Fire destroys gold medallist's multimillion dollar home

A blaze last night badly damaged the multimillion-dollar home of former Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medallist Tony Ebert.

The inferno, in Beach Rd, Campbells Bay, began around 8pm.

Thirty firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to rescue memorabilia belonging to Mr Ebert, including certificates, photos and medals.

Senior Station Officer Shaun Pilgrim said the property was fully ablaze when they arrived. "The house was up a very long driveway of more than 100 metres, which made it difficult for crews to get access." An onshore breeze fanned the flames.

Mr Pilgrim said the house, on a steep cliff overlooking the Hauraki Gulf, was partly propped up on poles that the flames were beginning to damage, putting the structure at risk of collapsing. Firefighters advanced on the property with great caution.

Mr Pilgrim said the crews managed to save "well over 50 per cent of the property". He said no one was hurt. "The owners were home, but they got out and and they stayed out, which helped reduce the risk of injury."

Fire services at the scene in Campbells Bay. Photos / Daniel Hines.

The blaze did not appear to be suspicious.

Last year, the house had a capital valuation of $3,625,000.

Mr Ebert, now a real estate company principal, won his gold at the Games in Christchurch in 1974 in the men's middleweight division. Four years earlier, at Edinburgh, he won silver. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.