Rosewood History

Boy trying to rescue his pony in the flood water at Seven Mile Creek.

The 1864 Floods

Courier (Brisbane), Friday 25 March 1864, page 3
At the Rosewood, on Friday night last, the water rose with such rapidity that a party of five employed in building a bridge about a mile beyond the inn were compelled to seek refuge in a tree, where they remained till the morning when the waters subsided as rapidly as they had risen. Mr. Rodgers, jun., one of the party, came into Ipswich on Sunday, having had to swim all the creeks on the road. The paddock behind the Rising Sun Hotel, at the Rosewood, where a road party has for some time been encamped, were several feet under water, and boxes, tents, &c., were floating about in all directions, the party having been compelled to fly to higher ground.

The whole of the country from the Seven Mile Creek to the Rosewood was immersed, inflicting great damage on the numerous settlers in that district. Mr. McGrath’s public house, at the Three-Mile Creek, was filled with the families of the numerous small farmers settled on the banks of the several creeks in that neighborhood, all of whom are flooded out, their crops being totally destroyed.

Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday 16 April 1864, page 5
THE FLOODS
One of the greatest floods that has ever occurred in Queensland within, the memory of man visited the colony about the third and fourth weeks of March last. The inundation was general and in all places from the northern to the southern boundary and the sea coast to the most remotest parts of the interior was declared to be the greatest and most disastrous on record.

An incident of no little importance connected with these floods was the prediction of Lieut. Saxby, at present in England, regarding them. He foretold in a work published in London that during March and more especially about the time we have above mentioned there would be extraordinary floods. In the more important as well as in the minor details, the whole of what he prophesised respecting the weather has taken place. His weather forecasts have been realised, and in consequence his name has attained considerable notoriety. His work, which is not to be had in Queensland, is everywhere, inquired for and orders have been transmitted to England for a supply. 

Commencing with this district, the flood was most severely felt about the 20th and 22nd of the month. The weather for many weeks previously had been gloomy and often wet, and on several occasions the river Bremer was flooded to a considerable extent. On the 18th the weather became stormy, the rain descended in torrents and continued to fall without intermission until the following morning when it suddenly ceased. The river rose during the night at a fearful rate, and by morning had reached to within a few feet of the highest before known. The previous downfalls had saturated the ground so that it could contain no more, and the waterholes and creeks being all full, every drop that fell during the twenty-four hours flowed directly into the rivers. During the whole of Saturday, the 19th ult., though not a drop of rain fell, the Bremer river continued to rise and at last the marks of the highest previous floods had disappeared. Some parts of the town suffered severely, and for the time it was almost surrounded with water. Several vessels of light tonnage employed as lighters were on the river and they were moored to trees some thirty feet above the level of the ordinary landing places. This will show to what an extraordinary height the waters reached. 

When places such as the wharves were submerged to such an extent, it can well be imagined that only such of the merchant’s stores and warehouses as were on a high level escaped the flood, but those who were less fortunate as regards the situation of their storehouses suffered heavy losses. Messrs. Pettigrew and Co., and Messrs. Wienholt, Walker, and Co., whose large buildings stand on the back of the river and were at that time full of valuable goods and wool, could only with difficulty rescue a portion of what they contained, as the water rose several feet in them before much was got out. But it is needless to go into further details in this respect. These firms were the principal losers; the most of the other injuries done were to the houses and other property of persons who lived within reach of the flood. 

The following appeared in our columns at the time:
The flood was at its highest at Ipswich at 1 am. on Monday, the 21st March, when it was flush with the stone wall at the end of East-street. At this point the water remained stationary for two hours, when it began to fall slowly. Since then it has been gradually subsiding, and is now on a level with the lower banks, and is yet a foot or two over the wharves. It is still  falling and probably will be at the ordinary high water mark this evening or tomorrow. A deposit of mud been left by the flood on the banks where the flood has reached. Some places in consequence are unapproachable, and will be for a day or two until it dries up. The culvert in Bremer-street, between Messrs. Wienholt, Walker, & Co.’s and Thorn-street, was yesterday evening under water, and the roadway near it was several inches deep in mud. 

