LORNA. After the bridge was washed away (in the
1919 flood) they put a temporary thing across
.. a little wooden thing like you'd put across
a creek .
Like an army type?
GLORIA. No, planks.
LORNA. I had to stay up at Marty's and of a weekend
they'd come up to get me and we had to come
across this bridge. I was frightened to walk
on it.
That would have been there for a while, then?
LORNA. It was such a narrow thing, that's what
frightened me.
So what was the crossing like up on the Pericoe
Road?
VERNER. It was fairly rocky.
LORNA. But that big bridge that was taken away,
it was huge.
That's up at New Buildings, isn't it?
VERNER. Yes.
LORNA. I thought that bridge was washed down the
river. A lot of the Towamba bridge ended
up on your flats.('Model Farm')
VERNER. The bridge up at Rocky Hall now, that's
the old Towamba Bridge.
LORNA. There wasn't a bridge left on the river.
Was that when the water went up to the counter
of the shop?
VERNER. Yes I think so.
LORNA. It went up into the store, didn't it?
VERNER. Yes. There's a thing there... a high water
mark on your side.
*** Excerpt from the interview with Clive and
Verner Clements and Lorna Dwyer in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.
The Towamba River carves a path from the
foot of the steep escarpment, through rugged
hills, flats and granite country, to empty
into the ocean at the Kiah inlet. One of
the fastest rising rivers in the state, it
is joined by the Wog Wog River below Burragate,
before it reaches the village of Towamba.
The catchment areas of these two rivers is
steep and the volume of water rushing from
them after heavy rain floods the river flats,
washing all before it.
Towamba's first bridge was built as a high level truss bridge and
was opened in 1911. The 1919 flood washed
all bridges from the entire length of the
river leaving the river flats and low lying
farms strewn with debris. It is local knowledge
that the water reached half way up the counter
in the Towamba village store. Debris banked
up in front of the bridge causing it to break
up, sweeping its timbers downstream where
they were found when the level dropped. It
was the biggest local flood in living memory.
There have been several devastating floods
since. During the 1971 flood two people who
were crossing the river on their tractor,
were drowned at Rocky Hall.
Towamba's second bridge was not as high but
gradually as each annual flood brought more
sand downriver, it was continually covered
and became impassable. It was replaced with
the present one in 1961.
![]() |
Footbridge across the river at Towamba after
the 1919 flood swept away the first
bridge.
The approaches to the bridge can be seen in the background on the right.. |
![]() |
Footbridge across the Towamba River after
bridge was swept away in 1919. Remains of bridge on left. Courtesy Dickie Family |
March 11, 1863
'Freeman's Journal'
Floods. - The floods have done considerable damage
all over this district. On the Kiah River
a poor widow named Power lost all her crop
of potatoes, a mishap to be deplored, having
very recently buried her husband, and having
a large family to support. Others in the
same neighbourhood are more or less sufferers.
Towamba has also been visited---Messers Higgins,
Parker, Murray, and others, being large sufferers.
'Pambula Voice' August 4, 1893
TOWAMBA
The river has been in a state of flood for
some considerable time causing much inconvenience
to those wishing to cross. A boat has been
purchased for the use of the children attending
the school which will be a great boon, it
being impossible for the children to cross
formerly thus causing the young people to
remain away for some time during the year.
May 16, 1894
Floods
Our friends at Wyndham and Rocky Hall have
been considerably put about by the flooded
state of the Mataganah River, a bridge over
which has been agitated for years without
success.
Jan 31, 1896
Wyndham
We are pleased to note that green grass in
Wyndham is the order of the day. The district
has been favoured at last with good rains...
June 26, 1896
Burragate
...now the query is "when will it stop
raining?" Owing to so much wet weather,
work at Mr. J. H. Martin's silver mine has
been temporarily suspended.
![]() |
View from Pericoe Road, down river where
Towamba bridge was swept away in 1919 flood. Photo courtesy Dickie family |
'Pambula Voice' June 8, 1900
PERICOE
The rainfall recorded here for the month
of April was 460 points and for May, 1360
points. Most of the rain in May fell between
the 14th and 28th and caused a flood in creeks
and rivers delaying the mails, tore up the
roads and did various other damage. It is said the road from Pericoe to Yambulla
is in a fearful state and traffic can only
be carried on with the greatest difficulty.
Again during the recent rains the urgent
necessity for a culvert over Pericoe Creek
has been fully demonstrated. It has a very
bad crossing and should have been bridged
long ago. We must try again for we are justified
in asking in asking for it. Since the rain
the weather has been mild for the time of
year and the country looks more like spring
than near mid winter. Of late we appear to
be having a succession of wet winters and
dry summers.
'The Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural
and Pastoral Gazette'
19 July 1902
An hotel keeper named Moore, living at Rocky-hall,
Bombala, narrowly escaped drowning whilst
attempting to cross the Basin Creek near
Rocky Hall. He was driving one horse in a
hooded buggy. Immediately on entering the
creek the horse was carried off its legs,
and washed down 200 yards. The vehicle then
capsized. Moore, who is a good swimmer, managed
to land just before being swept into the
Towamba River, which runs with a very swift
current. The buggy was also washed upon the
same side as Moore came out.
December 19, 1902
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
DAMAGE IN THE SOUTH COAST.
EDEN.
* Vehicular traffic between Pambula and Eden
was blocked to-day by trees blown across
the road. The Kiah River is in flood, and
it is feared that serious loss has been occasioned
to farmers in that locality. The crops on
the low-lying lands have been swept away,
and damage to the roads in various parts
of the district is reported.
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
22 December 1902
TOWAMBA,
The Yambulla mail coach from Eden on Wednesday
was carried off the crossing at Nullica Creek.
A quantity of provisions was lost. The mails
were saved with difficulty. The Towamba River
was not crossable yesterday.
July 6, 1909
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
FLOOD AT YAMBULLA.
FIELD COMPLETELY ISOLATED.
Yambulla is completely isolated owing to
the flooded state of Towamba River. No mails
have reached here since June 30. Foodstuffs
are becoming scarce, and machinery for the
mines cannot cross. After many requests,
petitions, and deputations, Parliament voted
£3000 to place a bridge over the Towamba
River, and £450 for the Towamba-Yambulla
road. The Imlay Shire Council practically
decline to carry out the work. As these interruptions
have occurred periodically over since the
opening of the field, it is considered here
that the Government should take the matter
out of the hands of the shire and proceed
with the work at once. As the rain still
continues, it is doubtful when communication
will be restored. Should an accident happen,
or illness occur, there is no, possibility
of getting medical aid.
April 11, 1912
'Mullumbimby Star'
A Terrific Storm.
A terrific storm passed over a place called
Towamba on the South Coast last week. At
Towamba bridge a heavy engine placed in the
bed of the river for repair work, was swept
down about 100 yards by the rush of water.
The rain fell in torrents and swept down
hillsides and over roads in waves. At Pericoe
a bullock was swept out of the yard and down
the river for miles, where it lodged and
hung dead in a tree eight feet from the ground,
and another owner reports the drowning of
20 poddies. The centre of the storm hovered
over a strip six by three miles, and it is
estimated 11 inches fell in an hour. The
damage to roads is estimated at within the
vicinity of £1,000.
'Pambula Voice' April 21, 1911
TOWAMBA
* The corn is ripening very quickly this
year, and crops will be on an average with
last year.
* Most of the people are suffering with a
mild from of influenza; mild as it may be,
it is a most distressing complaint. A good
many have had to lay up for two or three
days with it.
* Mrs. T. Hill, who was doing business for
Mr. Robinovitz, of Eden, has closed, owing
to Mr. Robert Binnie purchasing Mr. Robinovitz''s
business in Eden.
