LORNA. After the bridge was washed away (in the 1919 flood) they put a temporary thing across .. a little wooden thing like you'd put across a creek .
Like an army type?
GLORIA. No, planks.
LORNA. I had to stay up at Marty's and of a weekend they'd come up to get me and we had to come across this bridge. I was frightened to walk on it.
That would have been there for a while, then?
LORNA. It was such a narrow thing, that's what frightened me.
So what was the crossing like up on the Pericoe Road?
VERNER. It was fairly rocky.
LORNA. But that big bridge that was taken away, it was huge.
That's up at New Buildings, isn't it?
VERNER. Yes.
LORNA. I thought that bridge was washed down the river. A lot of the Towamba bridge ended up on your flats.('Model Farm')
VERNER. The bridge up at Rocky Hall now, that's the old Towamba Bridge.
LORNA. There wasn't a bridge left on the river.
Was that when the water went up to the counter of trhe shop?
VERNER. Yes I think so.
LORNA. It went up into the store, didn't it?
VERNER. Yes. There's a thing there... a high water mark on your side.
*** Excerpt from the interview with Clive and Verner Clements and Lorna Dwyer in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.

The Towamba River carves a path from the foot of the steep escarpment, through rugged hills, flats and granite country, to empty into the ocean at the Kiah inlet. One of the fastest rising rivers in the state, it is joined by the Wog Wog River below Burragate, before it reaches the village of Towamba. The catchment areas of these two rivers is steep and the volume of water rushing from them after heavy rain floods the river flats, washing all before it.
Towamba's first bridge was built as a high level truss bridge and was opened in 1911. The 1919 flood washed all bridges from the entire length of the river leaving the river flats and low lying farms strewn with debris. It is local knowledge that the water reached half way up the counter in the Towamba village store. Debris banked up in front of the bridge causing it to break up, sweeping its timbers downstream where they were found when the level dropped. It was the biggest local flood in living memory.
There have been several devastating floods since. During the 1971 flood two people who were crossing the river on their tractor, were drowned at Rocky Hall.
Towamba's second bridge was not as high but gradually as each annual flood brought more sand downriver, it was continually covered and became impassable. It was replaced with the present one in 1961.

Footbridge across the river at Towamba after the 1919 flood swept away the first bridge. The approaches to the bridge can be seen in the background on the left..

'Pambula Voice' August 4, 1893
TOWAMBA
The river has been in a state of flood for some considerable time causing much inconvenience to those wishing to cross. A boat has been purchased for the use of the children attending the school which will be a great boon, it being impossible for the children to cross formerly thus causing the young people to remain away for some time during the year.

View from Pericoe Road, down river where Towamba bridge was swept away in 1919 flood. Photo courtesy C. and G. Clements

'Pambula Voice' June 8, 1900
PERICOE
The rainfall recorded here for the month of April was 460 points and for May, 1360 points. Most of the rain in May fell between the 14th and 28th and caused a flood in creeks and rivers delaying the mails, tore up the roads and did various other damage. It is said the road from Pericoe to Yambulla is in a fearful state and traffic can only be carried on with the greatest difficulty. Again during the recent rains the urgent necessity for a culvert over Pericoe Creek has been fully demonstrated. It has a very bad crossing and should have been bridged long ago. We must try again for we are justified in asking in asking for it. Since the rain the weather has been mild for the time of year and the country looks more like spring than near mid winter. Of late we appear to be having a succession of wet winters and dry summers.

'Pambula Voice' April 21, 1911
TOWAMBA
* The corn is ripening very quickly this year, and crops will be on an average with last year.
* Most of the people are suffering with a mild from of influenza; mild as it may be, it is a most distressing complaint. A good many have had to lay up for two or three days with it.
* Mrs. T. Hill, who was doing business for Mr. Robinovitz, of Eden, has closed, owing to Mr. Robert Binnie purchasing Mr. Robinovitz''s business in Eden.

'Magnet' January 28, 1933
FLOOD RAINS
* 8 inches fell in 3 hours, total 18 inches. 13 inches fell in 12 hours.
* The flood at Narrabarba was 3 feet higher than the 1919 flood. Saltwater Creek bridge was washed away. (Yowaka bridge) Towamba had 5 inches.

'Magnet' July, 1934
* The area suffered five floods in seven months

'Magnet' January 20, 1934
* Mr. R. M. Brownlie lost 70 plus sheep due to the flood.

'Magnet' May 26, 1934
* Request by Council that a 35 ft. span be added at each end of Towamba bridge as approaches are washed away each flood. -- approaches are the responsibility of Council - the bridge is the responsibility of Public Works Dept.

Towamba's first bridge, 1911. Swept away in 1919.

