|
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1257850 (From the Clarence and Richmond Examiner, April 5. 1864) Rain, rain, nothing but rain, rendering the before it. Such has been the Clarence River of late. |
 |
 |
 |
|
INTO another day. I woke with the yard water free. Now, as the day passes, it comes at us from the South and has just crossed the road. An inland sea of water. |
 |
|
Thank God for next door neighbours and local villagers, once again. I watch their faces and their actions. They tell us about 2001 and I tell them about Bellingen and Iz watches and learns. Water has been one of his “things” he tells me. Today he is the one down there in cold water and getting provisions in. He has a large stick to flick off the power if the water rises that high. |
Iz replaced the letterbox on the fence post. No mail today due to its being Saturday. Yesterday a wee lad on a pushbike delivered the papers. Undeterred was he. After the Iz fixed the letterbox which we found underwater yesterday, he took a walk down to the Village to see what was happening and to check on the Charade. |
 |
 |
|
The house above is just over the road and to the left. Morning of May 23 2009. |
Morning May 23 2009. |
 |
5.08pm. Dark and flooded. Fire Brigade went by a moment ago in the big truck. The road is under and it is eerily silent. Piles of cow dung are floating by. The power has stayed on and there are lights , dim spots of light here and there in the houses which are standing in this inland sea. |
|
|
The cars are still in their parking places at Swan Creek and at the Firies. The levee didn’t breach during last night but now the water rises silently and steadily across the paddocks. I have found records of other floods in the NATIONAL DIGITISED NEWSPAPERS of the NLA. See Below. Old Floods from other times. Kati B is again trapped in at Valery and one elderly gentleman was found dead in his submerged car at Raleigh. |
|
7.19pm Dark now with waters lapping. They don’t seem to have risen much since dark. Still lapping 8 steps down – back and front. Winds have risen and it is eerie. We thought for a moment we would be sleeping and retreating to the Attic. |
 |
 |
 |
| These are the front steps earlier in the day. The water is a lot dirtier now. | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Wonder whether there will be live Music at the Wide River Cafe in Ulmarra tomorrow? |
FROM RTA NSW.
OVERTOPPING THE LEVEE AT KEMPSEY 12.04 PM SATURDAY
Started at 22/05/09 6:55am
UPDATED 10:39am
PACIFIC HIGHWAY – VARIOUS LOCATIONS
ADVERSE WEATHER – FLOODING
Initial report
Lanes closed:
Both directions – All
RTA advice:
Exercise caution
Other advice:
The highway is closed between Ballina and Grafton and at Frederickton, north of Kempsey.
Started at 21/05/09 10:36am
UPDATED 7:18am
DORRIGO – WATERFALL WAY at DORRIGO MOUNTAIN
ADVERSE WEATHER – FLOODING
Initial report
Lanes closed:
Both directions – All
RTA advice:
Avoid the area, Use alternative route
Other advice:
The road is currently closed between Bellingen and Raleigh. There is no access from the Pacific Highway.
Started at 21/05/09 6:35pm
UPDATED 6:48pm
LAWRENCE – ULMARRA AND BLUFF POINT FERRIES
ADVERSE WEATHER – HEAVY RAIN
Confirmed
Lanes closed:
Both directions – All
Impact:
Significant
RTA advice:
Use alternative route
____________________________________
OLD FLOODS.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1257850
The Brisbane Courier Wednesday 13 April 1864,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3162000
Courier (Brisbane, Qld.) Thursday 12 March 1863,
THE" FLOODS- IN-THE- CLARENCE
AND RICHMOND DISTRICTS.
Tub Clarence and Richmond Examiner,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3463181
FLOODS IN THE CLARENCE AND RICHMOND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 28.
The Brisbane Courier Wednesday 9 February 1887, page 6
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3462763
The Brisbane Courier Saturday 29 January 1887
Further news from Grafton respecting the
floods in the Clarence River is to the effect that several houses were swept away at Ulmarra
and Copmanhurst.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3515295
The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 18 March 1890
The Presbyterian Church at Ulmarra was shifted bodily and placed in an unsafe condition, necessitating rebuilding
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3561450
The Brisbane Courier Friday 16 June 1893
On Saturday a resident of
Ulmarra lost seventeen head of fat cattle by one stroke of lightning.
Northern Territory Times Friday 24 February 1928
Ulmarra
A third flood in the Clarence within a
week occurred and our huge pastoral
and agricultural lands again covered
by floodwaters. Boats under police
supervision and manned by voluntary
crews have been out daily removing
families from flooded homes and
taking food to people who are isolated.
RECURRING FLOODS. THIRD IN CLARENCE RIVER. Rescue Work in Boats. ULMARRA.
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Friday 24 February 1928, page 16. News 458 words
The Canberra Times Wednesday 31 March 1954
MACLEAN, Tuesday. I
"Floods can be prevented on
the Clarence River," Federal
Minister for Health, Sir Earle
Page, said to-day.Sir Earle was addressing a
meeting of the Clarence Valleywomen’s flood-control committee.
He said a dam could be built
at the Clarence Gorge to hold
any flood likely to sweep down
the river. ‘"The dam proposed by experts is a dual purpose dam,"
Sir Earle told the meeting.It would prevent floods, and
the water stored in it could be
used for power production.The continual run of water down the river would tend to keep the channel clear and lessen dredging operations.
"With the completion of the northern breakwater and other port works at Iluka, expert opinion is that many of the present shallows will be permanently deepened," he said.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2785972
The Canberra Times Tuesday 27 June 1950,
Frederick Ayres, 35, -was drowned at Ulmarra
_______________________________________
BELOW: 1948.
___________________________________________
MAJOR FLOOD WARNING
FOR CLARENCE RIVER
Issued at 4:05 PM on Saturday the 23rd of May 2009
Flood Warning Number: 15
The Clarence River at Grafton peaked near 7.4 metres around 5:30 am this morning [23/05/09] with major flooding. The Clarence River at Ulmarra peaked near 5.8 metres around 10:30 am [23/06/09]. Major flood peaks will occur at Maclean later today.
Predicted River Heights/Flows:
Maclean - peak near 3.3 metres around 7:30 pm (23/05/09) with major flooding coinciding with the high tide. FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500. For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
Weather Forecast:
For the latest weather forecast see www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw
Next Issue:
The next warning will be issued by 7:30 pm (23/05/09).
Latest River Heights:
Nymboida R at Nymboida 8.51m rising 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Boyd R at Broadmeadows 4.72m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Tabulam 5.85m steady 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Baryulgil 7.39m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Mann R at Jackadgery 7.76m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Lilydale 14.04m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Orara R at Glenreagh 9m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Grafton (Prince St) 7.24m falling 12:15 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Ulmarra 5.68m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09 Clarence R at Maclean 3.04m steady 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
You call this a flood? I was in a houseboat on the Kalang River, Urunga, when the 1974 flood hit. After 6 days of bobbing up and down and whirling round and round, the rains and floods subsided. The water level dropped fast, like the big plug had been pulled out. Where I would end up was the niggling question..Well, 35 years later, thanks to that flood, I now have best view in the world from the deck of my houseboat. I ended up on the top of Piggot Hill, and thats where I’m staying. You can have ya bloody floods!!
Hi Eric, I was in the ’74 flood as well. Had the WHITE ROSE TRADING COMPANY up next to the pub. Piggot HIll sounds a good solution to me too. I am used to Bellingen and Urunga Floods. This Clarence one was weird. Long and slow and more like an inland sea. Not as scarey but LONG and SLOW. Cheers. Lynne.