EUGOWRA. MOST CLUELESS FLOOD WARNING ON RECORD?
A relative emailed me about a house my mother built having washed along Willbe street. In the interest of improving flood warnings for Eugowra, a collection of amazing historical lessons learned and lost. With sources and links where possible.

There have been many successful warnings, dramatic rescues and a multitude of prior large floods in Eugowra. A look back in time shows a repeating pattern. Sudden, slow, damaging and huge floods. Some with walls of water. Each revives the reality in short term memory. A flood as high as the “1 in 5000 year event” we have just supposedly had according to the ABC and perhaps one or two higher. The history of old warning methods, large evacuations and heroic rescues shows a repeating cycle of heroism and forgetfulness. Prior walls of water a day apart, multiple huge floods in the same week and the places where the water came from, all forgotten again and again. How with the technology and data available in 2022 were so many asleep and unaware? A knowledge of history is far better than putting everything down to the unfathomable magic of “climate change”.

Places recently thought safe and marked on maps as not likely to flood on the eastern side of the town in the “Newtown” area have actually been flooded up to six times a year in the past. History shows maintenance of an old ever changing flood diversion plan to have been neglected several times and improved following floods. History also shows where to watch for better warnings. Eugowra is almost a nexus point of many tributary creeks to the Mandagery creek and is not far from the passing Lachlan river.

Some Cabonne shire maps can be seen here showing various flood map details. From “Cabonne Settlement Strategy 2021-2041”.
A note in the top left of the maps says: “This plan assumes that the Puzzle Flat Creek levee will remove the overland flow flooding east of Aurora St (to be confirmed by flood engineers).”
As will be seen from many of the news reports below. The same assumption was made in the past with different versions Puzzle Flat Creek strategy each one meeting a flood it could not beat.
https://www.cabonne.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/planning-and-development/settlement-strategy/b4.-css-eugowra-settlement-options-post-exh-may-2021.pdf

One of three floods in the same week that hit Eugowra in October 1950. It is not the April 1950 flood but one reported as being smaller.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 3 Nov 1950 Page 6 “EUGOWRA'S MAJOR FLOOD”.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219103748

Quotes from “Tom Boney’s” great swim. A great read worth following the link to.
The Sydney Sunday Times 17 Dec 1916 on Page 22, “SAVED 13 LIVES”.
The true story of "Boney" who in 1870 delivered the flood warning to Eugowra and rescued 13 people by spending nine hours in the water with his and other horses. A lot of that time not in contact with the ground underneath. Escort rock is out of town on the north eastern side of Eugowra.
“In the year 1870, on the banks of the Lachlan, some miles above Forbes, stood the out station of Eugowra, at that time owned by Mr. Andrew Clements. The homestead was on the Orange side of Eugowra Creek, and in sight of the spot where the gold escort was stuck up.” A little further along in that. “He had just got news that floods higher than any in the memory of white man were coming down. If that was true, the O'Meallys would all be drowned before morning.” Further along again, the seemingly impossible happens. Children on horses with adults swimming. “The first thing that met the eye of Joe M'Mahon as he looked out after lighting his fire that morning, was a company of half-drowned people coming in from what looked like an inland sea.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121345172

The year 1950 had at least 6 floods in Eugowra. The media today seem to be quoting 10.01 Meters as “The 1950 flood” but which one of at least six 1950 floods was that?
This one from April 1950 is recorded as 36 feet (10.97 Metres) by The Sydney Morning Herald Tue 4 Apr 1950 Page 1 “RACE FROM FLOOD IN NIGHT ATTIRE”.
“The waters in Eugowra rose to 36ft-more than three feet above the previous record level of 1926.”
That would make the 1926 flood just under 10.05M.
"Almost the entire population of about 800 had been evacuated and nearly every house was under water."
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18154852

An October 1950 flood is reported as 32 feet, 9.75 Meters.
The Goulburn Evening Post Thu 26 Oct 1950 Page 5 “FLOODS IN EUGOWRA”.
But this was not the flood peak.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104326945

