Here are some reports from the newspapers of the August 1924 flood. We will start with the report from the local paper, the Koo Wee Rup Sun.
From the Koo Wee Rup Sun, Thursday September 4, 1924 p.2By Wednesday morning the signs became more ominous, as a number of drains were overflowing. At Kooweerup M’Donalds Drain broke and McGregor’s drain rapidly filled and overflowed, the water rushing with great pace to the township. People living near the drains had to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. The seriousness of the situation was quickly realized, when large numbers from outlying places came into Kooweerup seeking refuge. Many womenfolk and children caught the train and journeyed to the city, while the men remained to give assistance whenever needed.
The water kept steadily advancing, and early in the morning surrounded the Memorial Hospital. Offers of assistance were quickly made, but the doctor and staff did not accept such until later in the day. Fortunately, there were only several minor cases, and they and the staff were removed to the E.S. and A. Bank, a two-storey building. On Wednesday afternoon several feet of water was in the hospital.
Excitement prevailed in Kooweerup when it was announced that a couple in a house, surrounded by five feet of water, near the Boundary drain refused to leave. The seriousness of the position was pointed out to them, but they remained adamant. It was decided to ask the police to urge them to leave, but they were still obdurate.
Later in the afternoon water was invading most of the business places and many residences and occupiers were kept busy in packing their belongings in a more secure position. A feature of the situation was the splendid spirit of co-operation and help given by the more fortunate residents. They waded in water almost up to their waist, getting women and children to their homes, where all sorts of makeshifts were adopted for the purpose of giving them comfort and lodgings.
Hundreds must have spent a sleepless night, as the water kept rising. As individuals came into the township on horseback, reports of serious losses of crops, cattle, etc., were made, while the damage to the roads and drains will be considerable.
The railway staff exercised caution in regard to the running of trains, employes being kept on the watch, to see that the bridges and lines were kept intact. Consequently trains could not be kept to schedule time. The bridges over various drains were also kept under surveillance by residents.
The mailman to Five Mile reached his destination by vehicle yesterday morning, but had to return on horseback. The mail contractor for the Heath Hill route was unable to reach his destination.At Kooweerup Royal Hotel, Mrs McNamara, wife of the licensee, yesterday morning decided to only take women and children and refused many travelers and men-folk accommodation. Later in the evening the whole of the township was flooded.
A novel feature of the flood was that Mr “Pomp” Colvin rowed a boat right up Station street and as far as Gray’s shop in Rossiter street. The flood reached its zenith about 11p.m., last night, and since that hour the water has been gradually receding. This morning the water is still in a number of shops and houses, and many people are getting about minus boots and socks.
Hourigan, and Isherwood were flooded. The footpaths had to be cut in several places to turn the water from the road to the township flats. The drain through Mr. Jones's farm could not carry the flood, and portion of Garfield Reserve is submerged. Three inches of rain fell in 24 hours. (The Argus, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see here)
Patients at the local hospital bush nursing centre were hurriedly removed when the water began to rush on the township from the upper reaches of the swamp. Settlers from outlying parts flocked into Koo-wee-rup to-day in drays containing whole families. They got cramped accommodation in the township. In many cases they were forced to leave even this refuge as the water crept ominously up over the doorways. Some of the houses were two feet under.
Had Water in it - Many of the bolder spirits made a last stand in the Royal Hotel, a two-storey brick structure, facing the railway station. But they had to beat a retreat from this fortification when the water swamped in and invaded the whole premises. All the guests spent a damp night in the upstairs rooms.
These floods have given Koo-wee-rup residents a rude shock. With the thousands of pounds spent on drainage schemes they imagined they would be better protected from the flood menace which has been looked upon as a necessary evil, ever since the first settler selected here. The present downpour showed up grievous flaws in the drainage scheme, and settlers flooded out and temporarily homeless, bitterly complain to-night that the State River and Water Supply has let them down badly.
Thousands Lost - Already settlers throughout the 80,000 acres of ordinary fertile Koo-wee-rup swamp land have lost thousands of pounds since Sunday. Many were about to plant potato crops, but will be unable to do so for weeks, and the seed will be ruined. Live stock is also in danger.
Mr. Joseph Lee, of Koo-wee-rup, whose home is on the outskirts of the township between two over-flooded drains had to scramble on to his roof this afternoon and signal for help to rescue his stock. Willing helpers hastened out to his assistance, and tried to persuade him to leave his home. Like other settlers in a similar plight, he refused, saying he himself was in no danger, and had better stay and look after the place. Protecting banks higher up the main drain have been badly weakened by the rush of water, which in some places has completely overflowed them. Once over the embankment the water is free to overrun the low parts of the country for miles.
Crisis at Midnight - Midnight is expected to bring the critical hour. Then residents who have experienced past floods anticipated the water will reach its highest level. Mr Pomp Colvin, a local resident, who in the fishing season runs yachts to Tooradin, enterprisingly brought a dinghy this afternoon into the town, and rescued many marooned families. Later in the day he was called upon to rescue his own family, as the flood water crept unswervingly on.
At Dalmore the full significance of the watery waste is realised. Here miles upon miles of country are under water, and settlers’ homes rise up desolately out of the yellow sea. Water began to trickle through the back door of the Post-office to-night, and the postmistress, who had had a very busy day, was afraid that she might have to leave during night. (The Sun News Pictorial, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see here)
Settlers return to Homes. Position Easier at Koo-Wee-Rup.
The Dalmore district is still inundated, as there is a large volume of water coming down Kardinia Creek. Many farmers will be losers, as several of them had gone in for early plantings. Much damage has been done to roads in the flooded districts but culverts and bridges have stood the strain well. The soldier settlers in the Monomeith and Caldermeade districts continue to have more than a their shire of misfortune. Most of these men are dairy farmers, and the milk supply has appreciably diminished.
Though it was reported at first that a huge amount of stock had been lost, such has not proved to be the case. A gang of men is busily employed effecting repairs where the landslide and wash-away occurred at Yannathan, on the Strezlecki line. (The Argus, Friday, August 29, 1924, see here)