Mr. G. O’Rourke’s engine-house, on the bank of the river, below Messrs. Pettigrew and Co.’s stores , has been destroyed and carried off, while the engine itself has suffered a considerable amount of injury. Mr. O’Rourke’s loss will create general sympathy, for he has incurred a very large outlay to promote the public convenience, and has been a loser by his public spirited exertions. 

A portion of the roadway in Brisbane-street, near the stone bridge, has fallen in, carrying with it some of the kerbing and guttering. It will not prove any obstacle to traffic, but the breach will require immediate repair to prevent any further damage. We understand the Corporation intend to support the sides of the roadway in this particular place, by driving piles. In Victoria, there are plenty of pile-driving machines, some of them driven by stream, which are often at a standstill for want of work. The owner of a machine of the kind, if he came soon, would make a small fortune in Ipswich. The railway contractors have not neglected to import machinery of this kind for their own use. 

At the Five Mile Water-hole, much damage has been done. Fences have been carried away. The maize crop, which had lately been picked off ten acres of ground, was carried away. Great injury, in short, has been done to all the small settlers about Ipswich, further particulars of which will not be known for a few days to come. 

The Bremer Mills were flooded, and the man in charge had to fire off a gun in distress, when he was removed by a boat sent from Town Marie by Mr. R. J. Smith.

The Redbank coal-pits, which are worked from the bank of the river, have been twice flooded lately, and on the last occasion to greater extent then ever before. It will be a fortnight at least before the pits are cleared of water. Fortunately there was a large quantity of coal at the shoots. Two of the sheds belonging to the Redbank establishment were carried away, and one of the shoots received considerable injury. All the paddocks in the neighbourhood were under water, and the crops of the farmers destroyed or greatly damaged. A man in the employment of Mr. Gillingwater was surrounded by the flood before he had time to escape, but was saved by a boat being sent for him from Redbank. We hear of a small settler near Normanby, upon whom the flood came so suddenly, that he and his family saved their lives only by climbing to the top of the stockyard fence, and remaining there till the water subsided. 

THE TOOWOOMBA ROAD
Within the last month so frequent have been the inundations of the low lying portion of the Rosewood, that the residents have got somewhat used to them. But the flood which occurred on Saturday and Sunday last, pronounced the highest that has ever visited the district, occasioned far more damage and loss than has ever yet been experienced. This place is rendered somewhat noteworthy at the present time, owing to the presence of a large road party, who for some months past have been engaged an making a road through what had been, and still is, not undeserving of the name of a swamp. For miles around the land lies on almost a dead level, so that whenever the Bremer-creek overflows its banks, the neighbourhood to a considerable extent under water.

On the 19th the rain began to fall heavily, and the wind blew a hurricane. About two o’clock in the morning the flood began to rise with amazing rapidity, and in a manner beyond description. The water came rolling down the creek at an impetuous rate. The whole of the Rosewood paddock, excepting the part near the hotel, was at once more or less flooded. The road party, seeing how dangerous their position was becoming, endeavoured to shift their property and the tents, but they were obliged in almost every ease to leave everything behind.

Some Germans and their families, who were among the party, had been cautioned to be on their guard beforehand, but most of them, treating the warning with levity, were too late when the flood did come, and the women and children had to tank refuge in the dray of a man named Mexstead, and the men in the trees. They remained in that position for twelve hours. When the flood was at its highest, which was on Saturday, there were four feet of water on the spot where the Government tents were placed; the most elevated, excepting the end of the paddock were Mr. O’Brien’s inn is situated, within a considerable area.

The rush of water was tremendous, and, as our informant declares, was running at the rate of twelve knots an hour. A great number of the men working on the road, many of them with their families, have had everything they possessed in the world swept away by the flood. A woman, whose name we have unable to learn, and who was in a delicate state of health, had to remain in a tree all night. The poor woman lashed her three children to her with a clothes line, determined that on of her family was drowned, they should all die together. 

