Flood1974-01-24

Please note, although your property may not have been directly affected by this flood event, the event has been included in your suburb listing because according to the Bureau of Meteorology river gauge data, a catchment near your suburb recorded a high mark. This event may have affected your suburb.

On 24 January 1974, torrential rain and record breaking floods were a direct result of Tropical Cyclone Wanda, which crossed north of Brisbane. Record flooding occurred in the Bulloo, Paroo, middle and lower reaches of the Flinders, Norman, Gilbert, Cooper, Diamantina, Georgina and Eyre rivers and creeks as well as Nerang, Brisbane City metropolitan, upper Brisbane, Bremer, Warrill and Logan rivers. By 29 January the Brisbane area had recorded 900 mm of rain. Brisbane also received 314 mm of rain in a 24 hour period surpassing the previous record established in 1931.

Six thousand houses were inundated by flood waters, where fifty-six were either completely destroyed or deemed uninhabitable. Widespread damage to infrastructure including roads, railways and bridges as well as power lines, resulted in serious power failures throughout the affected regions. Business and industries sustained millions of dollars in losses due to the heavy deluge. The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 1974 damage at $68m, with the 2007 estimated repeated cost of $2095m. Major flooding occurred in almost all areas of the State. Few areas had no flooding at all. One of these was the Dumaresq River upstream from Goondiwindi, where at one stage during the month, water was released for irrigation.

Link: More Info on the 1974 Brisbane flood

The 1974 Brisbane Flood produced the worst city flooding in Austr…

Submerged house at Oxley during the 1974 Brisbane Flood , 'John O…

Aerial photograph showing the flooded Bremer River flowing throug…

Brisbane during the 1974 flood caused by cyclone Wanda, 'John Oxl…

Yeronga during the 1974 flood caused by cyclone Wanda, 'John Oxle…

Aerial view of Chelmer showing the extent of the floodwaters when…

Looking over South Brisbane during the floods, 1974, 'John Oxley …

Flood damage at St Lucia caused by 1974 floods, 'John Oxley Libra…

Flood damage at Jindalee caused by the 1974 Brisbane Flood 'John …

Flood damage at Rocklea caused by the 1974 Brisbane flood, 'John …

Boulia during flood. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensl…

Flood water surrounds the Centenary Cafe in Boulia, 1974. John O…

Retired Senior BOM Forecaster Jeff Callaghan on 3 major Brisbane …