On this Day – Floodwaters rise to 6 feet over Edward Street.
There have been so many catastrophic floods in Queensland – whether caused by tropical cyclones, low pressure systems or, in the elegant parlance of today’s news reports, “rain bombs.” The 1893 flood was the first natural disaster to be thoroughly recorded by photographers. Here is some of their work, district by district.
A suburb map of Brisbane in 1892, which will help locate the areas photographed. (Gordon & Gotch)
West End and South Brisbane
West End after the flood. (SLQ)
Damage to the West End Brewery, 1893 (SLQ)
North Brisbane (Brisbane City)
Charlotte Street, Brisbane City. (SLQ)
Children playing in the receding floodwaters. (SLQ)
Queen Street, Brisbane (SLQ)
Mary Street.
The City Botanical Gardens.
Boats stranded in the Botanical Gardens (SLQ)
The Botanical Gardens (SLQ)
Curator’s House, Botanical Gardens, (SLQ)
The Victoria Bridge
Crowds gathered to see the Victoria Bridge in flood. (SLQ)
View from North Brisbane, showing the damage to the Victoria Bridge. (SLQ)
Moreton Bay and More 