Brisbane Flood of 1974 - our collections
By Myles Sinnamon and Tania Schafer, State Library of Queensland | 22 January 2024
On the evening of 24 January 1974, Tropical Cyclone Wanda crossed the Queensland coastline near Maryborough, followed by five days of torrential rain. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, rainfalls in the Brisbane area ranged from 500mm to 900mm during this period. The Bureau also reported that at least 6,700 homes were partially or totally flooded in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Ipswich recorded approximately 1,800 residential or commercial premises partially or totally inundated by floodwaters. Mount Glorious recorded the highest rainfall for the 5 days with 1318mm. Areas around the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales were also affected. Sadly, 16 lives were lost.
Houses in St Lucia flooded to the roofline during the Brisbane flood of January 1974. 32027, Rosemary Spenceley's colour slides of Brisbane and Southeast Queensland. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 32027-0001-0003
As custodians of Queensland's documented history through media such as photographs, film footage and old newspapers, State Library holds a number of resources covering the impact of the 1974 Brisbane Floods. Here are some examples from our collection.
Film footage
Eric Gaehler Collection
Initially lost for several decades until its rediscovery, two reels of 35mm colour film footage of the Brisbane 1974 flood along with associated newspaper clippings were donated to State Library's collection by professional cameraman Eric Gaehler in 2003. This footage is significant as it remains the only 35mm colour film of the flood. The nine minutes of footage, filmed around Paddington, Brisbane's CBD and South Brisbane, shows the severity of the floodwater affecting neighbourhoods and iconic Brisbane structures such as Festival Hall and Victoria Bridge. There are also aerial views around the CBD providing a bird's-eye view of the surrounds. You can watch Eric’s footage below.
Video - Brisbane during the 1974 floods. 5469, Eric Gaehler Collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Bill Rahmann Films collection
During the flood amateur film maker Bill Rahmann captured footage around the Brisbane CBD. The 5 and a half minute film includes images of Festival Hall, Southside Motors, Pauls Ice Cream and Milk Ltd, the Victoria Bridge and the William Jolly Bridge. The footage also shows the floodwaters against the partially constructed Riverside Expressway. One of the most impactful scenes shows on elderly man watching the speed of the floodwaters of the Brisbane River.
Footage of the 1974 flood, titled 'When Will We Ever Learn' 29226, Bill Rahmann Films, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Gary Golding Film
Taken by Gary Golding, this 3-minute footage features the Brisbane CBD with some impressive bird's-eye views from the top floor of the Executive Building in George Street and further scenes from the Government Chemical Laboratory in William Street. Notable landmarks captured by Golding included the City Botanic Gardens, the floodwaters against the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Victoria Bridge and flooded businesses along the Brisbane River where present-day South Bank is situated.
1974 flood footage. 29100, Gary Golding 1974 Brisbane Flood Film, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Oral histories
Washed Away, 1974
First-hand accounts of those who experienced the flood give a very personal perspective on this large scale disaster. An oral history project, 'Washed Away' was recorded in 1999 and includes 14 interviews. One interview features the reminiscences of Eddie and Maureen Thompson who were living in Tiesdale Street, Corinda. Initially thinking they were safe, the couple and their 6 month-old baby evacuated when floodwater came up to their floorboards. The Thompsons initially relied on the kindness of others, who allowed them stay in their backroom on a mattress on the floor. Eddie and Maureen's parents were also badly affected by the flood, living in Chelmer and Graceville. You can listen to these interviews via our One Search catalogue.
1974 Flood Recordings Oral History
This collection was originally recorded onto four cassette tapes and features radio news and announcements broadcast by radio stations 4BC, 4GY, 4KQ and 4MBS-FM. These tapes provide a fascinating timeline as news stories were unfolding. Due to copyright restrictions the tapes are not available online, however they are available to listen to onsite at State Library via our One Search catalogue.
View of flooded houses and apartment buildings during the Brisbane flood of January 1974. 32027, Rosemary Spenceley's colour slides of Brisbane and Southeast Queensland. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 32027-0001-0002
Photographs
Digitised images
You can view hundreds of digitised photographs from the 1974 flood on our One Search catalogue, depicting affected areas such as Graceville, Indooroopilly, Ipswich, Oxley, Fairfield, St Lucia, Toowong, New Farm, Breakfast Creek, Yeronga, Windsor and Brisbane’s CBD.
Paul Rodukoff papers
This collection contains 150 aerial photographs of the 1974 flood in Brisbane. These images were taken by RAAF 2 Squadron from Amberley on 29 January from an F1-11 aircraft at a height of 20,000 feet. These images are not available online, but can be viewed onsite at State Library.
Erroll Street during the 1974 flood in Graceville, Queensland. Heather Hallam, photographer. 27971 Graceville Flood Photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 27971-0001-0008
Aerial view of flooded buildings from St. Lucia, Queensland, 1974. Ann Shevill, photographer. 28533 Ann Shevill's St Lucia Flood Photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 28533-0001-0002
Floodwaters running under the Victoria Bridge Brisbane, 1974. 30695, Cairns, Brisbane and Gold Coast colour slides. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: lbp00081
Port Office Hotel in Edward Street during the Brisbane floods of 1974. 30695, Cairns, Brisbane and Gold Coast colour slides. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: lbp00082
Submerged homes at Yeronga during the 1974 Brisbane flood. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 177195
Digitised map
Flood map of Brisbane & suburbs delineating the extent of the January, 1974, Brisbane River flood
This Brisbane flood map, produced by the Queensland Survey Office covers an area north to Windsor, south to Corinda, west to Toowong and east to Greenslopes. The digitised map can be viewed via our One Search catalogue.
Newspaper clippings
State Library holds 2 volumes of newspaper clippings documenting the flood, starting from the wake of Cyclone Wanda through to the aftermath and clean up, with articles sourced from newspapers such as The Courier Mail, Telegraph, Sunday Mail, Sunday Sun and The Australian. These volumes provide a dramatic insight into events as they unfolded in the media. The 1974 Flood Newspaper Clippings can be viewed onsite at State Library of Queensland
1974 Flood Clippings, OM92-53, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Further collections and stories related to Queensland floods of the past
- 1974 Bellbowrie Flood Deaths Remembered (guest blog story by Neville Marsh)
- Floods of the past (Flickr album of photographs)
- Destruction of the Victoria Bridge : 1893 Brisbane Flood
- Souvenir of Floods: Southern Queensland, February, 1893
- Photographs from Rockhampton's Great Flood of 1918
- Sudden deluge swamps Brisbane - January 1941
- Footage of the Maryborough floods of 1955
- Remembering the 2011 Queensland floods
- 2011 Queensland floods - History in Pictures
- Queensland’s Summer of Natural Disasters 2010/2011 - the creation of a newspaper cutting book
- Brisbane floods - in conversation with Brisbane historian, Helen Gregory (audio recording on Youtube - recorded in 2011)
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