Living with natural processes was frequently a challenge to early European settlers and later residents of what was in the 1850s administered by the Borondara Road Board. This was compounded by the area being bounded on three sides by rivers (Yarra River, Koonung Creek and Gardiner's Creek). In 1849, the historian James Bonwick recorded that "our district [Kew] suffered considerably. Mr Wade speaks of 80 acres, out of 100 acres of his cultivated paddock, covered by water." Newspapers continued to describe major flooding in Kew in 1863, 1869, 1878, 1880, 1889, 1891, 1916 and 1934. While the construction of the Upper Yarra dam in 1957 reduced the levels of flowing downstream, local and riverine floods continue. A number of boat houses operated on both sides of the River Yarra at Kew. Chipperfield's Boat House was located on the Yarra near the corner of Kilby and Willsmere Roads.The Kew Historical Society's pictures and map collections testify to the impact of flooding in the district. They have historical importance in documenting the extent of flooding in the district and its affects on homes, services and recreation. Numerous photographs record flooding throughout the Twentieth Century.Floating pontoon at Chipperfield's Boat House where the canoes were stored, taken in 1934, presumably before the 1934 Flood. This area of the Yarra was shallow with a number of mid river sandbanks and a popular swimming area for locals.yarra river, chipperfield's boathouse, pontoon

An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic and postcard collection, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew.Flood waters in Glenferrie Road. Glenferrie Meat Supply – Boyd & Winnett opposite. Car in distance in flood waters. Real photo postcardglenferrie road -- hawthorn (vic.), floods -- hawthorn (vic.), christian-washfold collection

North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. Vivid photograph contrasting domestic life and relationships with natural disasters such as the flood of 1934.Small sepia snapshot of two submerged houses belonging to local families in River Avenue, North Kew, during the 1934 floods. The view is presumably from near Kellett Grove looking north towards Fairfield.Verso: COES & HYATTS ROOF / RIVER AVENUE / Stamped: 6414yarra river -- north kew, floods -- yarra valley, floods -- north kew, floods -- 1934, natural disasters -- kew

A bridge to Walmer Street, Kew, from Abbotsford was located at the northern end of Burnley Street. It was a foot bridge.Photographic print of the Walmer Street Bridge. The view of the Bridge is from the Abbotsford side of the Yarra. A section of pipe on the near side of the bridge is a remnant of the irrigation pipes that carried water from above Dight's falls to the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. The former bridge, constructed in 1896 was swept away in the 1901 Flood. It has two major brick piers while the remainder of the trestle supports are metal. The original photograph from which this copy was made was taken after 1901 as it shows the second bridge under construction. Houses in Young Street, Kew, can be seen on the far side of the river.Written on reverse: "Walmer St. Bridge. Erected 1896. Being rebuilt after 1901 flood damaged it. Houses on left are in Young St."bridges -- kew (vic.), walmer street bridge, melbourne botanic gardens

Coloured photograph"Written on back of photograph" Greens flooded.

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. A fine and clear view of the Zig-Zag Bridge across the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 5 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This is a photograph of the 1870s Zig-Zag Bridge that linked the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The Bridge was demolished in 1929."Flood / Zig-Zag / Kew / 1.24"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Flood Kilby Road / May 74"ron setford, floods -- kew (vic.), kilby road -- kew (vic.)

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Flood Kilby Rd / May 74"ron setford, floods -- kew (vic.), kilby road -- kew (vic.)

Colour photograph. Note debris on the rail fencing around the oval. The Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, oval, nillumbik historical society, rail

Photograph of a quilt made for the Carisbrook flood victims.

Peter Cameron, came to Orbost in 1885, at the age of 69, having sold his farm at Geelong. Peter bought the property ―Glen Avon from a Mr Street. The home was situated at the bottom of the paddock, near the corner of Morley and Livingstone streets. The farm stretched from Tennyson Street to the end of Snaggers Lane and along the river frontage to “Carinya” Cameron Home. In the Gippsland Times on Wednesday. 2 Jul 1890 on Page 3 is an article titled "THE SNOWY RIVER CALAMITY" which describes an ".unexpectedly sudden rush of water down the flats..... the terrified people commenced to remove their stock from the land and the work of saving property was continued all day ............ many head of cattle were washed away.......The river road, for its entire length, is obliterated, and the approaches to the bridge at Watt's Gulch are gone, with the enormous volume of flood water," These photographs are pictorial records of a significant event in the history of Orbost. There are few personal records of the very early floods.Three black / white photographs of wooden buildings with flood water in foreground. There are post and rail fences. 3193.2 has been taken from a distance.on back -" "Glenavon east of Lagoon 1897 Feb"floods-orbost-1890s glenavon-orbost

"The house (centre) at North Eltham in which Mr. and Mrs. William Frizell, an elderly couple, were marooned by flood waters. When this photograph was taken late yesterday afternoon the couple were still inside the house, and through a ventilator they had stuck a red flag which they waved from time to time. The house on the left belongs to Mr. Leads, who also was marooned." - The Argus 1 December 1934. John William Frizell, painter and his wife Sarah Jane are registered at Glen Park, Eltham in the 1924 Electorial Roll This was most probably the Diamond Creek in flood. In 1934 extensive flooding of the Yarra River and Diamond Creek sets new records for flood plain level (via Chronology of Eltham, EDHS) flood, frizell, leads, argus, glen park, eltham north, flooding, marooned, diamond creek

