River Torrens In Flood

Not far from where I live in Felixstow, South Australia is the River Torrens.  I have always loved rivers and spent many hours watching the River Murray when I lived at Murray Bridge.  The recent flooding in South Australia has provided for some interesting viewing and photography.  I’m no great photographer and I use my phone camera but I still love to record my life and local area in photos.

On the 14th of September, just a little over a week ago, we had extensive flooding in parts of the Adelaide Hills, South Coast and Adelaide suburbs.  Here are some of the photos I took on the 15th.

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Park bench almost covered by water

 

Catchment channel leading into the river and the bridge over O.G. Road in the distance.

Catchment channel leading into the river and the bridge over O.G. Road in the distance.

 

Catchment channel leading to the Torrens at Drage Reserve, Felixstow.

Catchment channel leading to the Torrens at Drage Reserve, Felixstow.

 

Lochiel Park ford

Lochiel Park ford

The local news has reported extensively on the flooding:

I couldn’t help myself but check Trove to see what was reported about other times the River Torrens had flooded in my area.

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Saturday 13th August 1870 the River Torrens flooded, this report stating that the water at Felixstow and Marden was nearly bank high.  It is hard to tell how much water that is as the river is very different today from how it was then.  This picture below shows how differently the river looked at Felixstow in 1910.

Photo courtesy of State Library of South Australia http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+64124 River Torrens at Felixstow 1910

Photo courtesy of State Library of South Australia http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+64124
River Torrens at Felixstow 1910

 

Photo courtesy of the State Library of South Australia http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+64126 River Torrens at Felixstow

Photo courtesy of the State Library of South Australia http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+64126 River Torrens at Felixstow also 1910

This photo shows the river as much wider than it is today.

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Here is a transcript of the above newspaper clipping from the South Australian Register 30 August 1889.

Deputations
Felixstow Bridge
“On Monday morning Alderman Solomon, M.P. introduced a deputation representing the Districts of Payneham, Campbelltown, Teatree Gully, and Yatala South, to ask the Government to put a sum of money on the Estimates for the restoration of the Felixstow Bridge swept away by the recent floods in the River Torrens.  It was pointed out that the bridge was not only a convenience but a necessity to the people of the districts named and the fruitgrowers and cultivators in the hills and country beyond.”

I’m glad that our road bridges are much sturdier than they were in days of old.  Here is the footbridge where I take my grandchildren to feed the ducks.  I think we’ll be waiting a fair while for it to be fixed.

Footbridge between Drage Reserve and Klemzig Interchange

Footbridge under water, between Drage Reserve and Klemzig Interchange, 15 September 2016

 

Drage Reserve to Klemzig Interchange footbridge

Drage Reserve to Klemzig Interchange footbridge, 23 September 2016

 

4 thoughts on “River Torrens In Flood

    • September 25, 2016 at 2:33 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks for stopping by, I had a look at your blog too. I like your family history month posts.

      Reply
  • September 24, 2016 at 9:51 am
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    Good story and some great pictures. Loved the historic flood stories, too!

    Reply
    • September 25, 2016 at 2:34 pm
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      Thanks!!

      Reply

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