Reports from August and September, 1909, detail how an extreme weather system dumped about 82 millimetres of rain across the Wimmera catchment.
Violent thunderstorms and fierce wind accompanied the heavy rain between August 21 and 24, 1909.
The Wimmera centres of Horsham, Glenorchy, Warracknabeal, Dimboola, Jeparit and Rupanyup were subject to widespread flooding.
Photographs and first-hand accounts of the time reveal the impact the flood had on fledgling rural communities.
Aug 23, 1909 - Reports in various Newspapers mention that at the height of the flood the whole township of Rupanyup, was submerged 4.5 feet (approx 1.6 metres).
The water rose so rapidly that people were caught in bed, and made a hurried exit.
Water was flowing 4.8 kilometres wide was 1.6 metres deep through Rupanyup.
Both town reservoirs burst and a hotel at Banyena, in the Rupanyup district, was completely washed away.
Rabbits were seen to take refuge on the backs of sheep, and drovers' dogs killed dozens of rabbits by swimming out and grabbing them.
A man named Ellis, of Snake Valley, and another unknown man were drowned.
In many cases, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions wore found in the wool of sheep.
Between August 21 and 24 in 1909, floodwater spilled from the Wimmera River and Yarriambiack and Dunmunkle creeks and raced through the towns and across open country.
Only six houses escaped flood inundation at Glenorchy.
The Yarriambiack Creek burst its banks at various locations, spilling through Warracknabeal and on to Beulah
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A couple of Rupanyup football players recount the days when the drop kick was king, before the invention of the more reliable but less skillful 'drop punt'.
Thank you to Bob Baker, Jack Dunlop, Dawn Teasdale and the Rupanyup Football Club.
Archival film by John Teasdale.
In 1925, local football was so important to Rupanyup, that the Rupanyup Footbal Club went as far as advertising in the Melbourne Argus in 1925 for a Playing Coach.
That year 1925 Rupanyup played in the Wimmera Football Association:
Rupanyup were 4th after Home & Away Rounds.
In the Final - Stawell defeated Rupanyup by 12 pts.
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The former Rupanyup Railway Station c1890, was constructed by Sutcliffe & Hartley on the Lubec-Bolangum line for the Victorian Railways.
It comprises a single storey Gothic-style brick station building with a slate hip and gabled-roof.
More details can be found here:
http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/heritage/1001#detail_places;1001
The former Rupanyup Railway Station is historically significant, recalling the long abandoned practice of building small branch railways to serve areas between the main lines, demonstrating the important role of railways in the pre-automobile era. It is also historically significant as an example of a railway station constructed after the 'Octopus Act' of 1884.
Why not check out for real the rainfall in Rupanyup for this month.
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Q/ What is the elevation/altitude/height above sea level of Rupanyup?A/ Rupanyup is at an elevation/altitude/height above sea level of 143 m above sea level.
Q/ What is the population of Rupanyup?
A/ Rupanyup has a population of about around 400.
Q/ What is the nearest city, town or village to Rupanyup?
A/ The nearest village to Rupanyup is Murtoa about 14.8 km away. Murtoa has a population of about around 770.
Distances from:
Murtoa 14.8 km
Minyip 19.1 km
Horsham 39.7 km
Donald 42.6 km
Warracknabeal 46.8 km
Stawell 49.3 km
Q/ What is the annual rainfall of Rupanyup?
A/ The annual rainfall of Rupanyup is about 420 mm.
Q/ What is the most rain Rupanyup has ever received in a day?
A/ The most rain received by Rupanyup in a day was 107 mm. The most rain received by Rupanyup in an August day was around 40 mm.
Facts provided by bonzle.com
Maybe not the Oddfellows many were expecting?
Group portrait of members of the Rupanyup Oddfellows Lodge.
Rupanyup circa 1900
