lucerne paddock near the Jail Break Inn, a café on the intersection of the Olympic Highway and Goldfields Way, west of the Junee township. The prevailing winds caused the fire front to spread rapidly east towards Junee township over the next hour, and many residents were evacuated to Junee Bowling Club; it was during the two hours following 14:00 AEDT (UTC+11) that the majority of residential property was destroyed in and around the southern vicinity of Junee township, and the fire front jumped Harefield Rd. Some time after 16:00 AEDT (UTC+11), a cold front with predominantly southerly winds passed through the fire ground, prompting the fire front to move in a more northerly direction, towards Illabo. During the first 9 hours, the fire had spread from the point of ignition and prompted the closure of the Olympic Highway and the Main Southern Railway line. On 3 January, Junee Shire was declared a natural disaster zone, pursuant to the State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, and those affected were able to claim assistance funding. References External links History of New South Wales Bushfires in New South Wales 2006 in Australia 2006 fires in Oceania 2000s in New South Wales