The police were recorded as predicting the peak a day later than this 9.75M level.
The Melbourne Age Thu 26 Oct 1950 Page 6 “Township Menaced by Lachlan Flood”.
“The worst flood waters on record are expected at Eugowra early tomorrow morning. Eugowra police issued urgent flood warnings this afternoon and tonight.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205374976

An August flood is recorded at 30 feet.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 4 Aug 1950 Page 6. “EUGOWRA AGAIN SUFFERS FLOOD”
This gives a clue to the old zero feet datum point.
“Mandagery Creek Water Enters Several Homes. The Mandagery Creek at Eugowra reached its peak at 30 feet early on Wednesday morning,”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219102230

From that possibly just under 10.05M 1926 flood a very common description of how some floods affected the lower eastern part of the town. We were told in a recent ABC television report by a local being interviewed that her expectation was that the eastern side “never floods”. Notice from the quote below that the water came from the Canowindra rd on the eastern side not the down the Mandagery creek or up from the Lachlan river.
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser Sat 3 Apr 1926 Page 10 “EUGOWRA”.
A huge flood came down the Canowindra Road, and banked up against the railway line. The railway yard and a good portion of Newtown was a sea of water."
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139392824

From sometime after April 27 1926 the flood heights were measured by a height gauge. Likely the datum point used from then on.
The Forbes Advocate Tue 27 Apr 1926 Page 3. “Jottings”.
The Eugowra Agricultural Bureau's request (through Mr. N. G. McMillan, hon, sec.) for a flood, gauge to be erected at the bridge over the Mandagery Creek at Eugowra, has been granted, by the Boree Shire Council.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218640215

This SES document on page 2 explains by use of a table the flood heights in Eugowra. It gives the flood of April 1950 as 10.01M. It also has these important words.
“Eugowra has a history of flooding from Mandagery Creek and to a lesser extent from Puzzle Flat Creek”
How much lesser is that lesser extent? Is that lesser extent always lesser? What about the other creeks?
https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/media/1970/brochure-eugowra_floodsafe_guide.pdf

Mentioning the flood height at Eugowra bridge going under water paints the recent flood as a never before situation. This April 1950 flood report from Eugowra shows this the flood gauge also going under the water back then.
The Forbes Advocate Thu 6 Apr 1950 Page 6 “FLOOD WATERS RECEDE AROUND EUGOWRA”
“With no exception, every business house in Eugowra received damage from the flood, which was the worst ever experienced in the Mandagery Creek. The water 'was several feet deep in the centre of the main road through the town, and even covered the traffic portion of the curved cement bridge across the creek. The actual height of the flood can not be judged, as the gauge, and the bridge to which It was attached, was completely under water.” It lasted a long time with at least two peaks. “As late as 9 a.m. on Tuesday, water was still pouring through the show window of Sparke's shop.” One of the early peaks was reported at 8.5 Meters. This height was enough to catch some by surprise. So it could indicate the old zero datum point was higher. If the gauge is representative of where this occurred and was reported correctly. The Monday peak was much higher. “On Saturday night, the gauge on the bridge recorded 28 feet. It fell on Sunday morning, and then began to rise again on Sunday night. Some people moved their belongings to dry ground when the first warnings of the flood were received, but others, who took no notice of the warnings, were caught by the swiftly rising current.” “WATER IN HOUSES Water rose into houses In North Street early Sunday night, and as far as Ledger's bakery in Broad Street an hour before it broke on the south side. It then spread up between the Post Office and J. W. Lees' store at about 11.30 on Sunday night. The peak was reached on Monday morning, when the depth of the water In the business houses ranged from six inches to four feet.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218700564

The above mentioned other bridge that went completely under would have been part of the old wooden bridge that was still there in the early 1970s. After it was finally removed sometime around 1975. When I lived there and nearby. I can remember talking to an elderly German couple, Erica and Lloyd Malt who lived in a house right near it that is no longer there. The house was raised on stilts like the old Queenslander and protected by a flood wall. They needed to go up stairs to what would be the equivalent of the second story to enter. It was right close to the Mandagery creek on what is now Myall St Park. He was sure that when the old bridge was removed that the height gauge had been replaced at a different height.
A flood wall at the front of this house can just be seen in the 1973 photo here.
http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=featuredpics&sz=4&fn=88ylngwv&or=3&pg=0&yr=1973&mo=91772837

