Summer Fires & the Consequences

At this time of year when we are all aware of possible fires and their impacts on our community, we found a report on Trove which might interest our followers.The report was written in The West Australian on Wednesday 10th October 1906 titled “In the Silence of the Bush”, and reported on an Inquest about the discovery of human remains on Richard Ernest Hummerston’s paddock in Chidlow’s Well.

Evidence was given by three locals out shooting kangaroos. It was Roy Williams, a 14-year-old, his brother John Edward Williams and Harry Jackson who stumbled across the remains alongside a large burnt log which had been charred by a recent fire. The remains included a skull, parts of leg and pelvic bones. All were weathered and possibly were of a male person aged between 30 to 50 years. The doctor attending the inquest said the damaged bones would have been lying scattered there for at least a year and may have been caused by dogs who were known to be roaming the bush. Two policemen, Detective Dempsey and Constable Ginnor, also gave evidence regarding the remains which included a penny dated 1896 and rotted clothing. Any other evidence was lost due to the fire and other locals stated they had not heard of any locals missing at that time.

Hummerston stated that many workers had been in the area constructing a dam, also ring barkers, other timber workers and charcoal burners but again none were reported as missing. A previous owner of the property, Mr Vanzetti, also gave evidence that he remembered one particularly bad fire during Christmas 1900 when the homestead was saved but the surrounding bush was burnt. The inquest was adjourned indefinitely with no result.

A sad incident but a reminder that bush fires can cleanse an area and may reveal previous events.

Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25690658

Another source of local information regarding bush fires is the previously published book “All Fired Up” A History of the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades in the Shire of Mundaring 1903-2010 by Ian Duckham. Purchase it through our online shop HERE.

Click/touch image to read caption.

Water Cart at Mundaring Weir, possibly burning off 1950.

Parkerville's 1st Fire Truck donated by Ron Chilcott before converting to a fire vehicle 1969.

The Log Cabin in Greenmount, said to be Perth's first night club. Burnt down Thurs 23 March, 1950.