SYDNEY - Old Sydney Town, the former tourist site near Gosford in Australia's New South Wales, has been severely damaged by a fire overnight, local media reported on Thursday.

The fire destroyed the antiques and heritage horse carts at the site.

When firefighters arrived about 3:30 am (local time) on Thursday they found the front administration and storage building well alight, the Australian Associated Press reported.

About 40 firefighters were battling the blaze for three hours to bring it under control.

No one was injured.

Old Sydney Town was a small open air museum and theme park in the town of Somersby, near Gosford.

The site, which operated from 1975 until 2003, ran shows recreating life in the early years of the penal colony.