Easter at Raymond Island

Lake Alford is a convenient stop for us to break our day and have lunch. We spent the previous few days with friends between home and Brisbane.

There are always birds here possibly biased toward a few that have learned to thrive in a town.

Gympie is a flood area and at Lake Alford is a flood marker and quite a bit of information on a sign. Here is that info.

Sign at Lake Alford Flood Marker.
The History of Gympie Floods

The Flood Marker Pole The Flood Marker Pole provides an awareness of Gympie's flooding history.

The colour rings the 12 metre pole incate the heights and dates of major flood waters experienced on this site.

Mary River outline shows the meandering path of the river which follows a path of least resistance through the attractive landscape of mountains, valleys, paddocks and plains. Many of the towns and localities that follow its path become isolated after heavy rainfall, and some are regularly inundated as a result of local downpours.

The Mary River is an essential element in the formation of life and sustenance for the Gympie region's rural landscapes and settlements. The original custodians of the land, the Kabi Kabi people called the river Moocooboola. This region's name, Dala, is also the traditional name for the Queensland Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), an ancient family of fish species endemic to the Mary and Burnett River systems. Headwaters of the Mary River begin in the hills near Kenilworth and flow through the Gympie region from Moy Pocket to Miva. From there, it weaves around Mt Kanigan and Tiaro, and on to Maryborough before the mouth of the river meets the Pacific Ocean at the Great Sandy Strait.

The river was named in honour of the then Governor's wife, Lady Mary Lennox, at a time before Queensland was formed when the region was still governed by New South Wales.

Gympie's flooding history has been well documented since the first major flood recorded in March 1870 caught the young township by surprise, causing considerable damage. Early settlers relied heavily on the river for their cattle grazing and gold mining pursuits and built close to the river's edge. A moderate flood followed in June 1873 which largely spared the community but raised their understanding and awareness of the river's potential.

Between July 1889 and March 1898, residents were hampered by a decade of severe flood events. Seven major floods occurred, including the largest recorded to date on 4 February 1893. Just 11 days later, Gympie and surrounding rural areas were again inundated by the eighth highest flood recorded to date.

During these early major floods, many homes and businesses were washed down river, mines were inundated, and vital crops and clean water supplies were lost.

Most flooding occurs in the wet warm months of February and March, however a few major floods have also occurred in the mid-winter months of June and July. At times, the residents of Gympie have experienced three or more floods in a year, sometimes within a few weeks of each other. For 30 years between 1898 and 1928, and again from 1931 to 1950, the area experienced low rainfalls and no major floods were recorded at all. Despite the irregular timing and nature of flooding, long term residents remain vigilant but new residents and visitors are often unaware of the risks or of how to prepare. Heavy rainfall from the upper reaches of the river can take a day or two to reach Gympie. Some flood waters creep up silently and quietly during the midnight hours or in the middle of a bright sunny day. Flood warning systems are installed and monitored across the region at Imbil, Fishermans Pocket, Gympie and Miva. The Kidd Bridge between Gympie and Southside records the official height of flooding in Gympie's urban areas. A 'major flood' is determined when water levels reach 17 metres in height at Kidd Bridge.

Community spirit and resilience has developed for more than a century as newspapers report stories of immense kinship, compassion and gratitude in the wake of heartbreaking efforts to repair and rebuild after a devastating major flood.

Whole communities can be isolated for several days so it is essential that residents prepare with supplies of food, water, medicines and alternative sources of power and communication.

Trees wash down river often leaving debris piled high against bridges. Roads and river crossings submerge, and electrical services are disrupted by water. Where fences are damaged, roaming livestock can cause further risk. Dangerous conditions can appear suddenly and in many forms.

Better forecasting and updates provide the community with timely information and awareness of past and current flooding patterns. This is the key to building the knowledge and resilience needed to manage risks and minimise damage, injury and inconvenience.

Gympie's residents and visitors are encouraged to develop personalised emergency plans that reflect their specific needs for safety and well-being during flood events.

Historic Quotes, Eye-witness Reports and Newspaper Articles

"A Golden Past. A Golden Future" 1893 - Torrential rainerid gale wash the rough slemente weatherboard shops, houses, slab huts and shafties. Earth streets became uagmires uck bellack teams, mine windlasses cease turning, and Chinese watch helplessly as the water swallows their market gardens. After a week of pouring rain, the river rises rapidly. Some storekeepers shift as many as three- times to elude the flood.

A sea of water streamed to Monkland, Rising at seven inches an hour... the moon gleamed fitfully of a dreary expanse of water and scenes of devastation such as had never been seen on the goldfield. The wash of water against houses and the dismal croaking of frogs... mines which were thought to be invulnerable were flooded. Several of the claims had 'blown up' erupting great fountains of water into the grey skies... at least 120 houses were counted as they were swept downstream by the rushing torrent.

Police and civilians manned boats and took provisions to people marooned and without shelter on high ground... the scene was almost indescribable... a young man who attempted to swim from Monkland street to the foot of Palatine Hill had to be rescued by boat... crops were destroyed and livestock swept away. The committee estimate that it handed out 500 blankets and 150 mattresses... flood victims were given 78%½ tons of flour, 18% tons of sugar, 4314 ½ lbs of tea...

12 April 1913 - Weather conditions... were of a most disagreeable nature. At a very early hour rain commenced to fall in heavy driving showers.... 1955-Rampaging floodwaters wreck the bridge leaving just the piers and crossbeams. The approaching

road for 300 yards is obliterated. The Pilchers Hill reservoir water inlet is severed. The falling flood waters reveal a scene of complete desolation and destruction. Farmers urgently require barbed wire. Culverts and crossings wash away. Two houses are thrown off their stumps in a major landslide. A flying fox

operates to carry milk and cream from dairies to the carriers. Numerous offers of assistance are wired to the Mayor.

1989 ruptured the main water pipeline linking Gympie to the treatment works at Jones Hill... there was a community spirit displayed where everyone chipped in and helped each other... many business people who were not affected ... were on hand to give assistance... a boat was needed to take the made-up pages from the newspaper office...

1989-Residents had no idea the water would be lapping their front yard by midnight... neighbours woke each other at midnight... heartbreaking to see your life just washed away... but this time it came up so quickly... previous flood had been different.

7 April 1989 - The only item saved from the clubhouse were the honour boards after members dived into the swollen creek... the tennis club's damage is hard to comprehend as all that is left is a huge hole in the ground... Kandanga Bowls Club lost one quarter of its green... in true spirit, the club hopes to play on Sunday, weather permitting.Read more