There remains however an alternate flood height Gauge that can confirm the April 1950 flood as being around 36 feet(11M). It is more stable than an ABC journalist and less likely to be deleted than BoM or N.S.W. government data. That is the concrete bridge itself. It is described as having the road surface covered in 1950. This can be compared to the height reached by the recent flood as shown by the marked tree in the ABC television reports.

The old flood height gauge would have been used to determine this 1946 child risk at 35 feet.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 15 Mar 1946 Page 8 OUR BRIDGE.
“Recently the writer crossed the new bridge at Eugowra and noticed a small pair of shoes, blocking one of the apertures that exist in the concrete sides of the structure. Closer Investigation revealed the legs of a five year old lad, who had crawled through the opening and was balancing on the outer rim to watch the activities of other youngsters playing in the bed of the creek some 35 feet below.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218408207

The concrete bridge was opened in January 1942.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 30 Jan 1942 Page 4. Eugowra's Big Day.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219516605

However this report from 1942 shows the “lower part of town”, which would be the now less inhabited older part of the south west, went under well before the bridge.
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser Fri 26 Jun 1942 Page 12 EUGOWRA
“Eugowra township awakened on Saturday morning to find the water breaking over the banks. In no time the lower end of the town was inundated several feet in depth.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140107433

This 1920 flood likely had a much lower flood height at the Mandagery creek bridge but again shows the alternate source of floods from the east.
Parkes Western Champion Thu 8 Jan 1920 Page 9
A cloudburst occurred on the Canowindra road, about 4 miles east of Eugowra. It is estimated that at least 5 or 6 inches of rain fell in a few minutes. A torrent of water a foot deep and about a quarter of a mile wide swept over the racecourse towards the town. Newtown was completely isolated by a foot deep of water for several hours and the place presented a unique spectacle.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113483945

From November 1950 an explanation of the Canowindra road problem returning.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 1 Dec 1950 Page 6 SAME TROUBLE 20 YEARS AGO
“Canowindra Road Caused Eugowra Floodings According to a resident of the area, a silted up drain near the Canowindra road was responsible for damage being caused during this year's floods at Eugowra “As you probably are aware, the eastern end of Eugowra has, during the last few months, been badly flooded on at least six occasions from the Canowindra road," wrote Mr. R. A. Douglas, of Eugowra, in a letter to last week's meeting of the Boree Shire Council.”These floodings entered house yards, doing much damage I should know, as I own property in Oberon Street. Twenty years ago we had the same trouble and the then Council cleaned out and put a drain running from the culvert in front of Mr. C. Brien's gate on the Canowindra Road.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219101904

The “same trouble twenty years ago” could perhaps be this one but there must be something wrong with this 1931 report.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 29 May 1931 Page 1 LATEST REPORTS
"A report from Eugowra states that the Mandagery Creek Is 40 feet high and rising". 40 feet is 12.2 meters. A one in forty billion year event? No it was still rising.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218420748

The flood “twenty years ago” does not appear to be this one. Why they are debating third or second here below could be because the May flood was the obvious winner but was it really? I doubt it.
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser Sat 4 Jul 1931 Page 9 EUGOWRA.
“Old hands say that the flood on Thursday of last week was the third highest on record the present generation, says it was the second highest.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139674252

The 40 feet figure is suspect because that May 1931 flood is reported here at the other stable and unlikely to be deleted flood gauge to have only made it up to. The 1927 imperial theatre building.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 3 Jul 1931 Page 3 EUGOWRA
“The western end of the. Shopping area was cut off by the creek over flow about 10 a.m., and most of the houses In that part were under three to five feet of water. The overflow backed up as far as the Imperial Theatre.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218427275

