A District Court jury has found Arie Spek not guilty of a single charge of dishonestly damaging a property by fire or explosive for gain.

A second charge of maliciously damaging property by fire or explosive was withdrawn by the crown.

Mr Spek yesterday said the acquittal meant he could now get on with his life.

Mr Spek has been living in a caravan on a family member's property at Wells Crossing, near Lismore, since the fire destroyed his service station and home in May 2012, but said he would soon be returning to the region and planned to rebuild on the landmark site beside the Great Western Highway.

"I love the place and loved what I was doing there," Mr Spek said.

"I want to rebuild as soon as possible."

Mr Spek was charged with attempting to defraud an insurance company with his claim that the fire had been started by two men who had bashed and robbed him of the day's takings.

"It has been an horrendous two and a half years," he said yesterday.

"There were times when I even considered suicide."

But he said he shed tears of relief when the jury returned its verdict in the Downing Centre Court on Thursday.

"What was really gratifying was that it was a unanimous verdict after four days of deliberations," Mr Spek said.

"It's been a long road with numerous court appearances but now I can get on with life.

"I knew I was innocent and I had a lot of support in the community and from truckies who used the roadhouse."

He said he would immediately be in talks with the bank that holds the mortgage on the Mount Lambie site and with his insurance company.

He wants to rebuild as quickly as possible but will not be reopening as a BP station.