A major bushfire has destroyed at least 33 homes in New South Wales and damaged the Siding Spring Observatory, in the state's north-east. More than 170 fires are burning in New South Wales, as lightning strikes cause more blazes amid hot and windy weather. At least 30 fires remain uncontained, officials say.
Fires are also burning in Victoria and Tasmania, where a firefighter tackling a blaze on the Tasman peninsula was found dead on Sunday.