The imperial theatre reports quite differently from April 1950.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 14 Apr 1950 Page 3 “Mandagery Flood Understated”.
“The picture show proprietor told me he had removed seven tons of mud from the theatre. There are very few buildings in the town which have not been flooded.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218698644

This one from 1934 does fit the “20 years ago” pattern but is obviously under twenty years.
Parkes Western Champion Fri 2 Feb 1934 Page 1 “Torrential Rain Eugowra Suffers Enormous Damage”.
“Torrential rain fell through the district on Tuesday afternoon the 4&1/2 inches registered in Eugowra falling in 2&1/2 hours. The huge watershed up the Canowindra Road was simply deluged, and a roaring mass of water poured out of the hills and down Traves Valley, taking every thing in front of it. Newtown in Eugowra was a swirling torrent of water, nearly every house being flooded. At the railway rescue parties were waist deep in water. The railway line on the Goolagong side was washed away in several places, one big culvert disappearing. The mall train from Eugowra had to return, and passengers had to spend the night at the railway station, where they were marooned from town.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219101904

This 1928 flood rose quickly but did most damage to the immediate Mandagery creek area and the Western side of town. Newtown, the Canowindra rd and the railway are not mentioned.
“Although telephone messages kept coming through that the flood was a record one higher up, no precautions were taken, as it was considered they were only alarmist reports. At 6 p.m. it could be. Seen that the flood would be a big one, but still shopping went briskly on.”
Just an hour and a half or so later people found themselves and their cars were trapped.
“all the town on the western end of the bridge was a raging tornado” ...“Twenty-two women and children spent the night on the roof of P. Week's house and some more on the roof of the Imperial Theatre.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139472885/16142724

A week after the above 1928 flood, a small flood shows how suddenly the eastern side of the town could have it’s own separate problem.
Orange Leader Fri 2 Mar 1928 Page 6 EUGOWRA.
“On Friday afternoon, there was a cloud burst on the eastern end of the town, and no one would believe there was a flood coming. However, It was not long before a wall of water could be seen coming down the Canowindra road, and over part of the showground. A number of houses in Newtown were surrounded by water a few Inches Deep, but it passed away as quickly as it came."
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254408987

A report of a 1924 flood in eastern Eugowra follows the familiar pattern repeated through history again and again.
Parkes Western Champion Thu 27 Nov 1924 Page 11 “Eugowra”.
“A huge flood came down the Canowindra road, doing a lot of damage to the road. Newtown felt the full force of the flood, most of the houses being flooded out. The water was up to the floors and totally surrounded the houses in some cases. The viaduct in the railway yard, built to carry any excess water, failed, to do its duty, with the result that the yards were badly flooded, and some of the new wheat stacking sites were almost covered.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113497291

In 1936 the now seemingly forgotten answers to the Canowindra road sudden flood riddle began to appear more clearly. The water was coming from Puzzle Flat and Puzzle Flat creek. The article details a complicated water diversion plan.
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser Sat 19 Sep 1936 Page 14.
“.. the water came from a depression further north which collected the water from the hills on the north side of Puzzle Flat, as well as some of the water from Puzzle Flat Creek, that could not pass through the bridge in the main road.”...“They also suggested that the street adjacent to the showground running north and south be re-formed and the road will be raised considerably to cause any water that came down through the showground to be diverted toward the railway culvert.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141078205

Before the modifications to the flow from Puzzle Flat and Puzzle creek, one of the main issues was where the creek met the railway. This report from 1925 shows how the eastern part of Eugowra could flood without the western part flooding.
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser Sat 27 Jun 1925 Page 10 “EUGOWRA".
“Another 18 inches, and all the western portion of the town would have been inundated. Terrific rain fell here on Saturday and Saturday night and part of the next day, estimated at 7 inches. Early on Sunday morning residents in the Newtown part of Eugowra realised that they were going to be flooded out. A huge quantity of water had come down over the race-course and steadily backed up against the railway until the whole of Newtown was covered from a foot to 3 feet deep. Just when things were looking serious the railway gave away, and the railway yards became a lake several feet deep.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136797945