'Magnet' January 13, 1934
FLOOD RAINS - WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
The abnormally wet spring and early summer season succeeded by fine year-end holiday weather, was followed by torrential rains and a strong easterly gale which caused extensive damage throughout the New South Wales South Coast and tableland districts and in eastern Gippsland.
Commencing on the night of Friday the 5th instant the gale continued without intermission until the early hours of Monday morning. Conditions at sea were so severe that six trawlers operating off the coast came into Twofold Bay for shelter and remained at anchor until the gale subsided. The rainfall at Eden, about 8 inches, was light in comparison with the fall in the western part of the district where from 14 to 18 inches were registered. On the mountain ranges the downpour was mainly responsible for the resultant floods was probably much heavier still.
Telephone lines went down in all directions and for a couple of days telegraphic communication with Sydney was cut off. Finally a circuitous connection with Cooma and Tumut was established and press and other long delayed messages began to filter through. Telegraphists worked overtime and at full speed but it was a long time before the congestion of the accumulated matter for dispatch was relieved. As has almost invariably been the case in former heavy gales, telephonic communications with Gabo Island were cut off and were not restored for several days.
The Kiah River (at Kiah, the Towamba River is commonly called the Kiah River) was heavily in flood. For some time it was hoped that there would be no great overflow above the fairly high banks of the river but the torrential downpour associated with the night long thunder storm with which inordinately heavy rain culminated, caused a further big rise in the river forcing the flood to a level second only to that of the phenomenal flood of 1919. As a natural consequence the losses sustained by the riverside farmers were great.
Maize crops, as yet in an immature stage, were on the lower lands completely ruined and potato crops similarly situated were entirely destroyed. Rich pastures and magnificent crops of lucerne were buried beneath deep deposits of silt. Valuable dairy herds were left with diminished supplies of feed and owners with insufficient reserves of fodder are under the necessity of transferring their stock to pastures in other parts of the district and of awaiting the regrowth of feed on their flood swept farms.
At Lower Towamba a good deal of crop damage was sustained by local farmers, some of whom say that the flood attained a height only ten feet below that of the record flood of 1919 and was almost as severe in its effects.
Particulars of damage to farms at Towamba and further up the river have not reached us but it is believed that big losses have been experienced on all the riverside holdings, particularly on the cultivated lands. The damage to roads in Imlay Shire is extensive. On the Princes' Highway the approach to the temporary bridge over Saltwater Creek on the Eden-Pambula Road was washed away, the mishap rendering necessary a diversion of traffic to the Nethercote Road which though somewhat damaged provided a serviceable deviation for through traffic.
On the Mount Darragh Road several landslides occurred with the various deviations made enabled traffic to find its way through.
At Stoney Creek on the Wyndham-Towamba Road the newly constructed concrete crossing sustained but little damage but both the uncompleted approaches were washed away.
Nullica River causeway was reported as being more or less potholed but repairs have been effected to enable traffic to be maintained. Tantawanglo Mountain Road was damaged and several culverts were washed away rendering the road untrafficable. Landslides on the Brown Mountain presented an obstruction to traffic which it was expected would not be resumed till some days later. Numerous tourists were marooned at Eden and until late on Tuesday, so discouraging was the prospect of their being able to proceed by car for many miles in any direction that they were seriously considering the idea of requisitioning a steamer to convey them from Eden to Sydney or Melbourne. More hopeful reports were received later and on Wednesday morning there was a general exodus of beleaguered visitors.
At Bega the rainfall was 13 inches and at Bemboka 14 inches were registered. Bega River rose as higher than the great flood of 1919. Tourists and swag men encamped by Bega River had an exciting time. Warned by the roar of the flood, they awoke to find themselves surrounded by surging waters. Wading their way out with the assistance of the police and other volunteers they managed to escape but several cars could not be removed and were left chained to trees. One was lost. Maize, bean and potato crops on the Bega River flats were submerged and big losses are feared. The bridge over the river at Moran's Crossing which was in course of repair has gone completely and the approaches have been washed away. Candelo's rainfall was 1,030 points and Pambula's 935 points. Mr. William Cole of South Pambula lost all but one acre of 22 acres of beans. He says the flood was the highest he had known there. Inevitably the losses of crops on Pambula's far-famed flats are great. News received in the last instance by wireless stated that two main sections of the bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost have been carried away, that traffic with Melbourne had been entirely cut off. The bridge at Cathcart was damaged by the flood and motor cars had to be towed across the stream by horses. On Monday many people