the family of james belcher of waterford, ireland - University of ...

Appendix C
The story of the flood
THE MOUNT ALEXANDER MAIL
Castlemaine, Monday June 8, 1863
THE FLOOD
TherainfallonThursdayandFridaynightswasprobably
heavier than has been experienced within the
like period for the last two years. Before Saturday
morning every gutter had become a swift rivulet and
the creeks impetuous streams roaring along at the
rate of from ten to twenty miles an hour. Before long
the embankment thrown up by the Council near the
Gas Works, to confine Forest Creek to its new channel,
was burst through and the water rushed with
extraordinary force down its old course. At the same
time it poured over into the main road and cut off
access to the Ten Foot Hill Bridge. The flat opposite
the Square was more or less submerged, and some of
the inhabitants insulated from terra firma. The cutting
in which the Creek ordinarily flows was nearly
filled by a stream that roared and leaped in its course
like a rapid. Passing the Barker-street Bridge, the
water expanded, completely occupying both arches
of the railway bridge, spreading thence entirely over
the depression in front of the Camp, and invading the
railwayembankments. Thecreekmadeacleanbreast
over the Sheriff’s Bridge, which was submerged to a
depth of several feet. At this point several wreckers
had taken up their station, to catch the floating waifs
and strays. An eddy in the stream here presented
a curious spectacle, being covered with myriads of
corks, match boxes, bottles &c., that formed a sort
of constantly accumulating scum on the surface, ever
on the point of dispersing, yet without power to escape.
Occasionally logs of rough or sawn timber were
dextrouslypulledoutbythemenonthelookout, and
sometimes their efforts were rewarded by more valuable
articles. A portion of Winter’s Flat was also
bured under water, while at Maloney’s Bridge the
highway on both sides was covered by the creek. We
regret to say that Mr Helfenstein, who some time
since succeeded to the soap and candle manufactory
of Mr Brown’s is a heavy sufferer, his house and establishment
being completely flooded. Opposite the
John O’Groat’s Hotel, Campbell’s Creek, the road
for a considerable distance was entirely submerged,
the stream in this locality being at one time not less
than 400 or 500 feet wide.
Considerable regret was expressed when it was
known that the integrity of the new Prince’s Bridge
at Ranter’s Gully was endangered. On the fact becoming
known, a number of persons hastened to the
spot, and found that the embankments were rapidly
disappearing, The evil arose through the water washing
through the planking of the wings, and gradually
dissolving the earthwork. During the afternoon
, efforts were made by throwing down bags of stone,
&c., to arrest the mischief. Lower down the creek,
the highway turned into a mill race, by the bursting
of a large puddler’s dam near the White Hills. The
Cemetery Bridge was also in jeopardy, the violence
of the water being so great that the structure trembled
in every plank. Fortunately the bridge sustained
no further injury than the washing away of a portion
of the approaches. Cemetery Flat was of course
nearly buried from sight. The newly metalled road
above Sutcliffe’s has been completely carried away,
as well as the bridge at Taylor’s station,which had
stood the floods of five years previous. At Forest
Creek, also, the flood occasioned damage to public
property. The culvert but recently completed by
the Castlemaine Council for carrying off the drainage
from Little Bendigo, proved wholly inadequate to the
occasion. The result was that, part of the stonework
being swept away, the water broke down the wall of
earth, and ran over the road. During the greater portion
of Saturday, the road, from its junction with Little
Bendigo to Aberdeen’s Bridge, resembled a creek
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