There are many more reports of modifications and maintenance to the water diversions to stop the flow of water from the Canowindra road, Puzzle creek etc from flowing into Eugowra. As this report from 1952 shows the plan did not always work.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 25 Jul 1952 Page 8 “MINOR FLOOD AT EUGOWRA”
“New Town again had its flood from the Canowlndra Road and quite a few streets up that way were covered with water for a couple of days.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219115323

Another 1952 flood a month earlier is recorded as 5 feet less than the 36 foot April 1950 flood. The warnings worked well and the height gives clues to the flood gauge height in relation to the “light” flooding then.
The Forbes Advocate Tue 24 Jun 1952 Page 6 “LIGHT FLOODING AT EUGOWRA”.
“Warning of the flood was received on Sunday night and all residents and shopkeepers in the danger areas were well prepared. The water broke the bank behind Nlven's house early In the morning and began running down the gutters near the bridge about mid-day. One house, Welsh's, In North Street, and some at the lower end of Broad Street were flooded. The peak was reached on Monday night, the reading at the bridge being Just over 31 feet”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219107091

After so many floods in 1950 the newspapers get to know the routine.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 27 Oct 1950 Page 12. Eugowra's Third Flood In Seven Days.
“Always, after heavy rain, Canowindra Road on the outskirts of the town becomes a watercourse, and on Friday water from this vicinity poured down the gutters and roadways right across that end of the town. Oberon and Evelyn Streets and all cross streets were affected right across to Wilbe Street, where Archer's, Slavin's, and Riach's residences were surrounded.” https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219097614/24259871

PMG warnings.
It is clear that warnings should take into account the rainfall that ends up coming down Puzzle Flat creek. Warnings in the past apart from that direction worked mainly via telegraph and telephone.
This report from 1918 shows the plan becoming official.
The Forbes Advocate Tue 29 Jan 1918 Page 2 “EUGOWRA'S FLOOD NEWS”.
“...the Deputy Postmaster General, Sydney, reports that arrangements have been made for Cowra and Canowindra to advise Eugowra of any heavy rains and threatened floods, and that such advice will be immediately posted out side the latter office for the information of the public.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/100304053

The first of two 1942 floods in under a month show that the PMG, phone it through, warning method had expanded to include the Mandagery creek and was still working 22 years later.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 26 Jun 1942 Page 4 THE FLOOD.
“Word came through from Murga about 920 a.m. that the flood was at Its highest there, and could be expected to be at its highest at Eugowra about 11 o'clock, but an hour or so before that time the creek overflowed in several places, and by the time It was In full flood several residences in the lower end of North Street had three or four Inches of water running through them. Luckily, this was anticipated, and all the furniture and belongings of the owners had been moved to higher ground.”
The writer of that points out that the width of the new bridge will help.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219516666

The second 1942 flood within a month shows the PMG warning method working from further up the Mandagery creek.
The Forbes Advocate Fri 17 Jul 1942 Page 4 SECOND FLOOD WITHIN A MONTH.
“The Eugowra residents received an other scare last Saturday, when they received word from Manildra to expect another flood much bigger than the last one a month ago. Although the Mandagery was a foot higher at Murga than the previous one. It was several inches lower here.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219508963

This August flood report from 1950 shows a possible change to the police handling the warnings.
Daily Advertiser Wed 2 Aug 1950 Page 1 Flood-Weary Forbes Faces Another Deluge.
“Eugowra, All the residents of the small township are hastily making their way to high ground. Police think surging floodwaters will engulf every building in the town. In April water was above the rooftops of homes in Eugowra.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145598258

Both of these 1959 reports show the police looking after successful early warnings and also show Eugowra being hit by walls of water two days in a row.
The Canberra Times Fri 3 Apr 1959 Page 3 WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN N.S.W. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128812087 The Canberra Times Sat 4 Apr 1959 Page 3 TOWNSPEOPLE BUILDING FLOOD WALL.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128812212

