[3] The Arson Squad of Victoria Police considered the fire suspicious and the Macedonian community felt despondent by the event.

[3] Tensions existed at the time between the local Macedonian and Greek communities, and within that context the fire was viewed to have been a deliberate act.

[3] President Pisevski led efforts of the local Preston Macedonian Community to reconstruct the church as a brick building.

[3] Following nearly 6 months of reconstruction, the new church of St. Nikola was consecrated (May 1996) by Bishops Peter and Stefan, along with Protogeacon Ratomir Grozdanovski, the Macedonian Holy Synod secretary.

[3] In early 2016, the nearby church residence building caught fire, due to the electrical switchboard being exposed to a water leak and Father Nikodim Solunchev was rescued when he leapt 3.5 metres into the arms of police.