Rupanyup Floods in 1909

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