This site is © 2001 - 2003
Material and images on this site may not be used with out written consent.

EARLY FLOODS OF THE FITZROY.

By Fitzroy.

First Great Floods 1864.

The hot weather of the summer of 1863-4 had started early, and in November the heat had been so great that in one day three cases of sun stroke had occurred on the wharves to men employed there. Sunstroke was then always the term supplied to cases of heat apoplexy, and such cases were more often fatal than otherwise, ice being hard to get and dear, having to be bought by ship from Sydney.

The First Flood.

Then as now, intense heat was erroneously regarded as presaging heavy rain, and for once the expectation proved correct, for rain started on Christmas Eve, and did much to destroy all hope of the anticipated fun the hundreds of new chums were expecting under conditions reverse of those they were used to in the old. The rain fell all night at next day, and made the outlook anything but cheering. Day after day it was the same, storms came up, followed by heavy rain and then the weather would clear for some hours, are only to be followed by another storm of rain. In this uncomfortable way the weather continued for a few weeks, sometimes keeping fine for a day or two.

The streets were in an awful state, the soft surface having churned up into liquid mud. It was impossible to cross the street without getting the boots covered with mud. Some of the new chums had bought out stylish hessian leggings, doubtless for hunting purposes. These were a godsend in those dreadful streets, but most people had to trust to “dog poisners” or Wellington boots. When the sun shone, as it did all too frequently, the steaminess of the atmosphere was almost unbearable, and no one was surprised at Rockhampton having won the title of “the city of S.S.S.-sin, sweat, and sorrow.”.

In the country the was no slushy streets, but creeks and rivers were flooded, and causing a lot of loss of different kinds, though as the rain was not continuous much of the surplus water ran off without rising to any great height. This state of things, continued for about a month, dating from Christmas Eve. About the last week in January the rain began to descend incessantly, and continued for a week. This rain had changed things from mud to water, and all that level portions of the town were covered by water. The river was also rising on to the wharves, and as the rain continued the river was being watched anxiously, end there was no news from upcountry, the electric telegraph being a luxury yet to come.

The rain early in February was unimportant, and by the 10th of that month the river apparently had reached the maximum height-5 ft. over the wharves-and it was hoped the worst was over. No such luck, for the next day the rain started again and it was not long till the Fitzroy again and began a to rise. All this time the river had overflowed its banks at the Eight-mile island, and flowed down the course of the lagoons at the back of the town, leaving Rockhampton city practically an island. There was a lot to distress among the few settlers, and those surrounded by water were some of them, loath to leave their homes, cattle, and horses to the mercy of the deluge.

Rockhampton river Bank 1900

In some cases there was destitution and sickness, and there were a good many cases of death by drowning. There were instances of people caught between two flooded creeks, or without means of making a fire, or without having anything to cook. Fortunately the weather was warm, or many would have perished from such exposure.

Carriers and travellers to and from up-country were in a woeful plight, and teams, horses, and bullocks in many instances, were in great danger, and many were seemingly irretrievably bogged. Among others John McPherson, who was then carrying, had a team of 16 yoked bullocks carried away by the current of the Mackenzie River. These later was seen passing the front of the town, and rising up and down as though still alive and struggling against their awful fate.

On February 20, the flood reached its height, and according to pilot Haynes, had passed all previous known highs surpassing that of 1852. So far as the writer could gather no official records were kept of these falls of rain, and though Dr Callaghan usually kept a record it was not official, and rarely published.

The flood in the river remained stationary for a few days after February 20, and then began to recede, and in a short time things began to assume their normal appearance. Light rain fell at intervals, but not enough to affect the flow of water, and the weather profits of those days declared the wet season was over and dry weather would quickly follow, and the verdure of the country would re-appear like magic.

