Caboonbah homestead, 1932

Caboonbah homestead, 1932. Overlooking where the Brisbane and the Stanley Rivers combine, this map depicts the scene at which H.P. Somerset saw floodwaters approaching Brisbane in February 1893. A cloudburst in the upper Stanley catchment caused the Brisbane River to rapidly rise in early February where, to the south, he saw the waters submerge a gum tree at 55 feet, exceeding the level of the last major flood in 1890. The whole house shook as the flood waters crashed into the cliff nearly 200 yards away. To the north, he observed that the flat on the far side of the Brisbane River was already flooded. Saw logs were racing upstream a distance back from the river. These were later deposited on a ridge shown. Closer inspection by Somerset later revealed that they were red cedar logs bearing Mr F. Bowman’s brand. These had been felled near the head of the Reedy Creek. This clearly indicated that it was the Stanley River which had carried them downstream. The dam site suggested by Somerset is shown above the junction of the Stanley River and Reedy Creek. Collection of the Fryer Library