April 3, 1912
'The Bega Budget '
The Incidental Flooding at Towamba.
A disastrous tale of the recent rain at Towamba
(where nineteen inches of rain fell in less
than 24 hours) is related by a long time
resident of that locality, who is already
buying stock by which to replace that lost
in the rapid rise of the river, by the torrential
rain which fell on Thursday night and the
following day. We thought, surely, (says
our informant) that the world was about again
to be destroyed by a general deluge of waters
as in the historical days when Noah built
the ark. The crash, the roar of thunder,
and the brilliant flashes of lightning, illuminating
the landscape, accompanied by the deafening
tattoo of rain upon the iron roofs, all conjured
up an incident of a storm picture we have
seldom seen and never may again. Our boys
and girls of the rising generation will be
recounting the storm incident to their children's
children when they (our boys and girls) are
grandfathers and grandmothers. With the general
din of the elements people could not communicate
by speech, but had, perforce, to make signs,
like to the deaf and dumb upon the fingers.
The lowing cattle seeking shelter from the
storm was pathetic in the extreme, whilst
the squealing of pigs, and the crowing of
fowls added to the general tumult of the
scene of the night. As the night advanced
the rising waters carried away everything
animate, and inanimate, that happened to
be within the zone of destruction. Our time
we thought had come, and our 'thoughts were
too deep for words.' The timber and stones
were washed down from the hills to the watersheds,
and the opossums in the habitations in the
withered tree were washed out by the force
of the falling rains. Pigs, cattle, and poultry
were swept away, and horses, dogs, and sheep,
in some cases, had difficulty in winning
a safe land from the flooded river. Pumpkins,
potatoes, and fodder were to be seen, like
derelict wrecks, borne away for miles towards
the sea. Floating trees, and general debris,
in places, dammed the river, causing the
backwater to inundate wide stretches of the
country inland. Cats, dogs, and bears were
promiscuously grouped on the floating material,
and (neutral in their animal propensity of
attacking their enemies) stoically awaited
their fate, as unwilling companions in a
common danger. The bright flashes of lightning
illumed the scene of flooded river for a
considerable distance, whilst the detonations
of thunder were appalling. We got our quota
of the rain fall in one comprehensive parcel,
and which would have been ample for our needs,
if doled out in the instalment system and
distributed over a period of from three to
four months.
March 14, 1914
'The Bega Budget'
* Mr. R. M. Brownlie, of Towamba, lost over
70 newly-shorn sheep as a result of the recent
flood rains.
Friday 7 March, 1919
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
THE FLOODS
EDEN DISTRICT SUFFERS HEAVILY
A DISTRESSING TRAGEDY
The drought which for several months prevailed
in the south-eastern corner of the State
was broken by a rainfall which developed
into a veritable deluge. It eclipsed all
previous local records, and caused unprecedented
damage and disaster throughout all parts
of the district. Mail services and telephone
and telegraphic communications between Eden
and all other places were suspended. All
other district centres were similarly isolated
for several days.
Several of the most important bridges in
the Imlay shire were swept away, including
the bridge over the Kiah River, on the main
southern road, Eden to Melbourne, and the
costly high level bridge across the same
river at Towamba. Both were constructed within
the last., few years as national works. Many
minor bridges and first-class culverts were
similarly destroyed. The damage to the shire
bridges, culverts, and roads may fairly,
be described as colossal.
At Kiah the flood appeared with awful suddeness.
The river on Wednesday afternoon was so low
that horsemen rode down the river bed for
some miles. An hour later a terrible roar
announced the coming flood, and shortly after
an immense wall of water came rushing down,
overflowing the high river banks, and sweeping
everything before it. The flood at Kiah attained
a height of between 15 and 20 feet in excess
of the previous highest known flood level.
At Towamba the river also rose with remarkable
rapidity to a height of 15 feet higher than
any former flood, and converted Towamba Valley
into a gigantic sea.
