This year marks 120 years since the devastating flood of 1893. East Maitland historian Peter Bogan has compiled this report from excerpts of the Maitland Mercury.
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After the 1949 flood there was much discussion/argument among the “Old Hands” about previous floods and listening to my grandfather and his mates, on this subject, the flood of 1893 was treated as the benchmark and “The Greatest of them all” by some and never to be beaten, while others would argue for the flood of 1913 and the greater destruction it caused. Strangely, in my memory, the 1930, the most recent of the large floods hardly rated a mention.
One should never say never when talking of floods and as those promoting the 1893 as the biggest were to be proved wrong as will be those who think the same of the 1955. There are two ways of measuring Maitland floods the first is, since 1868, when the piers for the first Belmore Bridge were sunk, the height reached by the flood as measured at the bridge. The March 1893 flood reached 37feet 3 inches, (11.35m) which was equalled by the flood of June 1930, a level still the third highest ever recorded at the Belmore Bridge, then surpassed by that of 15th August 1952 at 37 feet 9 inches, (11.51m) and then of course that of 1955 at 40 feet 4 inches, (12.29m), the flood of February 1971 at 37 feet 2 inches, (11.33m) almost equalled that of 1893.
Comparing flood heights at the Belmore Bridge is a record keeping activity, of much more importance is the lives lost, together with the damage and financial impact of a particular flood. It should be remembered that with increased population and the affluence of society there is the potential for an increase in the last two mentioned. There were five lives lost in 1893 and much damage done, however the Mercury, in reporting on the flood in May of 1913, at 37 feet, (11.28m), stated that many sufferers in that flood claimed that the damage done was much greater than that of 1893, although with the loss of only one life. As in 1955, in 1913 floodwaters came from a burst embankment at Cummins and tore through Oakhampton causing such great damage that the Mercury would report that “ lands have been furrowed up and holes excavated as if by a heavy charge of dynamite” then added “ ----- lands are torn about as if a steam dredge or scoop had been used”. Then in the flood of June 1930 The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner’s Advocate would carry the headline “WORSE THAN IN 1913”. On the other hand we have the flood of 15th August 1952 which still holds the spot as second highest ever at the Belmore Bridge but caused comparatively little damage in the town.
However, while various claims can be made of all floods there is no doubt that the flood of February 1955 was, and still is, the highest every reached at the Belmore Bridge, was the flood with the most deaths, (eleven), and the most destructive in physical damage and financial loss ever to hit Maitland --------- SO FAR.
if they had had 25 inches, (625mls) as they had had about Brisbane and a little higher up, Maitland would soon be a town of the past. They had only to look into a fact like this to consider, the phenomenal rainfall; the wide extent of water spread over the country between Ipswich and Brisbane;”
The flood got into our machine and engine rooms on Thursday night, and it rose so rapidly that we were unable to get out our usual Saturday's paper. All records of previous floods were easily beaten on this occasion, for the water was three feet higher than that of 1890 which was heretofore unexampled, indeed it topped the governor of the engine. We did the best we could for our subscribers and got out a flood edition on Monday night, which was eagerly sought for. The inundation injured some of the machinery and destroyed some documents and papers.”
The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser” reported on that flood. When reading damage reports remember the 1893 purchasing power of £100 today, would be the equivalent of slightly more than $13,250
THURSDAY 9th MARCH Yesterday afternoon river at Maitland started to rise 22ft by 10pm. Reports from along the river giving some indications of what was to come. Scone, Wednesday, Rain started at 7am, 130 points, (32mls) in first hour; raining steadily since, total fall, 319 points, (80mls). Merriwa. Wednesday. Raining continuously since 7am. 313 points, (78mls) fallen, still raining heavily, river rising. Muswellbrook, (sic) from 9 a.m. till 3 a.m. 205 points, (50mls), still raining smartly, river rising fast. Singleton, river17 feet, rising rapidly. Wollombi, creeks rising. heavy rain all day, now raining heavily. Clarence Town, last night, heavy rain and again early this morning. Today raining incessantly; all the creeks flooded, low lands covered, no rise in river yet. now blowing a S.E. gale, raining heavily. Up to 5 p.m., 522 points, (130mls,) registered. Fears that we will have another flood. Paterson, 500 points, (125mls) fell in the space of 3 hours 20 minutes, rain during Tuesday night 175 points, (44mls), river up a few feet, now rising rapidly. Also mentioned that “Subscriptions continue to be received from residents of West Maitland and district on behalf of the fund organised to aid the sufferers by the recent floods in Queensland.”
SATURDAY 11th MARCH Unable to publish
TUESDAY 14th MARCH Flood reports in this special flood edition. Page 2 contained 7232 words followed by 5,668 words on page 3, a total of 12,890 words The reports covered events since the previous week. On Thursday when the Mercury staff were making preparations for Saturday’s edition “-----when the rise of the waters made the further working of the machines impracticable. On Friday and Saturday the office was deeply in flood, and no work of any kind was possible. Communication by rail and telegraph cut. Yesterday morning, finding the gas cut off, and knowing that we should not be able to print our usual edition at night, we resolved to issue a flood edition”. The reports in this edition are very mixed and varied with no story line but the editor promised “When we get again fairly into working order and into regular publication, we shall expect to give further particulars of the visitation which will make the year 1893 memorable to residents of the Hunter valley as it has been made memorable to those of Southern Queensland.”
Thousands mourn the loss of property accumulated by thrift and care, and who know not where to turn for a meal, the hand of charity will presently be opened wide, and relief arrangements will be organised to provide against acute distress and starvation, last Tuesday afternoon rain began with a thunderstorm, and continued through Tuesday night, Wednesday and Wednesday night, and Thursday, wind south-easterly, and blew, especially on Wednesday night, with the force of a gale. Trees uprooted and large branches torn off. Around midnight Wednesday reports of river being 30ft at Belmore Bridge, extremely fast rise, 8 feet in two hours, news a startling shock, also a warning received at Telegraph Office from Singleton that a disastrous inundation was impending. People at once made preparations for safety of families and goods and chattels. At four o'clock Sub-inspector Duffy, in view of the rapid rise of the water, rang warning fire bell.