The Great Goldfields Flood of 1948 – a verse

The heaviest rainfall in Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s history occurred 70 years ago—during the weekend of Saturday-Sunday the 21^st and 22^nd of February 1948.  Nearly 300 millimetres of rain fell in less than 36 hours, causing widespread flooding and severe property damage.  A massive clean-up operation followed.

Boulder Subway, note how far the water is from the bridge.

It was nature’s kind of anger,
a weekend of solid rain
From North Kal to Gribble Creek
it caused a lot of pain

Gold mines, town shops and houses,
were inundated by the flood
So too roads and many schools,
and, yes, the Boulder Sub

Stranded were trains out at Zanthus,
so too traffic to the west
The clean-up job enormous;
no time for any rest

Chock-a-block were outlying lakes—
Hannans, Rowles and Gidgie—
Getting there was a problem,
water for miles to see

So, when will all this soaking stop?
somebody popped the question
a cyclone right behind it,
brought on indigestion

Then Lady Luck stepped to the fore,
the storm, it slipped to the east
Townsfolk were mighty grateful—
they’d dodged a bigger beast

So rest-up you folks this summer,
please, no whingeing of the heat
In the total scheme of things,
your goldfields life is sweet

                                              By – John Terrell

Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper clipping of Monday 23 February 1948.

Kalgoorlie Railway Station

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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