TWISTED metal and blackened walls are all that remain of a family's home and chance at a new life in Clifton.

William and Amy Roberts moved their young family to the town eight months ago, hoping to open a second-hand store.

They thought they found the perfect position - a former service station up for rent at just $100 a week.

It became their home and was soon to become their business, with plans to open the doors to the public in January.

Months spent buying stock and raising three children on unemployment benefits have been shattered.

An inferno tore through the East St building about 8pm on Tuesday.

Only the Roberts' teenage daughter, who was home from school ill, was there to raise the alarm.

The rest of the family was at the nearby Clifton Arms Hotel.

"She raced down to The Arms and grabbed us," Mr Roberts said.

"By then, it was already too late.

"She was sick, so I just thank God that she wasn't asleep when it happened."

Mr Roberts estimated between $30,000 and $50,000 worth of antiques and curios had been destroyed.

He had no insurance.

"I wish we had insurance, but it's just something you stupidly do without when you're struggling to get by," Mr Roberts said.

"The worst thing is that Clifton has lost another building."

The family will spend the coming weeks trying to salvage what they can, but their dream of opening shop has been put on hold.

Nine-year-old son Luke had collected 100kg of aluminium beer cans from the nearby pub, hoping to recycle them at 80c/kg.

Support from the close-knit Clifton community has already started to flow while the family assesses how they will survive.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault but investigations are continuing.

Two heritage-listed buildings in Clifton have burnt to the ground in the past five years under suspicious circumstances.