Gold Coast weather: Comparing pictures of the Glitter Strip’s biggest floods

Many have compared the current flood crisis to that of the devastation experienced in 2011. Take a look back on Gold Coast’s flooding history in pictures.

Those old enough to have witnessed several floods in their lifetime often say experiencing another one tends to dredge up some not so fond memories.

Many have compared southeast Queensland’s February 2022 flood crisis to that of the devastation experienced in 2011.

But for former Gold Coast editor Bob Gordon, nothing compares to the natural disasters he witnessed in decades past.

“You’ve got to go back to the 1974 flood and the 1960s’ floods - they were the big ones,” the news veteran said.

“I think we seem to have been a lot better off this time or better organised.

“In ‘74 where I live here, we had a foot and a half of water through the house.

“What ‘74 did to Brisbane destroyed the place.”

Mr Gordon covered many natural disasters and floods during his decades-long journalism career.

“Those floods back then were dangerous, but the locals knew how to handle them,” he said.

“You were frightened if you went in the water because there were so many snakes and spiders.

“Anything that was above water was covered in snakes and big spiders and they were all cranky.”

During the 1974 flood, Mr Gordon recalled many young people from the Gold Coast travelling up to Brisbane to help in the clean-up effort.

“Back in those days volunteerism was a much stronger ethic among Australians and young people,” the former editor said.

He said Gold Coast and the southeast would recover quickly from the 2022 floods if the same volunteering spirit remained alive and well in Queenslanders.

Historical pictures sourced from: Picture Gold Coast

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Originally published as Gold Coast weather: Comparing pictures of the Glitter Strip’s biggest floods