There is a long history of recorded weather events in the Orara Valley, given the flooding experienced in this last month, where 358mm was recorded at the Hoschke farm, in 2 days last week we thought we’d have a look at recorded flood events in local media over the years.
This is just a small selection of the many articles, please note no or limited digitised records exist after 1954.
1864 – Flood in the Clarence River with a body found in the Orara River.
1887 – Owing to river being flooded only 10 people attend public meeting
1905 – Flood Incident
1913 – The Orara in Flood
1917 – Flood Incident – Campers perilous adventure
1921 – Looks bad for Grafton as the Orara River is in flood
1922 – 11 inches (279.4mm) recorded at Karangi
1925 – Orara River in flood, impossible to know extent of damage
1927 – Orara River Overflows: Several Bridges Submerged 13.4 inches ( 344mm)
1928 – River eight feet in five hours 12 inches (304mm)
1931 – Flood Damage
1934 – Orara River in Flood March – 524 points (185mm)
1937 – Orara River Damaged by Flood & Plucky Youth Drowned in Flood Waters
1938 – Unprecedented rainfall – Orara in High Flood 841 pts (300mm) & Biggest Flood in 20 Years Sixteen to 20 inches – One nights downpour
1939 – Two Foot over Bridge –
1947 – Boy believed drowned in Orara River
1950 – More homes go in flood , Flood Threat at Glenreagh
1951 – The Orara River rose to 20 ft under the influence of heavy rains
1952 – A considerable amount of water coming down the Clarence, Nymboida and Orara Rivers
1953 – Severe flooding – Orara River 2ft over bridge
1954 – Flood Conditions on the Orara River 12 inches (304mm), Flood refugees wade home – to nothing
1962 – 200 flee homes in Maclean, floodwaters from the Orara River
1967 – Easterly gales and heavy rain caused flooding (1082 points / 381mm in 48 hours)
1974 – Rivers fall but areas isolated
1977 – Flood damage very severe (408mm at Nana Glen)