Amongst the good lost by the road party maybe mentioned the following. We print the list as give to us by Mr. Holmes, the Clerk of Works:- 7 tents, 16 to 17 cwt. sugar, 150lbs. tea, 4 bags four, 3 bags corn, 6 cwt. hay – in fact, the whole of the government stores. Mr. Holmes also lost a saddle.

The stockyard-fence at Mr. O’Brien’s was knocked down, and a horse, with a bridle and saddle on, was carried away and drowned. A horse in traces and another in hobbles were also lost. It will be recollected that three dead horses of this description passed Ipswich at a later period of the same day. To show the force of the flood, a new waggon which was standing a short distance from a gully was turned over several times as it were a mere toy, and was finally deposited at the bottom of the gully. The water did not begin to subside here until late on Saturday afternoon. 

At the Seven-mile Creek the water was six inches over the handrail of the bridge. It was also three feet in the White Lion Hotel, the inmates of which had for the time, to remove to the roof. Mr. Kyran Walsh’s house was four feet in water. The newly-made road near Mr. Brecht’s refreshment house, has sustained considerable damage, the whole of the metalling for about a quarter-of-a-mile being washed away. Other parts of the road had been damaged in a like manner by the flood. 

On the road between the Rosewood and the village of Alfred a part was under water. The contractors, with their men, engaged in building culverts at the Ten and Eleven-mile gullies, had to climb to the top of their works until the creek subsided. The culvert between Alfred and Bigge’s Camp has not sustained any injury; but at the latter place, the flood rose to within eighteen feet of Mr. Cook’s inn, which is on a very high piece of ground. A culvert at the foot of the Little Liverpool Range was slightly injured.

The Franklyn Vale Road, during Saturday was submerged, in some places, to the depth of twelve feet.

GATTON
Great damage has been done in this township and its neighbourhood by the flood in the Gatton Creek. At four o’clock this morning the inhabitants were alarmed by the sound of roaring waters, owing to the creek “coming down,” and it soon rose to about fifteen feet higher than it was ever known before. The following are some of the disastrous results of this visitation. 

The new bridge, lately constructed by Messrs. Rourke and Munroe, Victorian contractors, was much injured. About a third of the hand-railing, flooring, and joisting has been carried away, leaving the bridge impassable for man or horse. In the approach from the Gatton side, one of the piles has been drawn up about four and a half feet, thus due shifting the stringers and giving the framework a slew to the right side. The water ran about four or five feet over the main arch. It is to be hoped that the Engineer of Roads will proceed at once with repairing the bridge, as there is no chance of drays being able to get over the old crossing place; nothing having been done to it since the bridge was made, it is in an impassable state. 

The store of Mr. F. Lloyd was under water, and all the flats about Gatton were converted into lakes. Logs of timber, to any amount, were carried along by the current, breaking down the fences in their way. Had it not been for the activity of Mr. Latimer, five horses would have been drowned in Mr. Curry’s paddock, as the flood rose as high as the top of a two-rail fence. At five in the morning, Mr. Latimer boldly swam across to the paddock, released the horses, and made them swim to dry land. A paddock fence belonging to Mr. Lloyd was completely swept away. A family named Donohoe were obliged to take to the ridges, as the water rose two feet high in their house. It will be about two weeks before it will be possible to take dray over the old crossing place. 

At Sandy Creek, six miles from Gatton, there has been great damage done to some loading of Mr. James M’Grath’s. One of his drays has been upset, and some of the loading carried away. The grass was like a bleaching green, from the quantity of drapery spread out to dry. 

The culvert opposite the Laidley Hotel has been carried away. 

THE WARWICK ROAD
Throughout the whole of the road between Warwick and Ipswich the creeks were bank and bank high. We understand that Mr. Kingsford, who left Warwick on Monday afternoon and arrived here yesterday afternoon, had to swim every creek in his way, as also the mailman who came in between two and three p.m. yesterday. The banks having been washed away by the floods rendered it very difficult to cross, and the attempt would have been certain death to inexperienced persons. 

