In order to accommodate the influx of returning ex-military undertaking university studies, the Belshaw building was constructed in 1946. This building remained the principle site for sciences teaching and research at UNE until the fire in February 1958. Only weeks before first semester in 1958, the fire devastated the upper floors of the Belshaw destroying lab equipment, collections and research material from disciplines including Physics, Geology, Zoology, Botany and Chemistry.