QUEENSLAND FLOOD SUMMARY 1920 - 1929

From 7th to 9th further flooding occurred between Cooktown and Cardwell, and on 10th the Maranoa River was in high flood and the Balonne and Warrego rivers in moderate flood.

From 7th to 9th there were floods between Cairns and Cardwell and low lying parts of Innisfail were submerged. In the period 11th to 14th flooding occurred between Townsville, Mackay and Sarina, with residential areas of Mackay inundated. The floods in the Proserpine district were the heaviest for years and the Mulgrave and Johnstone rivers were in flood.

From 17th to 22nd there was some heavy flooding between Cooktown and Cardwell, especially in the vicinity of Cairns, low lying portions of which were submerged. Again, from 25th to 30th there was severe flooding between Port Douglas and Cardwell, especially in the Cairns district. Heavy loss of cattle was reported.

From 20th to 26th most rivers flooded in the south-eastern part of the State, as far west as the Maranoa and Balonne rivers. In the Maranoa and Darling Downs districts, and the far southern part of the South Coast district, floods were the most extensive since 1890 and 1893. Goondiwindi experienced its third big flood in about 5 weeks. This third event was a little higher than the two earlier inundations, and only 50mm lower than the record flood of March 1890.

Lower portions of Warwick and the eastern part of Roma were submerged. Several houses at Texas were washed away and two men drowned. Another man drowned at Inglewood. Heavy stock losses were reported from several districts, and damage to bridges, roads and crops was extensive.

Parts of Rockhampton were submerged and streets in Longreach and Winton were inundated. A bridge was washed away at Saltern, thousands of sheep were lost, a man drowned near Winton and another at Corfield.

From 12th to 18th heavy floods occurred between Port Douglas and Mackay with parts of Bowen becoming submerged. Between 26th and 28th there were floods in the Cairns hinterland and bridges were damaged at Mt Surprise and Hobble Creek. Bullock Creek was the highest for 33 years.

On 8th the Paroo River was in high flood and on 11th there was heavy local flooding at Toowoomba and flooding in the Lockyer district. From 12th to 29th local flood rains occurred in most districts and many rivers and creeks were heavily flooded.

From 9th to 12th floods occurred Cooktown and Townsville, and between 12th and 14th there were floods in the Dirranbandi, Adavale, Thargomindah and Cunnamulla districts. Flooding was severe at Cunnamulla where a man drowned.

On 13th there was flooding between Hughenden and Richmond.

The Mary River flooded on 11th and 12th. The Stanley, Caboolture, Pine, Logan and Albert rivers were in flood from 16th to 18th. The Pioneer River and tributaries, especially Castle Creek, flooded on 20th, and there were floods in the Langlo River on 21st. Floods occurred in the Thomson River on 22nd and the Barcoo River was in high flood on 23rd.

The Burdekin and Burnett rivers reached high levels and floods in the Stanley River disorganised traffic between Woodford and Kilcoy. There was loss of stock in the Brisbane River districts and the railway near Goondiwindi was submerged.

From 15th to 31st practically all eastern rivers flooded, notably the Tully, Herbert, Johnstone, Burdekin, Burnett and Mary. Traffic was seriously disorganised, especially in the north, and several bridges were destroyed in the Cairns district. The township of Fossilbrook was washed away.

The Gympie district was seriously affected and wharves and low lying parts of Maryborough were inundated. The Mary River at Maryborough reached the highest level since 1898. Loss of life from drowning occurred at Townsville, Mackay, Wowan and Maryborough. Several cane farms sustained considerable damage.

Serious landslides occurred in parts of the South Coast districts, especially in the Blackall Range district. A house near Palmwoods was completely demolished. The Stanley and Upper Brisbane rivers flooded and many of the lower metropolitan suburbs were submerged. Low lying parts of Ipswich were under water and a man drowned near Mitchell.

Portions of Surat were under water, there was a drowning fatality near Toowoomba, and seven persons drowned in the Condamine River near Miles. Crops in the West Moreton district were considerably damaged and a large dam at Koorboora was wrecked.

Very serious and some unprecedented floods occurred in the Tully, Herbert, Johnstone, Burdekin and other north coast rivers. At Tully, Cardwell and Charters Towers floods were reported to be the highest on record. Railway traffic north of Bowen was completely disorganised with considerable damage to lines, especially on the Etheridge branch.

Several townships, including Halifax, Ingham, Innisfail and Tully, were partly submerged, and hundreds of people forced to leave their homes. At least 39 people were drowned - 23 at Ingham, 15 at Cardwell and 1 at Townsville. Many houses were washed away and losses of crops, property and stock were very considerable, particularly in the Herbert River district. At Ingham 2,500 cattle and 1,500 horses were drowned. Grain silos at Atherton, Kairi and Tolga were badly damaged and the sea wall at Cairns was broken in several places.

Between 15th and 22nd some north-western rivers flooded and a man drowned in the Leichhardt River. At Urandangie the Georgina River was 6 kilometres wide. Damage was caused to the Dirranbandi railway by a flood in the Balonne River.

