Australia's Waltzing Matilda museum burns to ground

A historic museum that housed the memorabilia and artifacts of Australia's most famous poet burned to the ground in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Firefighters were called to The Waltzing Matilda Center in Queensland's Winton -- approximately 170 kilometers northwest of Longreach -- at 2 a.m. local time, finding the center engulfed in flames.

Museum employee Susan Elliot told local media the fire destroyed an art gallery, information center and the sites museum.

"It was absolutely full of Winton's history and Qantas's History... that's definitely going to be the worst place affected, " Elliot said.

Winton was one of the founding towns of Australia's national airline Qantas.

The center is dedicated to Australian poet Banjo Paterson's " Waltzing Matilda," unofficial Australian national anthem, written in 1895 when Paterson stayed on a sheep and cattle ranch near the small country town.

The song -- imparting feelings of Australian patriotism -- is sung at Australian national sporting events, in Australian schools and by Australian expatriates worldwide.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the fire and are not ruling out arson. Endi