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Brisbane's floods of 1974 were the result of an unusual situation. Whilst the depression which dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain as a result of Cyclone Wanda was unprecedented, it was made more catastrophic by the fact that it had already been a very wet year thourghout the eastern states beforehand. The ground was waterlogged, and simply could not absorb any more water.

The floods were made worse by the fact that a huge container ship broke loose from the shipyards, and wedged itself across the Brisbane River just before the mouth. This prevented the escape of the water to the sea, exacerbating the floods in the CBD.

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Was Mitchelton a suburb located at north west of Brisbane affected in 1974 floods?

Yes, Mitchelton, a suburb in north-west Brisbane, was affected by the major floods that occurred in 1974. The floods caused widespread damage and destruction in various parts of Brisbane, including Mitchelton.


Was Browns Plains affected by the floods in Brisbane 1974?

Yes, Browns Plains was affected by the floods in Brisbane in 1974. The area experienced significant flooding with many homes and businesses affected. The floods in 1974 were one of the worst in Brisbane's history.


How many people died in the 1974 Brisbane floods?

If this is a reference to the January 2011 floods in eastern Australia, the death toll stands at 22, as of January 31.During Australia's history of European settlement, hundreds of people have died in Australia because of floods, but the figures have not been anywhere as high as in some parts of the world.


Why did the floods hit Brisbane and not the Gold Coast?

It's a matter of where the Brisbane River flows. The Brisbane floods were largely a result of the massive amounts of water that had to be released from Wivenhoe Dam into the Brisbane River. The Brisbane River does not flow anywhere near the Gold Coast, but empties into the sea at Moreton Bay.


What was the name of the cyclone that caused the Brisbane floods to occur?

The Brisbane floods of 2011 were primarily caused by heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Yasi, which formed in early February 2011. Although Cyclone Yasi itself did not directly hit Brisbane, the extensive rainfall and weather patterns influenced by the cyclone contributed significantly to the flooding in the region. These floods resulted in widespread damage and displacement across Southeast Queensland.

Related Questions

What month was the 2010 Brisbane floods?

The Brisbane floods actually occurred in January 2011, not 2010.


How long did the Brisbane floods last?

The Brisbane floods occurred from 11-17 January 2011, lasting for around a week. The peak of the flooding happened on 13 January 2011.


Was Brisbane affected by the recent floods in Australia?

Yes. An estimated 52 suburbs were affected by the floods in Brisbane in January 2011.


Will the flash flood hit Springfield?

Springfield, west of Brisbane, will not be affected by the floods that are coming to Brisbane in January 2011.


When did the Victorian floods occur?

it occurred in January 2011


Was Mitchelton a suburb located at north west of Brisbane affected in 1974 floods?

Yes, Mitchelton, a suburb in north-west Brisbane, was affected by the major floods that occurred in 1974. The floods caused widespread damage and destruction in various parts of Brisbane, including Mitchelton.


When did the Brisbane floods end?

The floods in Brisbane had abated by 17 January 2011, leaving only a massive cleanup which continued for months. However, parts of the rest of Queensland remained underwater for many weeks.


What river ways did the Brisbane floods affect?

The Brisbane floods of 1974 affected the Brisbane River and the Bremer River basin.


Where was the Brisbane floods?

Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland, and located in southeast Queensland. The floods affected suburbs along the Brisbane River, and much of Ipswich.


What year did the floods hit Brisbane?

Four major floods have occurred in Brisbane.The first was on 14 January 1841. This was the biggest flood of the Brisbane River since records began with the river being approximately 8.6 metres above the high tide mark. There was limited destruction to property as the town was still very young and undeveloped.The next major flood began on 5 February 1893. These floods came within 7cm of the 1841 levels.The worst floods in terms of death and loss of property occurred in January 1974 when tropical Cyclone Wanda developed into a rain depression that dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on an already saturated southeast Queensland. This flood reached a height of 5.5 m. Since the construction of Wivenhoe Dam on the Brisbane River within a few years of this flood, Brisbane was believed to be flood-proof.The most recent major floods to hit Brisbane occurred on 11 January 2011. On this date, the Brisbane River again broke its banks. The flood was the result of a La Nina weather pattern, together with the state being saturated by the rainfall resulting from a cyclone system that hit in the north on Christmas Day 2010. Wivenhoe Dam, which was designed to prevent any further floods, exceeded 160% capacity, requiring the release of a massive amount of water, comparable to the volume of Sydney harbour.


What is the history of Brisbane's floods?

Four major floods have occurred in Brisbane.The first was on 14 January 1841. This was the biggest flood of the Brisbane River since records began with the river being approximately 8.6 metres above the high tide mark. There was limited destruction to property as the town was still very young and undeveloped.The next major flood began on 5 February 1893. These floods came within 7cm of the 1841 levels.The worst floods in terms of death and loss of property occurred in January 1974 when tropical Cyclone Wanda developed into a rain depression that dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on an already saturated southeast Queensland. This flood reached a height of 5.5 m. Since the construction of Wivenhoe Dam on the Brisbane River within a few years of this flood, Brisbane was believed to be flood-proof.The most recent major floods to hit Brisbane occurred on 11 January 2011. On this date, the Brisbane River again broke its banks. The flood was the result of a La Nina weather pattern, together with the state being saturated by the rainfall resulting from a cyclone system that hit in the north on Christmas Day 2010. Wivenhoe Dam, which was designed to prevent any further floods, exceeded 160% capacity, requiring the release of a massive amount of water, comparable to the volume of Sydney harbour.


When did the Brisbane floods occur?

Four major floods have occurred in Brisbane.The first was on 14 January 1841. This was the biggest flood of the Brisbane River since records began with the river being approximately 8.6 metres above the high tide mark. There was limited destruction to property as the town was still very young and undeveloped.The next major flood began on 5 February 1893. These floods came within 7cm of the 1841 levels.The worst floods in terms of death and loss of property occurred in January 1974 when tropical Cyclone Wanda developed into a rain depression that dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on an already saturated southeast Queensland. This flood reached a height of 5.5 m. Since the construction of Wivenhoe Dam on the Brisbane River within a few years of this flood, Brisbane was believed to be flood-proof.The most recent floods occurred inBbrisbane on 11 January 2011,when the Brisbane River again broke its banks. The flood was the result of a La Nina weather pattern, together with the state being saturated by the rainfall resulting from a cyclone system that hit in the north on Christmas Day 2010.Wivenhoe Dam, which was designed to prevent any further floods, exceeded 160% capacity, requiring the release of a massive amount of water, comparable to the volume of Sydney harbour.