Until receiving further information it would not be right to repeat the ensue reports we have heard of the fearful loss of stock and property that has taken place along this line. The low land lying between the top of the Range and Warwick and Glengallan was nothing but as inland sea. On the Gladfield Reserve two horse drivers not only lost the property they had in charge, owing to the sudden rising of the flood, but also nearly lost their lives. The waters came upon them in the middle of the night, and they had to wade in the dark to high ground, up to their arm pits in water. A dog belonging to one of the man was swept away by the current and drowned. 

BRISBANE
The Brisbane River, though very broad at the town bearing the same name, rose to such an extent as to food most of the principal stores on its banks, and the backwater which flowed up the numerous creeks immersed such places as were within reach. The damage done by the food at Brisbane may be summarised as follows: Pettigrew’s Saw Mills have been under water. They must have sustained great damage; but this cannot be ascertained till the flood has subsided. A considerable quantity of timber has got loose and many fine logs have found their way to the bay. Amongst the mishaps which occurred was almost the entire destruction of the Ship Inn, caused by some of the piles on which it is fixed, giving way, and so dragging down a great part of the building. 

At Milton, Kangaroo Point, and South Brisbane, a large proportion of the land was under water. In the latter place boats plied in all the streets. Many houses were covered all but the roofs; and, in many more, the water had with equal completeness, expelled every other tenant. Men, wading and swimming, were to be seen in various directions, at the risk of their lives, trying to get their own or their neighbours’ property to a place of safety. The hotels known as Donovan’s, Nolan’s, Molony’s, McQuakers, &o., shared the same fate with their neighbours, and neither gave welcome nor hospitality. 

At the stores of Messrs. J. and G. Harris, gangs of men were at work all day, but as the water rose higher and higher, in despite of the efforts used, great injury was done and loss sustained, to the extent of some thousands of pounds sterling. At Raff’s stores a good deal of injury has also been done, though not to the same extent; and the unremitting exertions of the employees of the firm, saved much of the property. In one case a quantity of sugar was saved by removing part of the roof of one of the stores, and so getting is out. A large quantity of tea has been injured at the Company’s stores. In the new stores occupied by Bright Brothers, and Co., Moore snd Co., &c, a great deal of injury has been done by the backwater from Charlotte-street, forcing itself up through the flooring-the arched sewer lately put down in Mary-street entirely preventing the water from flowing off according to the natural fall of the ground. Frog’s Hollow was in a most wretched state; many of the houses, hitherto considered safe, sharing the same fate as the rest, and much lose has been suffered by the poor people residing in this little-favoured locality. 

For many miles along the banks of the river farmers have been flooded out, and not only their crops, but their furniture, and in some cases their habitations have been swept away. The stone jetty at Cleveland was completely swept away during the gale on Friday night. Doubtless when the water subsides sufficiently for the up-country mails to travel, we shall hear of along series of disasters, probably of a more mournful character than we have hitherto been called upon to relate. 

Some eight miles from Brisbane, in the direction of Ipswich, on the banks of Oxley Creek, a large number of agriculturists are settled on their farms. Oxley Creek is a tributary of the Brisbane River. The locality is very fertile, and consequently well adapted for farming purposes. The number of settlers here is very large, and when is stated that, with few exceptions, they were flooded out by the water from the Brisbane river, it may well be supposed that great injury has been sustained.

As soon as the extent of the loss of the Oxley Creek settlers became known in Brisbane, a public meeting was convened for the purpose of devising means for their assistance. Sympathy is everywhere expressed for the unfortunate sufferers; subscription lists were opened; and a deputation waited on the Colonial.Secretary to ascertain if the Government would lend any help. The Colonial-Secretary assured the deputation that the Oxley Creek farmers would not be forgotten, and he stated the terms upon which the Government would meet them. If the public raised a certain sum the Government would supplement it by a similar amount, so that if £500 were raised by subscription, £1000 should be at the disposal of the sufferers. The farmers stated they would not accept the money in any other way than as a loan, and as such will it be given to them.