A tragic event occurred. A man, whose name
is not known, and who had apparently been
washed down-stream, was observed clinging
to a swaying telephone pole, the top of which
projected a few feet above the seething waters.
He climbed the pole, and grasping the wire
on either side, remained thus supported nearly
an hour, during which the onlookers were
powerless to render the slightest assistance.
Finally, a large tree floating down among
the debris caught the wire and submerged
the pole, and with it, the distressed man,
who, engulfed in a torrent, was seen no more.
Many of the choicest riverside farms were
completely ruined, the erstwhile valuable
alluvial flats being denuded of their deep,
rich, black soil, in place of which beds
of shingle and worthless sand have been deposited.
Other holdings were unexpectedly enriched
by rich alluvial deposits, while on long
stretches of the road, near Towamba, black
soil three feet, deep has been left by the
flood, rendering vehicular traffic impossible.
The rainfall at Eden amounted to 15.57ins,
but on the western hills, constituting the
watershed of the rivers, more than twice
that quantity fell. The fall near Wyndham
registered 33 inches. This is believed to
have been greatly exceeded on the ranges
west and south, and the great bulk appears
to have fallen in the last 36 hours of the
rainfall. The last previous record rainfall
for the district was in February, 1898, when
the drought was broken in a similar manner,
but with far less disastrous results.
At Genoa River Mrs. McDonald, wife of Mr.
John McDonald, formerly principal lighthouse
keeper at Gabo Island, was accidentally drowned
in the flood. Her husband narrowly escaped
a similar fate.
![]() |
South bank of the Towamba River at Towamba
River crossing. Hartneady's general store on right, church on left. c1920s. Photo courtesy Elaine Delaney. |
'Goulburn Evening Penny Post'
8 March 1919
DISASTROUS FLOODS. Owing to floods residents of parts of Delegate
have had to vacate their dwellings twice
this week. Great damage has also been done
in several parts of the district. At Eden
an unprecedented flood has occurred, and
on the hills above more than 33 inches of
rain were registered. Many of the choicest
riverside farms were completely ruined, the
erstwhile valuable alluvial flats being denuded
of their deep, rich, black soil, in place
of which beds of shingle and worthless sand
have been deposited. Other holdings were
unexpectedly enriched by rich alluvial deposits,
while on stretches of the road, near Towamba,
black soil three feet deep has been left
by the flood, rendering vehicular traffic
impossible. A man clinging to a telegraph
pole was seen at Towamba, where he had apparently
taken refuge. A tree washed down by the flood
swept him away, and he was never seen again.
At Genoa River Mrs. McDonald wife of Mr.
John McDonald, formerly principal light-house
keeper at Gabo Island, was accidentally drowned
in the flood. Her husband narrowly escaped
a similar fate.
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
7 August 1922
KIAH BRIDGE.
CARRIED AWAY BY FLOOD.
The Minister for Public Works (Mr. R. T.
Ball) has received a report from the chief
engineer for National and Local Government
Works to the effect that 50ft of the approach
to the bridge over the Towamba River at Kiah,
on the road from Eden to the Victorian border,
has been carried away by floods, and consequently
traffic is completely blocked.
To meet the difficulty Mr. Ball has caused
instructions to be issued for additional
spans to be put in to bridge over the washaway.
Meanwhile the shire has installed a punt
to enable traffic to get through.
September 7 , 1923
'The Bombala Times'
News and Notes.
* Heavy rain fell throughout the south eastern
portion of the State during the week. The
records up to 9 o'clock this morning were:
Bombala 468, Delegate 280 Nimmitabel 341,
Cooma 173, Cathcart 757, Bega 641, Eden 567,
Bemboka 816, Wyndham 745, Towamba 850. Rocky
Hall was isolated yesterday, and the mails
were neither able to get in nor out.
