We have noted that fires currently burning in the Adelaide Hills in the Sampson Flat and Humbug Scrub areas have threatened towns and districts where our Mewett and Giddings forebears settled 160 years ago, namely, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Williamstown, Chain of Ponds, Forreston (once known as North Gumeracha), and Kenton Valley. The ABC online news service gives the Country Fire Service listing today (4 January 2015) – including among others: grass fire at Checker Hill Road, Kersbrook; tree fire at Retreat Valley Road, Gumeracha; tree fire at Rake Road, Kersbrook; grass fire at Redgum Lane, Kersbrook; grass fire at Mewett Road, Kersbrook; grass fire in Kenton Valley, Gumeracha. I commented in a post on this blog some years ago that the Mewetts and other emigrants in the 19th Century had given up the hellish economic conditions experienced by agricultural workers in southern England for the Australian hell of drought, bushfire, flood, pests, etc. but I did not imagine then how close to the truth this would become in the areas settled by our great-great-grandfathers. May the outcome of these current fires in the Adelaide Hills not include any loss of life and minimal loss of livestock and property.
– almewett
Who Were They 
Hi Alan – So far no loss of lives but at least 12 homes but it could be more are lost. Most people here in Williamstown have returned home but most also still got their caravan / campers still parked outside their homes. We are still booked – looking at the CFS map some of the area burnt was where our Giddings ancestors lived.
Sue Poole
Dear Alan, Thank you for this information which puts the earlier years of the Sussex Mewetts into perspective. Regards Wendy Gray, London Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 10:28:31 +0000 To: wvgray@hotmail.co.uk