Brisbane River

Proposed flood diversion canal scheme, 1896. Under J.B. Henderson’s direction, the Water Supply Department investigated a variety of flood mitigation schemes to protect Brisbane from future floods. A report was presented to Parliament in 1896 and included this map of two flood diversion canals. According to Henderson, at the time there appeared to be a ‘prevailing belief  ̶  that without difficulty a canal could be formed at some point on the river to the sea by means of which floods below the canal entrance at the river end would be wholly averted.’ However, building them would not be simple. Either canal would involve the purchase of much land, the construction of several new bridges, revetting to protect embankments, and finally an inlet weir. According to Henderson’s calculations, the excavation alone would cost £9,523,194 for the upper Oxley canal, shown in orange, and about £7,138,000 for the lower Yeronga canal shown in light blue. In addition to affecting navigability and tidal behaviour of the Brisbane River, the canals would need frequent dredging. Henderson advised parliament to abandon consideration of this and other similar schemes. Queensland votes and proceedings, vol.4, 1896

Channel widening and river training scheme, 1896. Under the direction J.B Henderson, this channel widening and river training scheme was proposed by the Water Supply Department in 1896. To prevent a repeat of the disastrous 1893 floods, areas shaded orange would be removed to widen the channel. A series of flood walls would also be built to protect the inner city and South Brisbane. Where the walls would abut existing permanent structures, watertight joints would be formed keeping flood waters in the channel. These walls would have gates at key locations only closed in the event of a flood higher than in 1890. In the city, flood gates were proposed on the corner of Creek and Charlotte streets and on the corner of Alice and Edward Streets. In South Brisbane, flood gates were proposed at the end of Russell, Glenelg, Ernest and Tribune streets. This map includes the 1893 flood line and shows only part of the Victoria Bridge which was destroyed during the flood. Queensland votes and proceedings, vol.4, 1896

Brisbane flood, left bank, 1893. Produced by the Survey Office, this map shows the extent of the ‘Great Flood’ of February 1893 on the left bank of the Brisbane River through St Lucia, Toowong, Taringa and Auchenflower. Drawn over an existing sheet map of Brisbane, only one side of the river is shown. Field staff surveyed the city one section at a time from which a single map could be compiled. This map is signed by the staff surveyor ‘Mr Bedford’ and dated 25 March 1893. Collection of the Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying