21st Century - the Moonie River in flood
The rain event of March 1864
The rains of March 1864
Following weeks of heavy rainfalls throughout the month of March 1864, the rivers of Southern Queensland ran a bunker. Bridges were washed away and many people drowned. On the roads, wagons sought the higher ground and waited for the flooding to recede. One bridge that washed away was at Greenbank, west of Dalby, on the Condamine and the most direct route to the Moonie River.
The Condamine flooding of March - April 1864 may have been equivalent to or even greater than the flooding event in January 2011 when the township of Condamine was evacuated. Areas adjacent the river were inundated making travel difficult or impossible. The large Nangram Lagoon NE of the township of Condamine would have been joined to the river.
Following weeks of heavy rainfalls throughout the month of March 1864, the rivers of Southern Queensland ran a bunker. Bridges were washed away and many people drowned. On the roads, wagons sought the higher ground and waited for the flooding to recede. One bridge that washed away was at Greenbank, west of Dalby, on the Condamine and the most direct route to the Moonie River.
The Condamine flooding of March - April 1864 may have been equivalent to or even greater than the flooding event in January 2011 when the township of Condamine was evacuated. Areas adjacent the river were inundated making travel difficult or impossible. The large Nangram Lagoon NE of the township of Condamine would have been joined to the river.
Google Maps - the Nangram Lagoon today
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1 Aug 1956 Walkabout - article about the Nangram Lagoon
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Apr 1864 Report from the township of Condamine
This report gives some idea of the extensive shallow inundation of land beside the Condamine River.
19 Apr 1864 The North Australian
We are reluctantly compelled to abridge our Condamine Correspondent's report. The principal items are the murder of the unfortunate man Hauser ...The murderer, Michael Collins, had been apprehended by Chief Constable Devine and committed by Mr. Ferrett. J.P. Mr. Devine's conduct would seem to have been most praiseworthy, as he had great difficulties to contend with from the country being in numerous places under water; he had to guard his prisoner entirely by himself, and was eleven days out, returning quite knocked up; at one time he had to wade through some eight miles of water. The Condamine is described as having risen to a greater height than was ever before known by (our venerable friend) the oldest inhabitant.
This report gives some idea of the extensive shallow inundation of land beside the Condamine River.
19 Apr 1864 The North Australian
We are reluctantly compelled to abridge our Condamine Correspondent's report. The principal items are the murder of the unfortunate man Hauser ...The murderer, Michael Collins, had been apprehended by Chief Constable Devine and committed by Mr. Ferrett. J.P. Mr. Devine's conduct would seem to have been most praiseworthy, as he had great difficulties to contend with from the country being in numerous places under water; he had to guard his prisoner entirely by himself, and was eleven days out, returning quite knocked up; at one time he had to wade through some eight miles of water. The Condamine is described as having risen to a greater height than was ever before known by (our venerable friend) the oldest inhabitant.
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Comment on Constable Devine's exploits
George Devine was the Chief Constable at Dalby and travelled extensively along both the Condamine and the Moonie apprehending criminals. In Feb 1864 he and his constable covered up to 65 miles a day in dry conditions catching horse thieves - see right. |
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Reports of devastation from the Moonie postman
7 Apr 1864 Queensland Times
Mr. Sealey of this town (Ipswich) who returned from the Moonie River on Tuesday evening, gives a sad account of the effects of the flood in that quarter. The information with which he has favoured us was chiefly obtained from Campbell, the postman on the Retreat (south of Tartha) and Nindigully (south of St George) line.
At one spot the postman had to suffer a detention of twenty-one days. He and a man who accompanied him were surrounded by water on some rising ground, and for eight days had nothing to eat except the small quantity of flour, tea, and sugar ... On the ninth day the postman killed a horse, and the pair lived upon its flesh until the thirteenth day, when the postman swam to a sheep-station... He stayed there eight days, until the water subsided sufficiently to enable him to return to the place where he left his mailbags and resume his journey.
