StateLibQld 1 256156 Children play in floodwaters on Toowong Road during the floods, Brisbane, 1893

Children play in floodwaters on Toowong Road during the floods, 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 Indooroopilly Bridge was washed away and the northern end of Victoria Bridge disappeared. Floodwaters rose at Brisbane to 23 feet 9 inches above mean spring tide and 10 feet over the previous highest flood mark (1890).
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 was 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>).

A horsecart is propped up and a man and some children are standing in mud in front of the cart. A dog has also joined the party. The floodwaters are backed up below a bridge and can be seen covering the road into the distance.