The rains in connection with the first flood of 1864 were by no means confined to the Central District of Queensland. Away to the north there had been tremendously heavy rains, and the Burdekin River had risen 30 ft. above normal level. It was equally bad in the neighborhood of Mackay, and the country to the West. At Port Cooper, and other stations in that vicinity the floods had washed away and drowned thousands of sheep. At Mackay itself the gale had been terrific, and numbers of houses had been stripped of their iron and other damage done. Mackay experienced another such terrible visitation many years later, when the damage done was tremendous.

The Second Flood.

By March 4, the flood had practically disappeared, and the hot sun was drying up the country rapidly. While this hopeful state of things was cheering people up, their spirits were again cast down by rain again setting it, and continuing daily for nearly a week. These rains were general, and of course after a few days the river again began to rise. By March 15 the rain ceased locally, but the river continued to rise as the water from flooded up-country rivers came down. It was already on that day 11 ft. over the upper wharf, and nearly up to the height of a few weeks earlier.

That day (March 16) was bright and clear with a good breeze and everything gave promise of clearing up fully, and pleasant weather insuring. Alas, for such hopes! The very next day the was a complete change for the worse, and a fresh south-easterly gale came in with much suddenness. The wind blew all night with terrific force, and the rain again descended in torrents. It was a miserable night, as the writer well remembers, and daylight was welcomed.

The morning was to show much more distressing circumstances, for the wind and rain continued without the slightest abatement, and before a scrappy breakfast was over the news came to the boarding-house “The Bulletin Office is nearly blown away”, it was only too true, though as an matter of fact, it was the roof, or a portion of it, that had been carried by the furious gale across Denham-Street on to the then vacant ground now covered by the police quarters, lock-up, and so on. That story has already been told, and it only needs now to be mentioned that a big stream of water was flowing steadily out of the front door after having washed through the composing room upstairs. This was the all the old “Bulletin” Office, that is now a portion of James Stewart and Co’s premises opposite the Post Office. The short leading article of the next day may be reproduced because it so vividly records the terrible state of affairs at that time. It was written by the editor and proprietor, Mr. W. H. Buzzacott, and was as follows, and the date was March 19, 1864:- a roofless building, exposed to a high wind pitiless rain, is not the most convenient place for either literary or typographical composition. Yet, owing to an unfortunate accident, such are the circumstances under which this day's issue has been published, and to difficulties thus superinduced we trust our readers will charitably debit all shortcomings. Oppressed by a violent storm, and visited by a flood that threatens to overstep considerably the height attained by the February inundation, we do not expect anyone will exhibit much interest in affairs removed from their own sphere of action, and this belief materially lightens our labours by limiting our choice of subject. Blurred and blotched by ‘Heavens distilled’- deafened by the shrieks of the wind and flapping of corrugated iron-our letters and our thoughts alike run round in watery vein, and restrict speculation to the probable duration of the present unfavourable weather. In the meantime the rain pours down, and the wind beats, searching every crevice, prising every defective nail, and unroofing flimsy edifices and fine-whether verandahs. The town bears the appearance of a wet Sunday, shopkeepers not thinking it worth their while to open their shops. The low-lying streets are covered with water, seagulls disport themselves on the only macadamised road and play around the puddles in Quay-Street. As for the river, it rolls majestically onwards, rising in its resistless height each hour, and submerging the frail tenements on its borders. Communication is cut off between customers and producers, even in the town-how much worse than it must be in the country, we leave to the imagination of our readers. The butcher, the milkman, and others whose business involves calls throughout the suburbs can scarcely face the storm, and the situation of the miners on the Peak Downs, (food supplies had been cut off) is in reality paralleled, to a limited extent, by the resident in the outskirts of the municipality. Under such circumstances patience is the only remedy, cheered by the conviction that the present visitation maybe the last for the season.

The paper that day was got out with extreme difficulty. Every person was wet and miserable, and with only great difficulty were the kerosene lamps kept alight, and enough type set for the issue. Of that little band of workers, Oscar McCrohon, Duncan Macmulan, William Johns, and the writer are still living.