A considerable loss of stock and property took place along the Moonie line, although not so much as might have been expected. The flood was so great that the Moonie and Balonne rivers joined, forming a sheet of water more than twenty-five miles in breadth. At one place, fifteen horses stood for several days up to their bellies in water; nine of them died... Mrs. Browne, of Southwood (near Tartha), lost 1500 sheep out of a flock of 1800. The water came up to the verandah of her house... At Tartha there were no sheep carried away, although some of the more weakly animals succumbed to the effects of the continued rain. The losses at Mallila and Weranga stations were also not to any serious extent.
The height to which the floods reached may be judged from the fact that in one place the postman saw a dead bullock in the fork of a tree about fifteen feet from the ground. It was reported that four men had been drowned at the lower part of the Moonie. All traffic on the roads was stopped; but beyond the unavoidable detention, the carriers on the road do not appear to have suffered much loss.
7 Apr 1864 Queensland Times
Mr. Sealey of this town (Ipswich) who returned from the Moonie River on Tuesday evening, gives a sad account of the effects of the flood in that quarter. The information with which he has favoured us was chiefly obtained from Campbell, the postman on the Retreat (south of Tartha) and Nindigully (south of St George) line.
At one spot the postman had to suffer a detention of twenty-one days. He and a man who accompanied him were surrounded by water on some rising ground, and for eight days had nothing to eat except the small quantity of flour, tea, and sugar ... On the ninth day the postman killed a horse, and the pair lived upon its flesh until the thirteenth day, when the postman swam to a sheep-station... He stayed there eight days, until the water subsided sufficiently to enable him to return to the place where he left his mailbags and resume his journey.
A considerable loss of stock and property took place along the Moonie line, although not so much as might have been expected. The flood was so great that the Moonie and Balonne rivers joined, forming a sheet of water more than twenty-five miles in breadth. At one place, fifteen horses stood for several days up to their bellies in water; nine of them died... Mrs. Browne, of Southwood (near Tartha), lost 1500 sheep out of a flock of 1800. The water came up to the verandah of her house... At Tartha there were no sheep carried away, although some of the more weakly animals succumbed to the effects of the continued rain. The losses at Mallila and Weranga stations were also not to any serious extent.
The height to which the floods reached may be judged from the fact that in one place the postman saw a dead bullock in the fork of a tree about fifteen feet from the ground. It was reported that four men had been drowned at the lower part of the Moonie. All traffic on the roads was stopped; but beyond the unavoidable detention, the carriers on the road do not appear to have suffered much loss.
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Comment
The Moonie and Balonne Rivers are separate systems, in normal conditions. |
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The Surat mailman's story
16 Apr 1864 Queensland Times
DALBY. Monday 21st.
Through the recent arrival of Mr. Hoeflich in Ipswich from Surat, we are enabled to give further particulars ... Mr. Hoeflice left Surat on the 26th of March last, taking six days from thence to Dalby, and bringing with him the more important part of the Surat mail. The country was more or less flooded and he had to make a considerable round, but did not even then escape being compelled to ride through water a considerable portion of the day. No damage or loss appears to have been caused to the carriers on the roads, beyond a detention for a short period on the way. But as regards a more important interest, the stations which our informant had occasion to pass near, have sustained considerable loss.
The following is an extract from a letter, dated 15th February, which we have received from a subscriber residing on the Dalby and Goondiwindi line: “The Condamine is bank and bank high, and has been so for months. There has been no mail here for six weeks.”
A correspondent writing from Condamine township on Monday last says: "I write to tell you that we are yet in the land of the living after the late deluge, although we are still surrounded by water. … In the Condamine township the loss has not been great, the destruction being confined principally to fences and out-buildings.
16 Apr 1864 Queensland Times
DALBY. Monday 21st.
Through the recent arrival of Mr. Hoeflich in Ipswich from Surat, we are enabled to give further particulars ... Mr. Hoeflice left Surat on the 26th of March last, taking six days from thence to Dalby, and bringing with him the more important part of the Surat mail. The country was more or less flooded and he had to make a considerable round, but did not even then escape being compelled to ride through water a considerable portion of the day. No damage or loss appears to have been caused to the carriers on the roads, beyond a detention for a short period on the way. But as regards a more important interest, the stations which our informant had occasion to pass near, have sustained considerable loss.
The following is an extract from a letter, dated 15th February, which we have received from a subscriber residing on the Dalby and Goondiwindi line: “The Condamine is bank and bank high, and has been so for months. There has been no mail here for six weeks.”