June 19, 1929
'The World's News'
A Motley Crew
* In a recent flood a haystack floated down
the Towamba (N.S.W.) River towards the sea.
On it were fowls, rabbits, hares, snakes,
and a couple of cats all huddled together.
As it passed down the river its crew was
added to by other rabbits, etc., which were
clinging desperately to partly submerged
logs and trees.
Thousands of beetles and spiders of all descriptions
were swarming everywhere over it, and though
many of the animals on the haystack in normal
times were deadly enemies, they made no attempt
to attack each other.-Eureka.
January 27, 1933
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
HEAVY RAIN.
More Reports of Damage.
* Further heavy rain has fallen on the South
Coast and in parts of the south-west.
Following the registration of six inches
to Tuesday, Eden received eight inches in
three hours on Wednesday. Eighteen inches
had fallen by yesterday morning.
Telephone and telegraphic lines went down
in every direction. On Tuesday the mall services
were held up, and telegraphic communication
with Sydney was suspended Discolouration
of the waters of the bay, and debris on the
beaches indicate that many riverside farms
were heavily floodswept, but particulars
of the losses are not yet obtainable.
The overdue mail from Towamba was brought
in yesterday by the mailman fording on foot
the Nullica River, which is still dangerously
high, and in flood. Saltwater Creek bridge,
on the Prince's Highway, nine miles from
Eden, on the road to Pambula, was washed
away on Wednesday. Two men had just ridden
across, when, on looking back, they saw it
break in two.
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||
Towamba River in flood. Unknown location.
c1925-32 Photo courtesy Browne family. |
Towamba River in flood. Unknown location.
c1925-32 Photo courtesy Browne family. |
March 31, 1928
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
FLOODS.
Eden Isolated.
GREAT DAMAGE TO CROPS.
EDEN
* The heavy rain on Thursday caused the highest
floods since 1918. The Kiah River rose 25
feet above the bridge level, and flooded
the riverain flats, causing immense damage
to crops and losses of pigs. It is too early
to accurately assess the damage, but a reliable
authority considers that the riverside farmers
lost at least two-thirds of their maize crops.
Damage to the shire roads was very considerable.
Culverts and bridge, approaches on many roads
were washed away, blocking the mall services
and vehicular traffic generally. Telegraph
and telephone lines were blown down, leaving
the town isolated from Tuesday till Thursday
night, when telephone communication with
Bega was restored.
'Magnet' January 28, 1933
FLOOD RAINS
* 8 inches fell in 3 hours, total 18 inches.
13 inches fell in 12 hours.
* The flood at Narrabarba was 3 feet higher
than the 1919 flood. Saltwater Creek bridge
was washed away. (Yowaka bridge) Towamba
had 5 inches.
'The Argus' June 27, 1934
Further Falls in New South Wales
* Further rain has fallen over a wide area
of the State and on the South Coast. The
falls were so heavy that floods are threatened.
The Princes Highway was blocked, and near
Eden the Kiah River had overflown its banks.
In the Riverina and western districts the
falls were only moderate but over the slopes
and tablelands the rain was heavier.
'Magnet' July, 1934
* The area suffered five floods in seven
months
'Magnet' January 20, 1934
* Mr. R. M. Brownlie lost 70 plus sheep due
to the flood.
'Magnet' May 26, 1934
* Request by Council that a 35 ft. span be
added at each end of Towamba bridge as approaches
are washed away each flood. -- approaches
are the responsibility of Council - the bridge
is the responsibility of Public Works Dept.
![]() |
Towamba's first bridge opening ceremony, 1911. Swept away in 1919. |
'Magnet' January 13, 1934
FLOOD RAINS - WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
The abnormally wet spring and early summer
season succeeded by fine year-end holiday
weather, was followed by torrential rains
and a strong easterly gale which caused extensive
damage throughout the New South Wales South
Coast and tableland districts and in eastern
Gippsland.