On the next day there was an opportunity to look around the town a little. The City was truly in a terrible state. The river had risen 13 ft. 6 in. on the gauge at the upper wharf, and the flood was 20 inches higher than on the 20th of the previous month. There was great distress in all directions, the flooded out people, who had been rescued by boats were accommodated in the new gaol and the Church of England. As news gradually came in from outside places it was found that a great number of people had built their homes with almost total disregard of floods and these homes were feet deep in water. The poor people were glad enough to obtain a temporary shelter in the gaol, which up to that time had not yet been occupied.

The river at Yaamba had risen to unprecedented heights, and was at one place 2 ft. over the banks. Much of the township was submerged, and the majority of the inhabitants had congregated at Mr. P. F. McDonald's Yaamba station which was clear above the water.

The news from up-country when at length it came to hand showed that the country was in a very bad state. At Rolleston, or the Brown River township as it was then named, the Brown River was three-quarters of a mile wide, and at the Knebworth crossing the Dawson River had reached heights 12 ft. greater than previously known. The tale was much the same from other localities, the flood was greater in extent and covered the land to a greater depth than all previous records. The losses of sheep, cattle, and horses were great. Settler’s houses had been submerged or swept away, but fortunately there were few fatalities.

The flood in Rockhampton reached its greatest height on March 19th, when its depth on the gauge was 14 ft. 4 inches over the wharf. The rainfalls reported by Dr Callaghan were: January 5.21 in.; February, 15.15 in; part of March, 11.75 in; total, 32.51 in. Probably another 10 inches for March would not overstate the quantity.
On two occasions the velocity of the floodwaters of the Fitzroy River was a officially logged. In 1875 by Captain Beel, who made its speed about 8 1/2 knots per hour: and in 1890 by a Pilot Haynes who found its speed to be 8 ½ knots from the second cylinder of the bridge.

Rockhampton River Bank 1965

Towards the end of March the waters began to recede rapidly, and then ran out with customary speed. After two unprecedented floods in one season the people were glad enough to see the streets and roads dry once more, though the bad smells in connection with drying up brought customary fever and other illnesses. Thus ended the remarkable and long remembered flood or 1864.

Incidents of Flooded Period.

Nearly every person had his or her own thrilling incidents to relate to in regard to their experience of that memorable period. Many of these were of hairbreadth the escapes from drowning, because in many places the water rose so rapidly that residence and cattle grazing along them reeds had the greatest difficulty in escaping with their lives.

One of the first excitements Rockhamptonites had that year was the capture of Frank Gardiner, the notorious bushranger. At that time a lot of alluvial gold was being obtained on the Peak Downs, and stores and hotels were fairly plentiful on the old Peak Downs Road. Among these was one at Apie Creek, not far from the foot of the range, kept by two men named Christie and Craig, the former of whom was married. Among the travellers on the road was a man who recognised Christie as Frank Gardiner, and his supposed wife as Mrs. Brown, his paramour, who had a husband living. He was treated well by Gardner, who undoubtedly had relinquished his old habits, but no sooner did this man get back to Rockhampton than he took the steamer for Sydney, and gave the information to the police, there being a reward of £1,000 offered for the capture of the criminal. Two detectives, McGlone and Pye, were sent up, and with the assistance of the native police, Gardiner was captured and brought to Rockhampton, and lodged in the lock-up on March 8. This all occurred between the two floods. Gardiner was convicted and punished and subsequently died in California. What became of the informer could never be ascertained, but he was the kind of man to whom money would be anything but a blessing.

