weather

Between Wowan and Goovigen in Banana Shire, Central Queensland lies a distinctive landscape feature of the Fitzroy Basin. Three rivers—the Dee and Don Rivers and Callide Creek—converge, sometimes with dramatic consequences, on a three-pronged floodplain. The DeeDon-Callide floodplain is approximately 37 km long, up to five km wide, and about 16,000 ha in area. Complex patterns of water flow ensure that it is rich in wetland features: channels, waterholes, ponds and swamps. Major floods are a constant concern during the wet season at Calliungal and historically the station has experienced some huge losses of cattle. In 1928, about 2000 head of Calliungal cattle were drowned or lost: “The animals went down in hordes. On all sides along the course of the river the beasts were tossed and swirled, some being caught in the branches of trees and others going downstream to be drowned and thrown on the banks for miles down.” And “the sight of cattle suspended in trees 20 to 30 feet from the ground was sufficient evidence that the losses sustained by stock being swept away are very heavy.” 1 Mark Collins recalls that in one such flood, a dead bullock from Calliungal washed up in Rockhampton; Source: wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/resources/static/pdf/resources...

FLOOD IN TOWNSVILLE GREATEST IN MEMORY: DAMAGE MANY THOUSANDS Water 15 Ft Deep In Parts TOWNSVILLE, March 5.-Residents of 60 years stated that the flood in Townsville was the greatest in memory, affecting areas previously regarded as above any possibility of flooding. The damage done by the flood in the city will run into many thousands. It is not possible to make a close estimate of the damage until the flood waters recede, as many houses in the Hermit Park area are still submerged. Some householders lost the greater part of their furniture, which was swept out of their houses. Officials, however, estimate the damage at £200,000 in the city area. In parts of South Townsville, the water was as high as 15 ft. above the road level. The Causeway Hotel, on the bank of the Ross River, had 30 inches of water over the bar counter. With inches of silt and other flood deposits in their homes, many residents of suburban areas of Townsville today were unable to obtain town water with which to clean their houses. The water shortage has been caused not by any damage to the weirs, but by the submersion of the pumps which line the bank of the Ross River and which have been in water, mud and silt. The wet motors of the pumps will have to be replaced with dry motors before pumping can be resumed. The city is still without gas, which is not expected to be avail- able until Wednesday. Source: Morning Bulletin,06 Mar 1946 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56393192

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.[1] 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: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_James%27_Cathedral,_Townsville