QUEENSLAND FLOOD SUMMARY 1930 - 1939

From 20th to 31st floods over greater part of the State. However the Peninsula and far north-west rivers were not affected and floods were only slight in the Maranoa, Downs and the southern part of the South Coastal district. Traffic between Townsville and Cairns again completely disorganised and low lying portions of Cairns inundated. Other districts experienced serious traffic interruptions and mail delays. These included Mackay-Townsville, Cloncurry-Mt Isa, Hughenden-Winton, Longreach-Aramac and Adavale-Charleville-Quilpie-Cunnamulla regions. Three railway passengers drowned whilst being ferried across the Burdekin River and drowning fatalities occurred in the Warrego, Pioneer and Haughton rivers.

In Mackay damage costs were high and low lying parts of the city were submerged. Some south west station homesteads were inundated and water was 3 metres deep in the streets of Adavale. (Highest since 1890). Cooper Creek reported to be 15 kilometres wide and many cattle and thousands of sheep drowned in the Warrego, Paroo and Bulloo rivers.

In the same period several coastal rivers flooded, chiefly between Cairns and Mackay. The Pioneer River was seriously affected and the Mirani bridge demolished. The harbour wall at Mackay was badly damaged and rail and road traffic between Cairns and Bowen suspended. Some bridges over the Stanley and Mary rivers were submerged.

On the last day of the month the Herbert and Tully rivers were again flooding.

In the period 7th to 12th there was flooding in various central and southern districts, chiefly the South Coast area. This resulted in considerable bridge damage, crop losses and traffic dislocation in the region south from Maryborough. Many cattle were lost and a man drowned in Callide Creek.

On 31st many central and southern streams again were in flood.

From 12th and 16th there was local flooding in various parts of the south eastern quarter. Railway damage occurred between Finch Hatton and Netherdale.

From 27th to 30th many coastal streams south from Rockhampton, especially between Maryborough and Southport, again flooded.

On 11th minor streams in the southern part of the South Coast district flooded. Local flooding in the west, especially in the Winton district, occurred on 28th and 29th.

Brisbane experienced its first flood for 23 years. Most city wharves were submerged and water reached almost to Stanley Street, South Brisbane. More serious inundations occurred in parts of some suburbs, notably the Milton, Oxley, Rocklea, Fairfield and Sherwood districts. Two men drowned.

Floodwaters reached the main streets of Adavale, Ayr and Blackall. Serious railway wash outs occurred in several localities. Business premises in Toowoomba flooded as a result of a heavy local storm on 10th. Low-lying suburbs of the metropolitan area were submerged on 9th and there was much damage to roads and bridges.

From 26th to 29th there was flooding in coastal rivers between Port Douglas and Townsville with rail and road communication between Townsville and Innisfail interrupted.

The Bulloo River was in high flood on 16th with mail and transport services delayed for several days. The country for kilometres around Thargomindah was under water.

In the last week of the month portions of the north and west of the State experienced minor floods. The flood in the Bulloo River disorganised traffic between Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Thargomindah and water from the Warrego River entered houses and business premises in Charleville. A stockman drowned in the Laura River. Submerged bridges and line wash outs interrupted rail traffic in the Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Etheridge and Clermont districts.

From 15th to 18th severe flooding occurred over a large portion of the tropical interior and in parts of the south-west. All transport services were disorganised for several days, especially between Hughenden and Cloncurry, and from Hughenden to Winton and Longreach. Walkers Creek, near Hughenden, reached its highest level for 27 years. Bridge between Cloncurry and Mt Isa was washed away. The township of Boulia was isolated, with low lying parts inundated from a flood reported to be the biggest in 30 years. Record flood heights were attained in the Paroo River and Kyabra Creek with severe damage to property in the Quilpie district.

On 16th there was local flooding in the south-west quarter, notably at Mt Coolan and between Maryborough and Bundaberg. On 26th minor flooding occurred in parts of the South Coast, Darling Downs and Central Highlands districts.

Rail traffic was delayed between Dalby and Bell. Road traffic was dislocated in various localities, especially the Palmwoods, Nambour and Yandina districts and between Coomera and Southport. A man drowned in the Stanley River. Low lying parts of the metropolitan districts were inundated especially around the Nundah area.

