History and Adam’s lifeline left in ruins as floods destroy Lismore business

Amid the devastation caused by floods, Adam Bailey has watched irreplaceable pieces of history destroyed in his Lismore business.

It’s 4.30pm in Lismore, and not a soul is in sight.

Through the day residents and business owners, helped by friends, had struggled with rain and exhaustion in a third day cleaning up the ruins of their homes and businesses.

But now the town is silent.

Not a single store in Lismore is open. Woolworths, Bunnings, KFC, BWS.

Locals say it may take half a decade for things to get back to normal, with thousands of houses expected to be condemned.

While houses and buildings can be replaced, one local shakes his head in despair over precious items that can’t – historical photographs, manuscripts, important local memorabilia.

Adam Bailey is the owner of antique store Northern Rivers Collectables in Lismore. He says he’s lost half a million dollars worth of antiques, jewellery and collectibles after floodwaters peaked at 14.4m last Monday.

“We had boxes of stuff, really rare pieces, all the rare furniture is gone,” he said. “There was some paperwork from the war that disappeared, there’s books that were extremely rare from the First World War, photos, gone.”

The collector of 40 years says the floods are an even greater setback because he’s not only lost his business, but also his only lifeline.

Adam Bailey outside his flood-hit antique, collectable and old wares shop. Picture: Liam Mendes

“I can’t work for anyone because I have a brain disease, so I’m not employable.

“This was my life insurance for a hobby for me to work until I couldn’t work anymore.

“So yeah, I’m stuffed,” he said.

“I’ve got three adult children, I was hoping to build this up enough for them so they didn’t have to worry about things.

“I’ve got a daughter getting married this year, I wanted to pay for her wedding, that’s going to be a little bit difficult.”

He says he’s essentially been left with an empty warehouse. But one item survived.

Somehow, one of his most prized possessions escaped the floods, a rare piece of Australian history: an original copy of The Draft Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia.

Mr Bailey says there were only 12 printed. But that’s hardly enough to save his business.

“I can’t go and ring up a warehouse in Sydney or Melbourne or overseas and say ‘Hey, can you just give me a couple of 150-year-old tables’,” he said.

Mr Bailey said he was also missing some diamond rings.

“Someone downstream is hopefully going to be a little rich,” he said, with a laugh.