Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens have been set on fire in an arson attack on Saturday morning.
MFB spokesman Trevor Woodward said three pavilions around an ornamental lake were set ablaze just before 6am.
He said firefighters were called to the South Yarra gardens after it was reported that one pavilion was on fire.
"One of the difficulties is getting water that far inside the gardens," Mr Woodward said.
"Obviously, our trucks don't want to trample all over the
lawns and what not, plus the fact that they'd probably get bogged down
if they did.
"We attended one and then it was pointed out that there was a second one a couple of hundred metres away, burning.
"When they went to that one, then they found that there was another
one a couple of hundred metres away, another pavilion on fire.
"So, three separate fires, all a couple of hundred metres apart, all set alight at around 6 this morning.
"The pavilions are dotted around the ornamental lake in the gardens, which comes close to Alexandra Avenue."
About 20 firefighters worked to extinguish the blazes.
Two pavilions were destroyed and one was damaged.
Mr Woodward said setting fire to the log cabin-type structures would have taken a concerted effort.
"These people were determined. They didn't do it once, they did it three times.
"It's disappointing that someone or some people have taken to lighting these pavilions up.
"I mean, it's very disappointing for people who use the park quite regularly."
Police and fire investigators remain at the scene.
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