Commencing on the night of Friday the 5th
instant the gale continued without intermission
until the early hours of Monday morning.
Conditions at sea were so severe that six
trawlers operating off the coast came into
Twofold Bay for shelter and remained at anchor
until the gale subsided. The rainfall at
Eden, about 8 inches, was light in comparison
with the fall in the western part of the
district where from 14 to 18 inches were
registered. On the mountain ranges the downpour
was mainly responsible for the resultant
floods was probably much heavier still.
Telephone lines went down in all directions
and for a couple of days telegraphic communication
with Sydney was cut off. Finally a circuitous
connection with Cooma and Tumut was established
and press and other long delayed messages
began to filter through. Telegraphists worked
overtime and at full speed but it was a long
time before the congestion of the accumulated
matter for dispatch was relieved. As has
almost invariably been the case in former
heavy gales, telephonic communications with
Gabo Island were cut off and were not restored
for several days.
The Kiah River (at Kiah, the Towamba River
is commonly called the Kiah River) was heavily
in flood. For some time it was hoped that
there would be no great overflow above the
fairly high banks of the river but the torrential
downpour associated with the night long thunder
storm with which inordinately heavy rain
culminated, caused a further big rise in
the river forcing the flood to a level second
only to that of the phenomenal flood of 1919.
As a natural consequence the losses sustained
by the riverside farmers were great.
Maize crops, as yet in an immature stage,
were on the lower lands completely ruined
and potato crops similarly situated were
entirely destroyed. Rich pastures and magnificent
crops of lucerne were buried beneath deep
deposits of silt. Valuable dairy herds were
left with diminished supplies of feed and
owners with insufficient reserves of fodder
are under the necessity of transferring their
stock to pastures in other parts of the district
and of awaiting the regrowth of feed on their
flood swept farms.
At Lower Towamba a good deal of crop damage
was sustained by local farmers, some of whom
say that the flood attained a height only
ten feet below that of the record flood of
1919 and was almost as severe in its effects.
Particulars of damage to farms at Towamba
and further up the river have not reached
us but it is believed that big losses have
been experienced on all the riverside holdings,
particularly on the cultivated lands. The
damage to roads in Imlay Shire is extensive.
On the Princes' Highway the approach to the
temporary bridge over Saltwater Creek on
the Eden-Pambula Road was washed away, the
mishap rendering necessary a diversion of
traffic to the Nethercote Road which though
somewhat damaged provided a serviceable deviation
for through traffic.
On the Mount Darragh Road several landslides
occurred with the various deviations made
enabled traffic to find its way through.
At Stoney Creek on the Wyndham-Towamba Road
the newly constructed concrete crossing sustained
but little damage but both the uncompleted
approaches were washed away.
Nullica River causeway was reported as being
more or less potholed but repairs have been
effected to enable traffic to be maintained.
Tantawanglo Mountain Road was damaged and
several culverts were washed away rendering
the road untrafficable. Landslides on the
Brown Mountain presented an obstruction to
traffic which it was expected would not be
resumed till some days later. Numerous tourists
were marooned at Eden and until late on Tuesday,
so discouraging was the prospect of their
being able to proceed by car for many miles
in any direction that they were seriously
considering the idea of requisitioning a
steamer to convey them from Eden to Sydney
or Melbourne. More hopeful reports were received
later and on Wednesday morning there was
a general exodus of beleaguered visitors.
At Bega the rainfall was 13 inches and at
Bemboka 14 inches were registered. Bega River
rose as higher than the great flood of 1919.
Tourists and swag men encamped by Bega River
had an exciting time. Warned by the roar
of the flood, they awoke to find themselves
surrounded by surging waters. Wading their
way out with the assistance of the police
and other volunteers they managed to escape
but several cars could not be removed and
were left chained to trees. One was lost.
Maize, bean and potato crops on the Bega
River flats were submerged and big losses
are feared. The bridge over the river at
Moran's Crossing which was in course of repair
has gone completely and the approaches have
been washed away. Candelo's rainfall was
1,030 points and Pambula's 935 points. Mr.