A correspondent writing from Condamine township on Monday last says: "I write to tell you that we are yet in the land of the living after the late deluge, although we are still surrounded by water. … In the Condamine township the loss has not been great, the destruction being confined principally to fences and out-buildings.
26 Mar 1864 A drama-filled report from "Our correspondant at Dalby"
This condensed report details the flooding experienced in Dalby between 17 Mar and 22 Mar 1864. Read the full report on Trove.
It appears that this was the first major flooding event experienced in the Dalby area since settlement.
26 Mar 1864 Queensland Times
DALBY. Our correspondent at Dalby, writing on Tuesday last, gives the following details of the effects of the floods in his neighbourhood:
... Scarcely had the flood mentioned in my last begun to be considered as a thing that is past, before a second, and in rapid succession a third flood visited our township... I must give you a diary from Thursday last.
Thursday, March 17.
Great preparations were made for a grand ball to be given at the mayor’s residence, "the Shamrock," but as rain descended the whole day, and almost the whole night, the affair was expected to be a "great failure." .... During the night, the creek swelled again so as to fill its bed to the banks, and lead to the expectancy of an overflow.
Friday, 18th.
Rain all day. Creek rising steadily but slowly; the night set in with tempestuous weather, and, to use the words of a Sydney man, was "just like the night of the Dunbar." https://www.kurtsorensen.com/Port-Jackson-1857-The-Dunbar
... the creek continued increasing in volume all Saturday morning.
Saturday, 19th.
4 PM The creek has risen within a few inches of the greatest height of last week's flood; and as it is rising still rapidly...
9 PM The waters are increasing more rapidly ...
12 PM ... I arose from my bed ... perceived the creek, bearing the resemblance, in the moonlight, to a large lake about a quarter-of-a-mile wide... Steadily it rose until Sunday, 1 AM. The water has reached the top of the embankment...
2 AM The creek is rushing like an enormous cascade, over the whole extent of the embankment, the bridge is partially inundated...
3 AM Yule's smithery, the Union Hall, and some other buildings are in the water; and the road at Martin's public-house is covered...
4 AM The flood is at a standstill... I return to my home to await the daylight.
6. AM The waters are decreasing, and the bridge is covered with spectators ... During the whole of Sunday the waters decreased slowly...
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Monday 21st.
The creek subsided until noon, and then began again to rise. By 4 PM the waters had reached the flooring of the wooden bridge, and were still rising. Information reached Mr. Roche that the creek had burst over its banks at the Lagoon Station (6 miles from Dalby), and that the waters were rushing ("Like a wall eight feet high" said the informant) over the plains towards the town... But before that catastrophe could happen, the waters again decreased....
Tuesday 22nd.
The waters have gone down very, very slowly, scarcely an inch an hour...
ACCIDENTS etc Very little damage was done to the property of the town ...On Sunday, a blackfellow attempted to cross the creek by swimming, in order to convey a message to the doctor; but the stream being too strong for him, he was carried towards the bridge...he was grasped by firm hands, and delivered safely from his dangerous predicament.
On the same day, a man in the employ of Mr. Lowe, the dam contractor, who was stationed at Jimbour, attempted to cross to save a horse, but being unable to swim, was carried away by the stream and lost. He has left a wife and family.
To-day, about 3 p.m., Mr. Gayler's groom attempted to cross ... on horseback; and, losing his footing, the horse plunged, until it caught its foreleg in the martingale; when both man and horse were carried towards the new bridge, the man escaped with his life, but the dead body of the horse is lying against a tree in the stream...
This condensed report details the flooding experienced in Dalby between 17 Mar and 22 Mar 1864. Read the full report on Trove.
It appears that this was the first major flooding event experienced in the Dalby area since settlement.
26 Mar 1864 Queensland Times
DALBY. Our correspondent at Dalby, writing on Tuesday last, gives the following details of the effects of the floods in his neighbourhood:
... Scarcely had the flood mentioned in my last begun to be considered as a thing that is past, before a second, and in rapid succession a third flood visited our township... I must give you a diary from Thursday last.
Thursday, March 17.