These photographs are of floodwaters on the river flats of Orbost, near Gilberts Gulch on the Marlo Road showing large lumps of wood in the middle of the road and a red vehicle in the background. 3090.4 has been taken looking down onto theSnowy Rive from near Mitchells / Griebenows Road Newmerella.This is a pictorial record of a significant flood event in Orbost.Four panoramic colour photographs showing the aftermath of a flood. flood-orbost-2000s

Wimmera River Weir Glenorchy with letter written on card and 1d stamp.Coloured post card of a weir along a flooded river. Wier-Wimmera River near Glenorchy addressed to Mrs. G. Wood Hill View Stawell. Message from Oliver dated 8/6/10 plus stamp.water

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Moving: Bendigo Coach Factory circa 1890. Situated on the site where the Dragon City Tenpin Bowl is now situated was Floods Coach Builders in Hargreaves street. The man fifth on the left was Thomas Flood, the father of Thomas Richard Flood who was mayor of Bendigo on four occasions. (Photo supplied by Peter Flood, Golden Square). The clip is a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Without bridges, Kew remained cut off from the City of Melbourne, only being accessible by Punt. Private and public bridges were constructed from the 1850s, beginning with the Hawthorn Bridge linking Bridge and Burwood Roads. A bridge across the Yarra at Burke Road was created as early as 1873. Since that first wooden bridge, a number of later bridges, typically on concrete pylons have been built, in 1926 and again during the 1970s.Sepia, faded photograph of the Burke Road Bridge linking East Kew and Ivanhoe. The previous bridge, constructed in 1926 was submerged beneath the flood waters in the 1934 mega-flood of the Yarra.burke road bridge (kew), bridges -- river yarra

These films depict local scenes such as Childers Cove, Warrnambool Breakwater, Thunderpoint and Port Campbell. The other films depict events such as the 1974 Merri Flood and the demolition of the Woollen Mill chimney All these films provide historical, artistic and social views of the district. Eight reels of 8 mm film depicting local scenes and events. Most are shot in colour.Warrnambool events and locations. Wangoom Primary School (4 reels) Flooded Merri Woodford 1974 (1 reel) Warrnambool Breakwater, Thunderpoint, Port Campbell(1 reel) Childers Cove(1 reel) Woollen Mill Chimney Demolition(1 reel)warrnambool, childers cove, 1974 merri flood, warrnambool woollen mill

The underpass at Blackburn railway station flooded again on the morning of Apr 26th preventing passengers from boarding city bound trains. This is the fifth time it has flooded in the past 4 months.level crossing removal authority, blackburn railway station

Bendigo Advertiser "way we were" from 1999. Flooded: looking towrd High Street from the Shamrock Hotel, the picture shows Pall Mall in flood after the rains in February 1871.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Catalogue card reads, "Warrandyte flooded coffer dam"

A small green and white box containing cuttings from the Bendigo Advertiser dated 1968, 1969 titled, ' Mayor Speaks.' It relates to the Bendigo City Council's activities over the two years.Mayor T. Flood Speaks out 1968-9newspaper, bendigo advertiser, newspaper column, lydia chancellor, collections, newspaper, newspaper column

The Tom Flood Sports Centre was originally called The Bendigo Show Grounds. This plaque was unveiled by the City of Greater Bendigo & the Bendigo RSL Sub Branch to Commemorated the venue as a "Training Camp" during WW2. Order of Service was, Welcome, Mr Alan Holmes (President Bendigo RSL) Introduction of Recruits & Others associated with the Camp. A brief history of the Camp and Anecdotes was read by Mr Alan Holmes. Presentation and unveiling of the Plaque by Cr Barry Ackerman, Mayor City of Greater Bendigo. The wording: "Commemorating this site as an Australian Imperial Force Training Camp during WW2. "To the following Corps we pay Tribute" "10th AIF Training Depot" "Australian Army Medical Corps" "Australian Army Ordnance Corps" "Australian Army Service Corp". "Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers" Prayer of Thanksgiving & Commemoration by; Rev J. South. This was followed the "ODE, Last Post, One minutes Silence, Reveille and The National Anthem. As far as records available the Camp was first set up on 17.6.1940 with an Advance Party. The last Troops left there on 30.4.1943 for Ingleburn NSW, the Camp was vacated in May 1943. Pamphlet white paper, A4 folded making 4 pages, all print in black.On the front, "This Commemorative Plaque was unveiled at the Tom Flood Sports Centre Park Road Bendigo Sunday 27th April 1997"brsl, smirsl, plaque, tom flood, training camp

Colour photograph. Sawpit Creek at the junction of Campbell and Watkins Street, Diamond Creek Township. The Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, nillumbik historical society, give way, sawpit creek, campbell street, watkins street