As Queensland prepares for its worst torrential rain in more than 40 years, photographs reveal the devastating effects of an extreme storm in the state in the 1970s.
Floods swamped Brisbane on Australia Day weekend in 1974, killing fourteen people, destroying more than 6,700 homes and causing $8.1billion of damage.
The Brisbane River swelled after near-record rainfall in early 1974, which peaked with the torrential rain caused by Tropical Cyclone Wanda.
As Queensland prepares for its worst torrential rain in more than 40 years, photographs reveal the devastating effects of an extreme storm in the state in the 1970s
The Brisbane River swelled after near-record rainfall in early 1974, which peaked with the torrential rain caused by Tropical Cyclone Wanda
Floods swamped Brisbane on Australia Day weekend in 1974, killing fourteen people, destroying more than 6,700 homes and causing $8.1billion of damage
A man wears a raincoat as the inside of a building is severely flooded during the torrential downpours in Brisbane in 1974
People make their way through high floodwaters in front of the Port Office Hotel on Edward Street in Brisbane during the floods of 1974
For the five days from January 24 central Brisbane was on the receiving end of 650 millimetres of rain.
The army was called in to deal with the aftermath of the downpour, such was its effect on the city. Floodwaters reached six feet in some places.
Known as the ‘long weekend from hell’, the severe rain and floods that followed caused mass evacuations throughout Brisbane.
Children were rescued from houses by a groups on makeshift rafts, while houses were washed away.
Police called for people with boats to assist in rescuing people who had become trapped in their homes by the floodwaters.
The floods turned Brisbane into a city of island suburbs, the Courier-Mail reported at the time.
For the five days from January 24 central Brisbane was on the receiving end of 650 millimetres of rain
The army was called in to deal with the aftermath of the downpour, such was its effect on the city. Floodwaters reached six feet in some places
Known as the ‘long weekend from hell’, the severe rain and floods that followed caused mass evacuations throughout Brisbane
People use rafts to navigate along Alice Street in Brisbane during the floods
A huge 66,703-tonne tanger named the Robert Miller broke free from its moorings and there were fears it would get stuck across the Brisbane River.
As the tanker was being held by a single broken clench pin 10cm in diameter, it swung around and came to rest downstream.
It was hit by a ship, two gravel barges, caravans, drums of fuel and explosives, launches, refrigerators, trees and a cow that had found themselves caught up in the rapidly flowing waters.
By the time the weather finally cleared on Wednesday, January 30, the floods had killed 14 people, destroyed 6700 homes and left 5000 people homeless.
Children were rescued from houses by a groups on makeshift rafts, while houses were washed away
The floods turned Brisbane into a city of island suburbs, the Courier-Mail reported at the time
Police called for people with boats to assist in rescuing people who had become trapped in their homes by the floodwaters