The price tag made it four times more expensive than the next highest valued property in the suburb.

Billionaire Ed Craven attended Bishop Druitt College in Coffs Harbour and is the co-founder of online casino Stake and live-streaming platform Kick.

Jamie Craven, served prison time in the 1980s for fraud over his role in the collapse of Australian investment company Spedley Securities.

Demolition plans

In May this year, a majority of Coffs Harbour City councillors approved development plans to demolish and replace the existing two-storey house.

Under approved plans, the sprawling 15-bedroom, 15-bathroom home with a 7-car garage would be replaced by a contemporary home of the same floor space.

The development attracted 11 opposing submissions, chiefly concerned about building height, walled frontage and access for coastal walkers.

Works are costed at $29.793 million and forecast a 56-week construction timetable.

The property owner, building contractor and architect were contacted for comment.