Reports of floods from early Eugowra are numerous. The details not always useful. Eastern Eugowra is mentioned in this 1905 report.
Cowra Guardian and Lachlan Agricultural Recorder Sat 18 Feb 1905 Page 2 “EUGOWRA”.
“A heavy storm at Chesher's farm, two miles from Eugowra, on Wednesday flooded the whole place and swept fences away. Continuing its course, the water swept over East Eugowra. flooding several of the houses, in Eugowra only 75 paints fell.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261820566

1900 again shows the flood rescue methods in Eugowra vary from resourcefulness to resourcefulness.
The Canowindra Star Fri 20 Jul 1900 Page 5 “Family Notices”
“MR. and MRS. OSWALD NASH desire to convey their sincere thanks to those people of Eugowra who so kindly constructed a boat and came to their rescue during the recent flood; more especially to those who at the risk of their own lives crossed at night in the boat to their assistance. Willow Bank, 14th July, 1900. Eugowra.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143911887

Going back to around 1815, 1817 the reports get a bit sketchy, as do mine.
The Peak Hill Express Fri 22 Mar 1907 Page 17 “A Relic.”
“This tree stood as the record of exploration furthest west for almost two vears until Surveyor Oxley, who made it his starting point, went still further down the Lachlan River, was blocked by flood waters, and reported an inland sea.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107206822

Jokes about an inland sea aside, the whole area must be always going through ongoing change. The trees in Mandagery creek grow taller and fat. The mud and silt deposited in drains and the Imperial theatre show that it will change the terrain a little each time. Roads, flood levees, billabongs, the railway, and even the exact course of creeks and rivers will be nothing like 200 years ago let alone 5000. With or without the flood height gauge having moved from a wooden bridge to the creek bank or water flow around buildings being in different places, the idea that a 1 in 5000 year event could even be calculated is even more sketchy than the idea of an 1817 inland sea.

Back to 2022. The skilled hydrologist is required. The skilled forecaster is also required. Neither of those are me. I studied electronics but it is obvious that for better warnings in Eugowra rainfall over the creeks that can deliver large amounts of water quickly should be monitored, especially Puzzle Flat creek. The warnings based on the time it takes water to travel down the Lachlan river can be slow. The clues from the Belabula are part of that and of rainfall but it does not flow through Eugowra. Warnings from upstream along the Mandagery have in the past been very useful.

My uneducated suggestion is human attention be paid as soon as a flood looks possible. Regardless of who looks a human is required. In the age of automatic tellers, self checkouts and robodept a skilled forecaster may have been able to see what the computer models could not. Not just because the Eugowra rain gauge was not working since early November but because a human could look to alternative sources of local information.

One problem for the computerised model predictions is the lack of fine detail over the area’s that matter. A lack of 4D geospacial fine definition in the Isohyetal areal precipitation dynamics.
That tecno prattle blah blah, somewhat explained here. Eugowra, being almost a nexus point of many tributary creeks to the Mandagery creek and not far from the passing Lachlan river, only needs the passing waters to synchronise for flooding. When flood water comes past along the Lachlan from Cowra and down the Lachlan via the Belabula from Canowindra the water from Mandagery creek can only join it. It has nowhere else to go. When the creeks by chance deliver flood water from near and far all at the same time as the rivers bring it past, the level and action can only go up.
https://www.weather.gov/abrfc/map

It might also be good to lose the endless cycle of misplaced faith in the most recent flood mitigation plan in combination with losing the well funded politically driven amnesia. A skilled forecaster or even a long term local well versed in history could have looked at this Yeoval rain radar and developed a strong hunch. When the waters of the Lachlan are high going past and the Mandagery are high coming down, what happens next when the water from a randomly positioned cloud burst that does not hit a rain gauge, has nowhere to go. The outcome of a flood prediction could well depend on a short cloud burst over the Nangar national park, Puzzle Flat or Long Gully. It may not be as accurate but gives some of what the forecaster may need to rapidly warn. Every five minutes this page updates. There are 5Min. 1Hour etc rainfall links to investigate.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR963.loop.shtml#skip

Lance Pidgeon