Great preparations were made for a grand ball to be given at the mayor’s residence, "the Shamrock," but as rain descended the whole day, and almost the whole night, the affair was expected to be a "great failure." .... During the night, the creek swelled again so as to fill its bed to the banks, and lead to the expectancy of an overflow.
Friday, 18th.
Rain all day. Creek rising steadily but slowly; the night set in with tempestuous weather, and, to use the words of a Sydney man, was "just like the night of the Dunbar." https://www.kurtsorensen.com/Port-Jackson-1857-The-Dunbar
... the creek continued increasing in volume all Saturday morning.
Saturday, 19th.
4 PM The creek has risen within a few inches of the greatest height of last week's flood; and as it is rising still rapidly...
9 PM The waters are increasing more rapidly ...
12 PM ... I arose from my bed ... perceived the creek, bearing the resemblance, in the moonlight, to a large lake about a quarter-of-a-mile wide... Steadily it rose until Sunday, 1 AM. The water has reached the top of the embankment...
2 AM The creek is rushing like an enormous cascade, over the whole extent of the embankment, the bridge is partially inundated...
3 AM Yule's smithery, the Union Hall, and some other buildings are in the water; and the road at Martin's public-house is covered...
4 AM The flood is at a standstill... I return to my home to await the daylight.
6. AM The waters are decreasing, and the bridge is covered with spectators ... During the whole of Sunday the waters decreased slowly...
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Monday 21st.
The creek subsided until noon, and then began again to rise. By 4 PM the waters had reached the flooring of the wooden bridge, and were still rising. Information reached Mr. Roche that the creek had burst over its banks at the Lagoon Station (6 miles from Dalby), and that the waters were rushing ("Like a wall eight feet high" said the informant) over the plains towards the town... But before that catastrophe could happen, the waters again decreased....
Tuesday 22nd.
The waters have gone down very, very slowly, scarcely an inch an hour...
ACCIDENTS etc Very little damage was done to the property of the town ...On Sunday, a blackfellow attempted to cross the creek by swimming, in order to convey a message to the doctor; but the stream being too strong for him, he was carried towards the bridge...he was grasped by firm hands, and delivered safely from his dangerous predicament.
On the same day, a man in the employ of Mr. Lowe, the dam contractor, who was stationed at Jimbour, attempted to cross to save a horse, but being unable to swim, was carried away by the stream and lost. He has left a wife and family.
To-day, about 3 p.m., Mr. Gayler's groom attempted to cross ... on horseback; and, losing his footing, the horse plunged, until it caught its foreleg in the martingale; when both man and horse were carried towards the new bridge, the man escaped with his life, but the dead body of the horse is lying against a tree in the stream...
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Rumour states that another man has lost his life at Greenbank... Business, of course, is at a stand-still. Provisions have been raised by Mr. Roche; his prices this day are: Flour, £8 per bag; tea, 5s. per lb.; coarse ration sugar, 10d, per lb. God help the poor ... Let us hope that things are at the worst, and for the sake of all hands, may speedily mend. |
30 Apr 1864 Queensland Times confirms rumour of drowning at Greenbank
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Government action following the flooding
The Queensland Government were conscious of the need for better bridges and roads in the emerging country west of Dalby. In 1864 the towns of St George and Cunnamulla did not exist.
17 May 1864 Brisbane Courier
Parties have been organised for the purpose of taking sections of bridge sites and making preliminary surveys for roads … from Dalby, via Weranga and the Moonie River, to St. George's Bridge on the Balonne River; and from St. George's Bridge to the proposed new township on the Warrego River (Cunnamulla). The whole of these roads being considered necessary for the traffic and development of the Western Districts.
The Queensland Government were conscious of the need for better bridges and roads in the emerging country west of Dalby. In 1864 the towns of St George and Cunnamulla did not exist.
17 May 1864 Brisbane Courier
Parties have been organised for the purpose of taking sections of bridge sites and making preliminary surveys for roads … from Dalby, via Weranga and the Moonie River, to St. George's Bridge on the Balonne River; and from St. George's Bridge to the proposed new township on the Warrego River (Cunnamulla). The whole of these roads being considered necessary for the traffic and development of the Western Districts.