Everything we know so far about alleged Goolwa South beach house arsonist

The teenager is part of a tiny Christian movement, but now faces a the risk of a jail sentence if found guilty. Here’s everything we know about the Goolwa blaze.

The New South Wales teenager accused of torching a beach house in Goolwa South during a party trick gone wrong is a part-time preacher, surfing enthusiast and competitive runner.

Nineteen-year-old Micah Gilham was attending a reunion with friends last Tuesday, when he allegedly tried to set a golf club alight in what was “a very silly mistake”, according to a police prosecutor.

After the alarm was raised at 11.30pm, it took nine firefighting crews to put out the blaze which gutted the $900k property.

Here’s what we know about the case so far.

Firefighters battle a house fire allegedly sparked by Micah Gilham’s party trick gone wrong.

The house on Bristow-Smith Ave at Goolwa South after the fire.

Who is Micah Gilham?

According to Mr Gilham’s LinkedIn profile, he is a graduate of Christadelphian Heritage College Sydney and is currently studying economics and finance at the University of Wollongong.

Following last week’s events, a YouTube video surfaced of him delivering a religious sermon at the Riverwood Christadelphian Ecclesia.

The Christadelphians are a Christian denomination with at least 50,000 members worldwide which, unlike many churches, have no paid clergy or central hierarchy, according to the Australian Christadelphians’ website.

Micah Gilham at a school graduation ceremony.

A YouTube video dated August 2024 showing Mr Gilham delivering a sermon to Riverwood Christadelphian Ecclesia.

In his sermon, Mr Gilham likened today’s world to the time of Noah, when nonbelievers greatly outnumbered the faithful.

“God is no longer present in the hearts of men and they are completely unaware,” he said.

“Like God saved Noah, so to will there be a remnant saved in the Second Coming.”

Mr Gilham’s father, David, is a board member at his son’s alma mater, according to LinkedIn.

His Facebook profile shows him carrying a surfboard and he is also registered as a runner with the Combined Districts Secondary Sports Association.

What is he accused of?

On Tuesday, November 26, Mr Gilham and friends were staying at a rented holiday home on Bristow-Smith Ave, owned by a grandfather of one of the party.

Mr Gilham leaving the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 27. Picture: Charlie Dadds

Mr Gilham was arrested on the same night and appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court the following day, charged with one count of arson.

A police prosecutor told Magistrate Natalie Browne that Mr Gilham “wanted to set fire to a golf club and swing it across the sand dunes”.

However, the petrol can he allegedly used caught fire while stored away in the garage.

“In an act to try and put that out, it’s been spilt and has spread further causing the total destruction of the house … It’s accepted that this was a very silly mistake,” the prosecutor said.

The four-bedroom Airbnb property was advertised at $250 a night, complete with a pool room, and was fully booked until January.

The occupants of the house evacuated when the fire began and no injuries were reported.

What happens next?

Mr Gilham has been bailed on home detention and will reappear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in April.

Prosecutors did not oppose his bail application and Mr Gilham has not yet entered any pleas.

In the meantime, police continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the fire.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.

Originally published as Everything we know so far about alleged Goolwa South beach house arsonist