Gilbert River

This brochure describes the flood risk and previous flooding in the Gilbert River catchment, last updated in June 2026.

Flood Risk

The Gilbert River catchment is in northwest Queensland and covers an area of approximately 47,000 square kilometres. The river rises in the Great Dividing Range approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Georgetown. The river flows in a northwesterly direction and is joined by its major tributary, the Einasleigh River, downstream of Strathmore, before finally entering the Gulf of Carpentaria in a river delta 100 kilometres wide.

The Einasleigh River itself has a number of major tributaries which are capable of significant and rapid flooding. These include the Etheridge River, which flows through Georgetown before joining the Einasleigh River downstream of the town. Floods on the Etheridge River primarily lead to transport impacts, closing the Gulf Developmental Road bridge and isolating Georgetown, although impacts to property can occur in Georgetown from floods above the major flood level.

The other main tributary of the Einasleigh River is the Copperfield River, which arises south of Einasleigh, flowing into Copperfield Dam, before passing through the town of Einasleigh and joining the Einasleigh River just downstream of the town. Einasleigh is vulnerable to rapid flooding from the Copperfield River following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment.

Flooding in the upper parts of the Gilbert River catchment, including at Georgetown and Einasleigh, is rapid and occurs with limited warning, often occurring as a result of heavy slow-moving thunderstorm activity during the wet season. There is a tendency for this activity to peak during the overnight hours.

This is in contrast to flooding on the lower Gilbert River catchment below Strathmore, where floods are slow and prolonged, spilling over the vast lower flood plain and river delta. Floods on the lower catchment typically arise as a result of widespread heavy rainfall across the catchment, generally from monsoonal and cyclonic influences. Floods in the lower Gilbert River catchment can take many weeks to pass through the system, and in larger floods can break out of the catchment into Walker Creek, which joins the Norman River between Normanton and Karumba.

Previous Flooding

Previous flood information for the Gilbert River is rather limited. Peak flood heights are available from the early 1970's, including the major events recorded in 1974, 1991, 2009, 2018, and 2021.

The record major flood of January 1974 and the floods of February 1991 and in January and February 2009, caused widespread road closures, isolation of communities and inundation of properties throughout the catchment.

Major flood event occurred in January 2021, when Tropical cyclone Imogen moved inland across the southern Cape York Peninsula after crossing the coast just north of Kurumba as a category 1 system. Major flood levels were also observed in Feb 2025 due to tropical weather systems.

In January 2026, the most significant flooding since 1974 affected large parts of the catchment. Widespread heavy to intense rain was recorded in the upper catchment as Tropical low 18U transited across the region from the east. Heavy rainfall was particularly pronounced in the upper Gilbert and Copperfield River catchments, with 252 mm recorded in a 24-hour period at Spanner Waterhole above Copperfield Dam. Copperfield Dam peaked at over 6 metres above spillway, and the resulting flood that moved downstream to Einasleigh led to rapid flooding of the town, with water entering the Einasleigh Hotel, and damage the iconic rail bridge. Heavy rainfall was also observed in the upper Gilbert catchments, with several stations having to be evacuated by air.

The table below summarises the flood history of the Gilbert River catchment - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

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Flood Event	North Head	Green Hills	Riverview	Rockfields	Roseglen	Georgetown	Einasleigh (Einasleigh River)
January 1956	6.92	-	-	-	-	7.50	-
January 1974	10.94	13.45	9.83	12.75	9.39	6.50	17.53
January 1991	7.12	8.19	6.67	-	7.92	-	12.83
January 2009	9.00	10.45	7.90	10.45	8.09	5.50	12.64
February 2009	6.50	-	5.00	8.20	7.70	7.70	11.19
March 2018	-	5.15	4.50	7.36	6.09	-	9.82
February 2019	6.20	6.00	-	7.80	5.36	-	13.34
January 2021	-	5.15	3.40	8.82	9.15	-	11.43
February 2025	-	8.24	6.22	9.70	11.10	-	12.32
January 2026	-	12.25	8.19	10.64	7.74	-	12.32

 

All heights are in metres on flood gauges.

 

This chart shows the flood level classification of recorded flood gauge height observations of the Einasleigh Rover at Einasleigh.

 

The totem pole shows flood level classification and associated impacts related to local reference sites, along with recorded flood gauge height observations of notable flood event that have occurred on the Einasleigh River at Einasleigh.

 

The chart shows flood level classification of recorded flood gauge height observatis of the Gilbert River at Rockfields.

 

The totem pole shows flood level classification and associated impacts related to local reference sites, along with recorded flood gauge height observations of notable flood events that have occurred on the Gilbert River at Rockfields.