Gas bottle behind suspicious explosion

An exploding gas bottle is thought to be the cause of a townhouse blaze that has left a woman and her two young daughters fighting for their lives.

Readers give their reactions to the split in the federal Coalition.

About 1000 birds have already died in a disease outbreak at Albert Park Lake that sparked a warning to dog walkers. Now residents fear the hot spell will claim more bird lives.

WorkSafe has charged St Vincent’s Hospital over the death a woman who admitted herself for psychiatric help and took her own life hours later.

Liquidators to several stores of the fast food chain suspect the group’s founder, Hash Tayeh, continued to control the businesses after resigning as a director – while the business racked up nearly $1 million in unpaid staff superannuation.

The 18-year-old knifeman, later found dead, is believed to have stabbed the woman 11 times.

The Great Ocean Road was closed as a delicate recovery mission unfolded, one week after flash floods wreaked havoc on campgrounds at the popular holiday destination.

The Great Ocean Road was closed as a delicate recovery mission unfolded, one week after flash floods wreaked havoc on campgrounds at the popular holiday destination.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by The Age picture editors

A memorial to early Victorian colonial settlers was toppled and vandalised with the words “Death to Australia”, while another was daubed with red paint.

A memorial to early Victorian colonial settlers was toppled and vandalised with the words “Death to Australia”, while another was daubed with red paint.

Fewer than half of the state’s 8000 retailers have so far signed up to obtain a licence.

Thousands of bright red jellyfish clustered around popular beaches have sparked a warning ahead of the long weekend.

Police were led on a chase through Melbourne’s north in the early hours of Wednesday morning before launching a series of raids.

Age readers react to Donald Trump’s latest foreign policy moves.

Police are unable to say how a fatal fire began that killed two children and seriously injured a third, aged under six, left home alone by their mother in Melbourne’s northwest.

Three flights were held up after a 25-year-old allegedly made his way onto the tarmac.

Efforts to rehabilitate offenders through education in prison failing abysmally, say experts, who are calling for a new approach.

The gang of burglars would carry out surveillance of homes before breaking in, and they made sure to strike only in the dark.

Czarina Tumaliuan was fatally attacked in her home moments after dropping off her children at school last March.

The manhunt for a teenager over a stabbing in Melbourne ended in the Mallee locale of Antwerp, where police discovered his body.

The manhunt for a teenager over a stabbing in Melbourne ended in the Mallee locale of Antwerp, where police discovered his body.

A man was rescued after a cliff fall at a popular Victorian coastal spot as hundreds gathered to catch a glimpse of the southern lights.

A talented young photographer with dreams of becoming a foreign correspondent is joining the award-winning photographic team at The Age as a visual journalist trainee.

New figures show the number of Victorian students being asked to leave their schools has gone down across the board. But for some students, expulsions are a growing issue.

Emergency services were called to Cressy, about 140 kilometres west of Melbourne, after a crash involving a freight train and a car.

Readers debate what is hate speech, who represents the voices of the community and how effective laws will be.

Caravan parks aren’t just found on the coast or in national parks – they’re in city suburbs, too.

The cost of feeding a family of four at the Australian Open is over one hundred dollars, with many families bringing food from home to avoid high costs.

Footage has emerged of a group of Jewish boys being chased and harassed by a car, as the occupant yells racial slurs.