visited Asling's beach to view the incoming rollers in all their wild magnificence. The foam cast up on the beach was in some places, six feet deep and glittering in the fitful gleams of sunlight presented a very fine sight. On Monday and Tuesday Imlay Shire's engineer Mr. Hinley made an inspection of the shire roads and made all possible arrangements for their restoration to trafficable conditions. Between noon on Saturday and noon on Sunday Bateman's Bay had 18 inches of rain. Yankee Creek bridge, Nethercote, withstood the rush of water splendidly and was practically unharmed. Burtons Creek further on lost some hand railing and a little earth filling on the Pambula side. Back Creek bridge in towards Lochiel was piled high with debris and the shire men had a busy time clearing it. Damage to farms along the Kiah, bad as it was, would have been much worse had not the river burst out through the sand bank at Moutries allowing a more rapid getaway of the water. The mouth of the river was altered a good deal. Mr. W. Franks on the lower reaches of the river lost a quantity of maize and potatoes but we understand that his son-in-law, Mr. Jack Perron, on the opposite side was less badly hit. The flood occurred a fortnight earlier than that of January in last year. Bemboka district which had 14 inches of rain faired badly with its roads and bridges. Green's Crossing and Moran's Crossing bridges were swept away as also were the approaches to all others. The Brown Mountain Road was blocked by landslides but is now clear again.
Mountainous seas raged along the coast at the weekend and six vessels sought shelter in East Boyd Bay.
The crossing at Longhurst Creek Pambula-Wolumla Road was badly cut up by the flood.
At least two men were drowned on the South Coast during the recent flood.
Splendid photos of floods on the South Coast were in Tuesday's 'Telegraph'.
Mr. Ted Boot of Bega lost his launch, washed from the river out to sea. The Shire punt at the mouth of the river also broke its moorings but was washed up high and dry. Bateman's Bay ferry which was disabled has been put into commission again. The passengers, mails and cream cans crossed the Brogo River on a hastily built flying fox. Only one span of Brogo bridge remains, the piers snapped off near the bottom. Though extensive damage was done to low lying lands in places we are pleased to learn that some farms will ultimately benefit considerably from heavy deposits of rich soil. Floods seem to have been general. New South Wales, Las Angeles USA and South Africa participating.
Towamba had over 13 inches of rain and the second largest flood on record. The water was twenty feet above the bridge which being a low level structure fortunately stood where its high level predecessor had given way. Wyndham had over 14 inches. Old hands in Bombala say that never to their knowledge has there been such a flood locally as the present one. Flood waters were two feet above the bridge and the main street was awash. Bombala Talkie Theatre was flooded to a depth of four feet and there were 18 inches of water in the power in the power house. Some residents were without light for a time. Mr. Lot Stafford an ex-Edenite who has a brick works on Tathra Road sustained a severe loss having 67,000 bricks all ready for burning destroyed by the rain. Mr. J. W. Birkett, an assistant at Orbost Post Office motored through the flooded area in search of an office from which he could get our an SOS, finally reached Bombala over 100 miles away where he got a trunk line call through. It will be at least a month before Orbost bridge is repaired. The washing away of the two centre spans having left a gap of 100 feet wide but pontoons loaded by the defence department to the CRB are on their way from Melbourne. These will be floated across the river and a bridge to carry light traffic will be built across them in a few days it is hoped. Mr. J. B. Eurell received advices on Thursday afternoon from the station master at Orbost that the railway would be able to resume on Monday next but he was uncertain when it would practicable for motor cars to be transported across the Snowy River. Word received from Genoa states that the flood waters of the Genoa River on Monday reached the floor of Mr. A. W. Millard's bakery opposite the Genoa Hotel. The flood was the biggest in Gippsland's history and losses on Orbost district alone are estimated at £500,000. One man's loss is said to be £10,000. Trees, haystacks, stock and buildings were swept down the Snowy which was three miles wide above Orbost. There are many thrilling rescues of people. The only horse stall left standing on Bega racecourse was No. 13 says the 'News'. The new £14,000 bridge on the Gelantypy Road on the upper reaches of the Snowy is gone. It was to have been opened next week. Travellers from Eden to Sydney via the coastal route are advised to proceed from Bega via Tanja, Bermagui and Cuttagee. Michael Skehan, a Moruya farmer, fell out of a police flood boat in attempting to rescue a rowlock and was drowned.

Aerial view of Towamba River looking westward. 'Model Farm' centre to right. Photo courtesy C. and G. Clements.

LOCAL RAINFALL
Mr. H. Myers, post master at Eden, advises us that the local rainfall registered at Eden for the last four years was as follows.
1930 3,277 points
1931 2,825 points
1932 4,193 points
1933 4,549 points
The average for the four years mentioned was thus: 37.11 inches. The last year's registration is, says Mr. Myers, a record far exceeding any registration on a record at Eden Post Office.

Towamba River in flood. 1950-57 Beryl Shannon and son James,Terry Goward, Jim and Jenny Shannon Photo courtesy Don Mills