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From the Archives, 1952: Hunter River floods Maitland
As the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, and the Premier, Mr. Cahill, announced further flood relief for NSW, the Herald travelled to the lower Hunter to capture these dramatic images of besieged locals.
By Staff reporter
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on August 9, 1952
Another £30,000 For Flood Relief
A family stands at the doorway of the doorway of its flooded home in Maitland, NSW, 8 August 1952.Credit: Bert Power
The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, and the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Cahill, yesterday announced that their Governments would each contribute a further £15,000 for flood relief in New South Wales.
The N.S.W, and Commonwealth Governments each contributed £20,000 towards flood relief two months ago.
Sydney yesterday had its first fine day this month, and an afternoon maximum temperature of 62 degrees.
However, the Weather Bureau forecasts further scattered showers to-day and tomorrow, followed by mainly fine and colder conditions.
The outlook for Sunday is for mainly fine weather, with cool to cold west to southwest winds.
“Men filling sandbags yesterday to strengthen the river bank at Maitland before the river reached a peak of 36 feet nine inches.” August 8, 1952.Credit: Bert Power
RECEDING
Floodwaters are now receding in most parts of N.S.W., although a number of rivers are still above flood level.
The Weather Bureau last night reported that high to flood levels are still being maintained on the middle and lower reaches of the Lachlan, Macquarie, and Murrumbidgee rivers.
At Euabalong, on the Lachlan, the river was 2ft 8 ½ in above flood level and at Hillston 2ft 2in above flood level.
Aerial view of Maitland during heavy floods, August 16, 1952.Credit: Ken Redshaw
On the Murrumbidgee at Hay the river was 5ft 5in above flood level, and at Balranald 4ft 5in above.
The Macquarie at Warren was 8ft l in over flood level.
The danger of serious flooding at Maitland passed yesterday when the Hunter dropped from its maximum of 36ft 10 in to 32ft at 6 p.m.
Floodwaters are still two feet deep over the railway line and most of the district roads are closed.
At Morpeth the countryside is 14 feet under water in parts.
Singleton evacuees began returning to their homes yesterday.
Windsor and Richmond are still floodbound, but roads are expected to reopen at the week-end or early next week.