William Cole of South Pambula lost all but
one acre of 22 acres of beans. He says the
flood was the highest he had known there.
Inevitably the losses of crops on Pambula's
far-famed flats are great. News received
in the last instance by wireless stated that
two main sections of the bridge over the
Snowy River at Orbost have been carried away,
that traffic with Melbourne had been entirely
cut off. The bridge at Cathcart was damaged
by the flood and motor cars had to be towed
across the stream by horses. On Monday many
people visited Asling's beach to view the
incoming rollers in all their wild magnificence.
The foam cast up on the beach was in some
places, six feet deep and glittering in the
fitful gleams of sunlight presented a very
fine sight. On Monday and Tuesday Imlay Shire's
engineer Mr. Hinley made an inspection of
the shire roads and made all possible arrangements
for their restoration to trafficable conditions.
Between noon on Saturday and noon on Sunday
Bateman's Bay had 18 inches of rain. Yankee
Creek bridge, Nethercote, withstood the rush
of water splendidly and was practically unharmed.
Burtons Creek further on lost some hand railing
and a little earth filling on the Pambula
side. Back Creek bridge in towards Lochiel
was piled high with debris and the shire
men had a busy time clearing it. Damage to
farms along the Kiah, bad as it was, would
have been much worse had not the river burst
out through the sand bank at Moutries allowing
a more rapid getaway of the water. The mouth
of the river was altered a good deal. Mr.
W. Franks on the lower reaches of the river
lost a quantity of maize and potatoes but
we understand that his son-in-law, Mr. Jack
Perron, on the opposite side was less badly
hit. The flood occurred a fortnight earlier
than that of January in last year. Bemboka
district which had 14 inches of rain faired
badly with its roads and bridges. Green's
Crossing and Moran's Crossing bridges were
swept away as also were the approaches to
all others. The Brown Mountain Road was blocked
by landslides but is now clear again.
Mountainous seas raged along the coast at
the weekend and six vessels sought shelter
in East Boyd Bay.
The crossing at Longhurst Creek Pambula-Wolumla
Road was badly cut up by the flood.
At least two men were drowned on the South
Coast during the recent flood.
Splendid photos of floods on the South Coast
were in Tuesday's 'Telegraph'.
Mr. Ted Boot of Bega lost his launch, washed
from the river out to sea. The Shire punt
at the mouth of the river also broke its
moorings but was washed up high and dry.
Bateman's Bay ferry which was disabled has
been put into commission again. The passengers,
mails and cream cans crossed the Brogo River
on a hastily built flying fox. Only one span
of Brogo bridge remains, the piers snapped
off near the bottom. Though extensive damage
was done to low lying lands in places we
are pleased to learn that some farms will
ultimately benefit considerably from heavy
deposits of rich soil. Floods seem to have
been general. New South Wales, Las Angeles
USA and South Africa participating.
Towamba had over 13 inches of rain and the
second largest flood on record. The water
was twenty feet above the bridge which being
a low level structure fortunately stood where
its high level predecessor had given way.
Wyndham had over 14 inches. Old hands in
Bombala say that never to their knowledge
has there been such a flood locally as the
present one. Flood waters were two feet above
the bridge and the main street was awash.
Bombala Talkie Theatre was flooded to a depth
of four feet and there were 18 inches of
water in the power house. Some residents
were without light for a time. Mr. Lot Stafford
an ex-Edenite who has a brick works on Tathra
Road sustained a severe loss having 67,000
bricks all ready for burning destroyed by
the rain. Mr. J. W. Birkett, an assistant
at Orbost Post Office motored through the
flooded area in search of an office from
which he could get our an SOS, finally reached
Bombala over 100 miles away where he got
a trunk line call through. It will be at
least a month before Orbost bridge is repaired.
