Goolwa South home razed in fiery stunt was popular on Airbnb, as reason for guests’ stay revealed

Before an alleged fiery stunt backfired, a Goolwa South holiday home was hugely popular on Airbnb, and rather polarising with neighbours.

• ‘Bizarre stunt’ behind $900k fire

A group of eight young men are believed to have been on an annual school reunion and were known to have previously stayed at the popular Goolwa Airbnb property engulfed by fire on Tuesday night.

They were not known to have loud parties but some neighbours say they could occasionally hear music coming from the home, which is in-demand by large groups and families, according to the listing’s reviews.

Other neighbours and former neighbours have recalled the terror and drama of the inferno taking hold, and how the property had a history of attracting large gatherings.

The gutted remains of the Bristow-Smith Ave, Goolwa South house after it was destroyed in a massive blaze on Tuesday night. Picture: Ben Clark

The fire caused up to $900,000 damage. Picture: Ben Clark

It rents out for about $250 a night, and was almost fully booked over December and into the New Year.

The Bristow-Smith Ave was completely destroyed, leaving a damage bill of about $900,000 after an alleged fiery stunt backfired.

A young NSW man was trying to set a golf club alight with petrol when he accidentally burnt down a $900,000 beach house, a court heard on Wednesday.

Micah Gilham, 19, faced the Christies Beach Magistrates Court charged with arson after police say his reunion with a group of friends at the Goolwa South beach house turned into chaos.

The court heard Mr Gilham flew from NSW to stay at the house, which was owned by the grandfather of one of his friends.

The fire caused about $900,000 damage to the two-storey beach house at Goolwa South. Picture: 7NEWS

All that’s left of the two-storey beach house. Picture: 7NEWS

The Advertiser has learned the distinctive sound of a golf ball hit was heard on the night of the fire.

The holiday home looks out over a vacant block at the end of a cul-de-sac that neighbours the popular South Lakes Golf Club.

It is unclear if a golf ball in the vacant lot came from the backyard of the property.

The Advertiser understands the group of mates from interstate were on a school get-together.

Neighbour Margaret Randall, 67, said one of the teens staying at the property frantically knocked on her door soon after the fire took hold, alerting her to the inferno.

Neighbour Margaret Randall has recalled the drama of the inferno, which she says “scared the sh*tter” out of her. Picture: Ben Clark

“It scared the sh*tter out of me,” she said.

She got her car out of the carport and watched as the emergency situation unfolded.

She said one of the teens jumped onto a wheelie bin and onto the carport roof to alert her neighbour to the fire, with everyone evacuating to safety.

She said the boys were huddled in a group across the road and she watched as they spoke to police.

One of the boys was later taken away by police and charged.

One car at the property on Thursday morning had Victorian number plates, and another had NSW plates.

A man at the home declined to speak to the media when approached for comment.

The property remained taped off.

A former neighbour to the property said he wasn’t surprised something disastrous happened – only that it had not happened sooner.

The man lived across from the house for 15 years, describing it as a party property where large groups well in excess of the 14 capacity listed on its Airbnb ad would stay.

“The house was advertised as a group house – a party house almost – so I’m not surprised that what’s happened has happened, just surprised it didn’t happen many years ago,” he said.

“The big groups would come, there’d be 15 or 20 cars parked all over the place and sometimes they would have had as many as 30 people here with church groups and things.

“They would sit out the back and carry on and then they would also occupy with tents on the vacant lot across the street.”

Burnt golf balls were found near the fire-ravaged house. Picture: Ben Clark

The man, who did not want to be named and sold his house about four years ago, said the church groups were more common years ago, and less so recently.

“I don’t know whether that’s still the case,” he said.

The two-storey holiday home seemed hugely popular with families and large groups.

Dubbed the Beachhouse with the tagline “where memories are made”, the four-bedroom property could accommodate 14 guests and had been on the shortstay accommodation platform for about seven years.

Happier times - the Goolwa Airbnb before it was destroyed in a fire. Picture: Airbnb

“A great holiday house to share with family and friends,” the listing, by superhost Byron, reads.

The four bedrooms have various bedding configurations, with some rooms able to sleep up to five people.

It has earned rave reviews with an overall rating of 4.78, with many guests lauding the beach views and proximity to the golf club.

“This Airbnb was an amazing find,” one reviewer raved.

The Airbnb had rave reviews, with some calling it “amazing”. Picture: Airbnb

“We absolutely loved the private pathway to the beach, the balcony which got sun almost the whole day, the BBQ, the big function kitchen, the many couches to sit around, the backyard, the pool table, the table tennis table, the surf boards, EVERYTHING!

“The location right next to the beach and backing onto the golf course was perfect.

“An excellent host and had great communication with us. The house comfortably slept 14 and the bathrooms worked very well.

“The pool room extension was a great space and the photos certainly don’t do the house justice.

“We will definitely be booking this house again. Highly recommend.”

RAA Insurance chief product officer Shaun Ryan said “specific insurance products exist for landlords and owners of short-term (holiday) rentals to cover insurable events such as house fires and accidental damage”.

This level of cover would be dependent on the owner’s individual policy and circumstances.

“We encourage all short-term rental owners to do their research and speak to their insurer about what they’re covered for before leasing their property,” Mr Ryan said.