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In 1893 the Great Flood of Brisbane left a path of destruction in its wake. The total rainfall in Brisbane over 8 days was about 20 inches (500 mm) and the Brisbane River rose 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 metres) above the mean spring tide and 10 feet over the previous highest flood mark (1890). Brisbane suffered approximately £2,000,000 worth of damages. The Victoria Bridge and the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge were swept away and in Queen Street, the businesses of Finney, Isles and Co, drapers, Perry Brothers, the goldsmiths, Hall Company, H. L. Davies, and Gordon and Gotch, all suffered major damage. Brisbane wasn't the only area hit. The countryside for miles on either side of the Mary River was devastated and the loss of settlers enormous. The Mayor of Brisbane composed the following cable for the Lord Mayor of London: "Brisbane, Maryborough, Gympie, Ipswich, Bundaberg and Rockhampton inundated by floods. Destruction of property and loss of life enormous. Relief urgently required. " Against the wishes of the Queensland public, this message was never sent. (Western Mail, 18 February 1893 p.40) Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/1893-brisbane-flood

Map shows the extent of the river’s penetration into the streets and blocks of the city, including the city centre where the waters were practically lapping at the Town Hall. Following a week of rain, including a fall of one hundred centimetres in just 24 hours, the Great Flood of 1893 cost 35 lives and swept away the Victoria Bridge. The flood recurred 3 times in two weeks in what came to be called Black February. Brisbane was a booming city of 140,000 citizens at this time. The loss of the Victoria Bridge, cutting the city’s lifeline between north and south, required a ferry service for several years while a replacement bridge was constructed. This map was published by the Irrigation & Water Supply Commission Queensland in 1928, as part of flood mitigation planning, and ongoing fact of life for the beautiful river city. Source: State Library of Queensland australia-prints.myshopify.com/products/greater-brisbane-...

St James Anglican Cathedral, constructed in English Bond red brick with dressed sandstone trim, is located on a terraced site on Melton Hill between the Townsville central business district and Cleveland bay. The Gothic Revival building was built in two stages, both of which are quite obvious, both in materials and design. The main roof is clad with slate and has a small spire over the nave and transept junction. The lower roof to the side aisles and ambulatory has ribbed metal cladding. The chancel is surrounded by an ambulatory which contains the vestry and a Seaman's Chapel. The north transept has a large organ loft inserted and the roof features exposed trusses with a diagonally boarded ceiling. Cast iron columns with clerestory above separate the side aisles from the nave. The clerestory of the original section of the building contains stained glass windows. Source: apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600887

Chances are, if you've visited or lived in Brisbane for more than a mere week, you're most likely familiar to our iconic lookouts with beautiful views of the skyline, including Mt Coot-tha, Kangaroo Point, and South Bank. However, at certain times of the day, and especially at certain times of the year, these lookouts are likely to be packed with both visitors and locals alike - and where's the fun in that? It's time to check out some of Brisbane's lesser known lookouts, with equally stunning views! And this is where Eildon Hill Reserve comes in. Visitors can opt to either drive or walk up to the top of Eildon Hill Reserve; although it is a fairly steep road, it takes approximately 2 minutes to drive up and approximately 10 minutes to walk up, at a leisurely pace. The walk itself is very manageable, and taking the slightly longer route has its perks, in the form of beautiful flora and fauna and brightly coloured walls - plus, it's good exercise too! The road is flanked by beautiful trees, giving you a taste of the vastness of the forest that made up this reserve prior to development. Once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views overlooking Brisbane City and the surrounding ranges to Cunningham's Gap, the Taylor Ranges, the D'Aguilar Ranges, and even the Glasshouse Mountains on clear days. On special occasions when fireworks are on the agenda in the City, Eildon Hill is a great viewing spot for those interested. This lookout is particularly renowned as a spot for sunsets - from here, you can rest assured knowing that you can take the perfect shot for your Instagram feed. Source: www.weekendnotes.com/eildon-hill-reserve/