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StateLibQld 1 254657 Brisbane River in flood, looking towards South Brisbane, 1893

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StateLibQld 1 254657 Brisbane River in flood, looking towards South Brisbane, 1893

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Brisbane River in flood, looking towards South Brisbane, 1893.
February 4 1893 saw the highest floods on record in Brisbane and elsewhere; 6ft water in Edward Street at the Courier Buildings, hundreds of houses washed down river, trees uprooted and shipping torn from moorings. The shores of Moreton Bay were strewn with wreckage. On 5th Indooroopilly Bridge was washed away; pm the 6th the northern end of Victoria Bridge disappeared; flood waters rose at Brisbane to 23 feet 9 inches above mean spring tide and 10 feet over the previous highest flood mark (1890). Similar disaster befell other towns where bridges and houses disappeared by the hundreds; at Gympie many of the mines were blown up; much loss of life reported particularly from Ipswich. Rainfall at Crohamhurst, head of Brisbane water was 105 inches between 1st January and 11th February.

A second flood almost reaching the level of the first was experienced on the 19th, a lesser one having prevailed on the 13th. South Brisbane was without fresh water for some days and the whole of Brisbane practically in darkness at night. A very large relief fund (70,000 pounds) was established, subscriptions in money and in kind arriving from England as well as from the other colonies. Information taken from : Queensland State Archives database, 2004 - 2006, retrieved 11 January 2006, from <http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/virtualexhibition/images/1893introduction.asp>).

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1893
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State Library of Queensland
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