From 17th to 20th rivers between Cooktown and Ingham flooded. Innisfail was isolated and a man drowned in the Mossman River.

At Rockhampton 290mm fell in 24 hours to 0900 on 11th and low lying areas were submerged. Road damage was extensive. Rail traffic between Rockhampton and Gladstone and from the former to Longreach, Clermont, Blackall and the Dawson Valley was interrupted.

Traffic was dislocated in the Charleville district and the Warrego River overflowed into the streets of Augathella. The Barcoo River submerged some bridges. Roads and bridges were inundated in the Mackay district. Stock losses were high in the Roma (10,000 sheep) and Emerald areas.

Between Bundaberg and Gin Gin there was much interruption of road traffic. Minor flooding in the same period in various other localities of the South Coast districts and the Darling Downs.

Bridges in the Warwick district were submerged and the Severn River was well over the bridge at Ashford. Road traffic disorganised in several districts, especially the Wallangarra area and the Blackall Range country. The Macintyre River flooded at Goondiwindi.

On 12th there was minor flooding in a few districts. Two bridges were washed away in the Tiaro district and the Culgoa and Balonne rivers submerged bridges at Dirranbandi.

On 19th and 20th the Warrego, Paroo and Bulloo rivers and a few other south western streams again flooded. On 26th a few localities in South Coast districts were flood affected with serious wash outs between Kingaroy and Murgon.

From 25th to 28th minor flooding occurred in coastal districts south from Bundaberg. Road traffic was seriously dislocated especially in the Cooroy-Tewantin and Nambour-Maroochy districts. On 31st, rivers between Cairns and Townsville flooded and rail services were interrupted.

On 3rd minor flooding caused much damage to crops in the southern part of the South Coast district and on the eastern Downs. Further disorganisation to traffic as a result of flooding in coastal districts south from Maryborough on 30th and 31st.

From 28th to 31st there were local floods over the western half of the State. Rail lines were submerged in the Hughenden-Cloncurry and Longreach-Winton areas, but the Paroo, Bulloo and Warrego rivers had more serious flooding. At Charleville a record flood was experienced and many dwellings and business premises were surrounded by water. Mail services were disorganised and rail lines damaged.

On 16th coastal rivers between Cooktown and Cardwell again flooded and rail traffic north from Ayr was greatly disorganised till the end of the month.

Between 20th and 23rd there was local flooding in various parts of the State. Rail traffic was interrupted between Longreach and Winton and between Hughenden and Duchess. The South Coast district was most generally affected, especially between Maryborough and Southport. Transport was in many places impossible and low lying suburbs of Brisbane were again submerged. The Pine River district experienced stock and crop losses and a man drowned near Wowan.

On 12th there was further flooding between Gympie and Brisbane particularly near Caboolture. At that town the main road was more than one metre under water and some houses had water entry. Minor flooding occurred in other localities with the streets in Quilpie inundated, rail lines submerged by the Tully River, and train traffic between Cairns and Townsville interrupted.

Rail traffic was once more dislocated from 22nd to 27th owing to lines being submerged by the Babinda, Mulgrave and Tully rivers.

Rail lines were submerged in several districts and traffic seriously disorganised. Local flooding occurred in a few eastern districts. Rail wash outs occurred between Bowen and Proserpine. A man drowned near Charters Towers and another in the Bell district.

On 29th the Burke and Wills rivers and other far central-west streams were in flood.

Severe flooding occurred in the Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Normanton, Burketown, Cunnamulla, Quilpie and Thargomindah districts. Water was in the main streets of Barcaldine and Longreach, the latter experiencing 200mm of rain in 24 hours. Many settlers in the Barcoo district were forced to leave their homes.

Burketown was completely isolated from 2nd to 14th. The Croydon-Normanton rail line was extensively inundated for some 85 kilometres with depths up to 5 metres. In the Longreach district a 1000 metres rail line wash out occurred.

Cooper Creek was 100 kilometres wide around Windorah and there were three drowning fatalities, one each at Quilpie, Charters Towers and Ewan.

