Aerial view of Nangiloc, Iraak and Colignan during the 1956 Murray River flood.

The 1956 Murray River flood involved the rising of waters in the Murray River and flooding of many towns in three states of Australia, including the towns of Colignan, Iraak, Mannum, Murray Bridge, Mildura, Nangiloc, Red Cliffs, Renmark^[1], Wentworth and many others.

The flood occurred due to higher than average rainfalls in Western Queensland and heavy rains in the proceeding three months in Murray catchment areas ^[2], peaking at 12.3 metres at Morgan, South Australia ^[2]. Some areas were flooded up to 100 km from the natural flow of the river.

The flood was and still is considered the biggest flood in the recorded history of the River Murray and described as "the greatest catastrophe in South Australia?s history" ^[3].

As a result of the flood, the Menindee Lakes were constructed to store high flows from the Darling River ^[2].

Impact

Mannum

Hotels in the main street of Mannum operated their bars from the second floor with boats tying up to the balcony. The flood water broke the levee bank on August 24, and had not fully receded until Christmas. To many locals it is common knowledge that the beginning of the roof on the visitors center in main street was the height in main street.^[4]

Mildura

Flood markers at Lock 11, Mildura. The second red marking from the top is where the river reached in 1956.

Red Cliffs, Victoria during the flood.

Wentworth

The New South Wales town of Wentworth, located on the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers, erected a statue in 1959 in honour of the Fergie TE20 tractor, responsible for helping to erect a levee around the town which kept floodwaters at bay for months. A tractor rally is also held every five years to celebrate the Fergie. ^[6]

References