During the course of the second flood of 1864-in March-an adventure occurred that has often been told, but must not be omitted from this article, Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh was a west of Ireland Church of England cleric, but was more noted for his daring adventures in connection with bush life and as a horseman than in regard to church matters. He had been doing some exploring when the ‘64 floods struck the Central District, but in March he arrived at Yaamba, but being unable to cross the Fitzroy River there came on to Rockhampton. Arriving on the bank on the north side he could get no boatmen plucky enough to face the torrent to take him across. In such a dilemma it was characteristic of Featherstonhaugh to take matters in his own hands and to risk his life in swimming across. He had a powerful and capable steed, who had previously swam many creeks and small rivers with him, and Featherstonhaugh decided he should try his strength and swimming ability in the flooded Fitzroy. The horseman showed great acumen, and clearly recognised how quickly the horse would be swept away in a rapid and swirling current. The rider went as far up the bank as possible taking to the river at the little knoll at the mouth of Moore's Creek. The horse plunged in at once, and directly they were afloat, Featherstonhaugh, who was fully clothed, and wearing a grey bell topper, slipped out of the saddle on the downside. He guided the horse for the south bank, speaking encouraging words to it. The noble animal soon got out to the full force of the stream, but it headed directly for the bank, though carried away at great speed. Both Featherstonhaugh and the horse got safely to the shore and perfected a landing somewhere in the vicinity of the Belle Vue Hotel. Once ashore Featherstonhaugh mounted and rode off to his hotel. This great colonist died a few months ago in Victoria at about 90 years of age. There are still some living who saw that wonderful plucky feat.

Within a few days of the above perilous adventure, a townsman of Rockhampton had an even more astounding experience in the flood, one that nearly proved fatal. A man named Dellacaw, kept a fruit and vegetable shop been Quay-lane. He owned a garden at North Rockhampton, but could not reach it in a consequence of the flood. The day was beautifully fine and sunshiny, and having a little flat-bottomed boat Dellacaw conceived the idea of crossing the flooded river and returning with vegetables, he went far up in the slack water before he ventured into the current and then made towards the north bank. As it happened a lot of boatman had their boats pulled up on the bank, repairing, painting, and getting them in order for the time they would be needed when the water went down again. The writer and a friend were strolling along the bank watching the swirl of flood, and objects that were being carried down. Dellacaw had crossed the first current, and was opposite the Custom House, and was pulling away desperately, when he was caught in the second current that set in towards the bank. The bank was flooded and the water rough there. The little boat were swept away in this direction, and got among the tops of the mangrove trees. The pair of sculls appeared to be wrenched out of the man's hands and the boat capsized as though it were cardboard. We yelled to the men at the boats, but someone had noticed, and to boats were launched and manned with surprising speed. Dellacaw seemed at first to have sunk, but presently his black hair appeared, and he was seen holding on to the branches of the mangroves. Sometimes he would disappear under water, but after a few seconds would again appear. The tops of the mangroves were such a frail support that every minute it appeared as though he would be lost. Then there was the risk of the branch breaking off, or the whole tree disappearing. The two boats were now out in the river, one with four powerful rowers, but it was swept away far below were the drowning man was, and it had to be pulled back in the comparatively slack water. Hours seemed to pass-and it must have been nearly half-an-hour before Dellacaw was reached, and pulled into the boat in a state of exhaustion.

More Recent Floods.

Particulars of the 1875 flood, which was the first of any importance, after the 1864 event, have already appeared in “Jubilee Capricornian,” and need not been repeated here.

From 1875 there was no flood till 1890, a period of 15 years, when 55 in. of rain fell during the first three months. On April 7 of that year the flood had exceeded the flood of 1875, and two days later one of the cylinders of the bridge gave way. In February 1893, there was another flood, though not equalling what may be termed the big floods.

Rockhampton River Bank 2002

In 1896 Rockhampton had the highest flood up to that time. On February 10 it was six inches higher than the flood of 1890, and breaks all known records. At Yaamba the river was 14 in. over all previous floods.

In 1918, when every person was satisfied there was no chance of previous levels been beaten, the Fitzroy rose nearly 4 ft above all previous big floods, and left a level that it may be hoped will never again be reached.

Previous Page