The Stanley River flooded and damaged the railway line between Woodford and Kilcoy. On the Upper Brisbane River the Murrumba and Wivenhoe bridges were covered and crops damaged. Floods in the Coomera and Nerang rivers, Tallebudgera Creek and other streams in the south-eastern corner caused considerable damage.

In parts of the Charleville district houses were invaded by water on 9th. Railway wash-outs occurred between Malbon and Duchess, the Dawson River overflowed the bridge at Taroom, and the line between Emerald and Clermont was submerged. On 29th coastal rivers between Cairns and Innisfail flooded.

The Nogoa, Belyando, Barcoo, Thomson, Diamantina, Ward, Bulloo, Paroo and Warrego rivers and their tributaries all flooded, and in many districts completely disorganised rail and road traffic. Mail services were suspended and supplies were short. Stock losses were reported and a man drowned in the Barcoo near Blackall, another in the Warrego near Charleville, one in Cornish Creek near Muttaburra, and another in the Thomson near Longreach.

Between 13th and 22nd floods were fairly general and more serious over the eastern half of the sub-tropical zone. Practically all streams east from and including the Barcoo and Warrego rivers were affected. Widespread disorganisation of rail services and road traffic was reported from most parts. Primary industries were very seriously dislocated and considerable losses were sustained, particularly in the South Coast and Darling Downs districts.

Heavy expenditure was necessary for reconstruction of roads and bridges in the Nambour district. There were high financial losses to dairy farmers in the Beaudesert district. Five drowning fatalities occurred, one each in the Gin Gin, Pittsworth, Charleville, Dalby and Gayndah districts.

The Condamine and Maroochy rivers reached their highest levels for many years, and the floods in the Coomera, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Rathdowney and Tallebudgera districts were reported to be the worst in the history. Floodwater was just under one metre deep in the main street of Killarney. Parts of suburbs in Bundaberg and Maryborough were under water and in the latter houses were partly submerged. Floods in the Stanley and Upper Brisbane were very high, but in the metropolitan reaches of the latter only moderate freshes were experienced.

From 27th to 29th there were floods in the Herbert, Johnstone, Mulgrave, Tully and other north coast rivers. Delays to rail traffic resulted.

From 17th to 24th floods were experienced over the greater part of the south-eastern quarter and adjacent portions of the south-west.

In the period 18th to 21st serious inundations in coastal country between Gympie and Tweed Heads. Floods said to be the highest on record in one or two instances and several centres were isolated. Road and rail traffic was disrupted and high stock and crop losses were reported. There was only a big fresh in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, but many low lying metropolitan suburbs were inundated and damage to streets and bridges was high. A lad drowned at Graceville. The Burnett and Mary rivers caused traffic delays. Low lying portions of Bundaberg and Maryborough were flooded.

Interior rivers as far west as the Bulloo flooded and road traffic was disorganised and mail services were delayed. The flood in the Bungil Creek at Roma was considered a record. Quilpie became isolated. The Maranoa River was the highest for seventeen years and some homesteads in the Mitchell district were cut off.

In the period 20th to 24th more serious inundations in the Lower Fitzroy and Dawson rivers and streams in the Dawson Valley. Floods in the latter were of a disastrous and probably unprecedented nature. A house was washed away at Walmul in the Dee River area and the seven occupants drowned. One or two other drowning fatalities were reported. The railway bridge over the Dee River at Mt Morgan was swept away and property damage was extensive.

At Rockhampton several houses were evacuated and 1,000 bales of wool were submerged. Rail traffic north from Gladstone and west from Rockhampton was completely dislocated and mail trains delayed for several days. Extensive damage occurred to railway property at Rannes and the State Coal Mine at Baralaba collapsed. There was heavy damage to crops and loss of stock. At one station alone 3,000 head of cattle were washed away.

In the same period there were also floods in parts of the tropical interior. The Einasleigh and Cloncurry rivers flooded and railway traffic was interrupted. High floods in the Western River near Winton caused extensive line wash outs and serious delay to traffic.

From 18th to 21st there were serious inundations in coastal regions south from Gladstone and between Mackay and Townsville. The Burnett River district was most seriously affected and several shops and dwellings in Bundaberg were partially submerged. Heavy loss of crops and disruptions to rail and road traffic especially in the Gayndah district. A youth was drowned at Abercorn. Train traffic was dislocated between Mackay and Townsville. The Proserpine River reached almost record level. The Stanley and Upper Brisbane rivers flooded, but only a strong fresh occurred in the city reaches of the latter.

Between 20th and 24th there were floods in the Burnett and Lower Fitzroy river districts. Rockhampton recorded a record rainfall of 775mm in 3 days. All traffic was dislocated for several days. Damage in the Monto district was very severe and low lying parts of Rockhampton were inundated. Considerable damage to roads and bridges at Rockhampton and Mt Morgan. Two men were drowned, one at Rockhampton and one at Gracemere.

From 26th to 28th most rivers in the north coast area were again in flood. Traffic between Cairns and Townsville was completely dislocated and portions of Cairns were inundated. Three persons were drowned.