The washing away of the two centre spans
having left a gap of 100 feet wide but pontoons
loaded by the defence department to the CRB
are on their way from Melbourne. These will
be floated across the river and a bridge
to carry light traffic will be built across
them in a few days it is hoped. Mr. J. B.
Eurell received advice on Thursday afternoon
from the station master at Orbost that the
railway would be able to resume on Monday
next but he was uncertain when it would practicable
for motor cars to be transported across the
Snowy River. Word received from Genoa states
that the flood waters of the Genoa River
on Monday reached the floor of Mr. A. W.
Millard's bakery opposite the Genoa Hotel.
The flood was the biggest in Gippsland's
history and losses on Orbost district alone
are estimated at £500,000. One man's loss
is said to be £10,000. Trees, haystacks,
stock and buildings were swept down the Snowy
which was three miles wide above Orbost.
There are many thrilling rescues of people.
The only horse stall left standing on Bega
racecourse was No. 13 says the 'News'. The
new £14,000 bridge on the Gelantypy Road
on the upper reaches of the Snowy is gone.
It was to have been opened next week. Travellers
from Eden to Sydney via the coastal route
are advised to proceed from Bega via Tanja,
Bermagui and Cuttagee. Michael Skehan, a
Moruya farmer, fell out of a police flood
boat in attempting to rescue a rowlock and
was drowned.
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Aerial view of Towamba River looking westward. 'Model Farm' centre to right. Photo courtesy C. and G. Clements. |
LOCAL RAINFALL
Mr. H. Myers, post master at Eden, advises
us that the local rainfall registered at
Eden for the last four years was as follows.
1930 3,277 points
1931 2,825 points
1932 4,193 points
1933 4,549 points
The average for the four years mentioned
was thus: 37.11 inches. The last year's registration
is, says Mr. Myers, a record far exceeding
any registration on a record at Eden Post
Office.
April 26, 1952
'The Argus'
FLOOD WATERS MAROONED 17 ON ROAD
Trawler sails 11 miles inland to save bus
travellers.
* A trawler sailed 11 miles inland to rescue
27 passengers from a flood-bound tourist
bus near Eden today.
The trawler sailed up the flooded Kiah River
to reach the bus, which was travelling from
Melbourne to Sydney.
The flooded Kiah River and Timbillica Creek
marooned the bus on the Princes' Highway
last night.
The passengers slept in the bus, expecting
to continue their journey this morning.
But by dawn the flood waters were flowing
over the road at a depth of several feet.
They where rapidly approaching the bus,
which was parked on high ground.
Eden police asked Mr. Fred Woods and his
two man crew to sail his 45ft. trawler to
Kiah Bridge, near the spot where the bus
was stranded.
Mr. Woods did the job, and the passengers
were transferred from the bus to the trawler
in a rowing boat.
They spent tonight in an Eden hotel.
Eden police said tonight that the flood waters
appeared to be receding.
They expected the bus travellers to continue
their journey tomorrow.
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Towamba River in flood. 1950-57 Beryl Shannon and son James,Terry Goward, Jim and Jenny Shannon Photo courtesy Don Mills |
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1971 Flood aftermath. Photo courtesy Margret Keller |
1971 Flood. Taken from veranda of Towamba
Store. Photo courtesy Margret Keller |
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Combined photo of 1971 flood looking across
the river and to the west from the
verandah
of Towamba Store. Courtesy Margret Keller |
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1971 flood looking east from front of Towamba
Store. Courtesy Margret Keller |
The Towamba River is reported to be the fastest
rising river in New South Wales. In March,
2011 the river level reached approximately
10 meters above the Towamba Bridge.
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The bus shelter at the corner of Towamba Street and Pericoe Road | |||
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From Towamba Street across to old wine saloon | Corner of Towamba Street and Pericoe Road | ||
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The Towamba Bridge is under here | The next day the bridge looks like it may still be there. |