From 4th to 22nd there was some heavy flooding between Cardwell and Mackay. The Burdekin River at Ayr and the Herbert River at Ingham several times submerged bridges. Some creeks in the Mackay district reached the highest level on record and low lying areas of Mackay were submerged and homes partly inundated. Portion of the Pioneer River bridge was washed away. The Ross River was in high flood, country near Townsville was inundated and Sarina was isolated.

Between 21st and 23rd there was some isolated local flooding chiefly near Roma and Dirranbandi, and in the Mary River district.

From 15th to 20th widespread flooding occurred over the southern parts of the State, particularly in all streams west from and including the Warrego River. There were serious inundations in many localities, heavy losses of sheep in the Goondiwindi district and destruction of crops in several areas. The hotel and shop at Apple Tree Creek in the Childers district was washed away.

Low-lying parts of Brisbane, Ipswich, Maryborough, Gympie and Warwick were inundated. Gympie and Warwick were isolated and the Maryborough flood was the most severe for several years. Water was over one metre deep in the main streets of Thallon, and Dirranbandi was isolated. Floods in parts of the Boonah district were the highest for 35 years, at Brooweena the highest since 1893 and at Harrisville the highest since 1911.

In the same period some isolated local flooding occurred in central and northern districts. The Burdekin rail bridge was submerged and line wash outs resulted between Julia Creek-Cloncurry and Winton-Longreach.

Between 25th and 28th minor flooding occurred in the Warrego, Augathella, Ward and Barcoo rivers. Localities were also isolated in the tropical portion of the State, mainly in the Etheridge area and between Townsville and Cairns. Wash outs occurred on the Cloncurry to Selwyn, Croydon to Normanton and Blackall to Jericho lines.

On 31st there was isolated local flooding in the Downs and South Coast districts. Railway lines were submerged in the Cecil Plains area and low lying Brisbane suburbs were flooded.

From 15th and 23rd flooding occurred between Ayr and Cooktown, and in several northern and central interior districts. There were serious wash outs between Richmond and Mt. Isa and on the Hughenden and Winton lines. Bridges were washed away in the Alma-Den district. The Cloncurry rail bridge submerged for the first time in many years. A man drowned near Ingham and another near Longreach.

From 8th to 14th flooding occurred between Cooktown and Mackay, especially in the area Cairns to Townsville. Cairns and Mossman were isolated. Low lying parts of Innisfail were submerged. A man drowned in Cairns and another in South Johnstone.

Minor local flooding occurred in the north-west and south-west on 17th. The Flinders River was over the railway near Nonda. On 20th there was heavy local flooding in the Warra district. Between 20th and 23rd there was serious flooding in the north-west, especially in the Cloncurry and Leichhardt rivers. Mt. Isa was isolated for several days and Devoncourt Station recorded the highest flood on record.

On 28th the Paroo and Bulloo rivers were in flood and local flooding occurred between Longreach and Jundah.

Floods were more general and serious in coastal streams between Bundaberg and Coolangatta. A man drowned near Nerang. There was extensive flooding of low lying suburbs of Brisbane and lower parts of Gympie and Maryborough were submerged. Some streets were inundated in Southport where over 210mm of rain fell in 24 hours.

Districts most affected on the Downs and surrounding districts were Dalby, Tara, Chinchilla, Greenmount, Yandilla, Nobby, Millmerran, Goondiwindi, Thallon, Dirranbandi, Surat, Tambo, Blackall and Beta-Jericho. In the same period local flooding occurred in the Mackay district.

From 20th to 27th fairly general and heavy flooding was experienced in the coastal area between Cooktown and Ingham and on the Atherton Tableland. Mossman, Ingham, Innisfail and a few other townships were isolated. The Endeavour and Annan rivers (Cooktown district) were the highest for 50 years, and floods in the Mulgrave River the worst on record. The Barron River was in high flood and a man drowned at Innisfail. Complete dislocation of traffic between Ingham and Cooktown, and between Cairns and Herberton.

Some local flooding in the north-west in the last few days, chiefly in the Cloncurry River district.