Mother Nature has flexed her muscles over the Riverina on more than one occasion but there are few natural disasters that have caused as much damage or occurred as often in the last 150 years as floods.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Often it sweeps through with little warning, the damage is widespread and the clean-up takes weeks.
North Wagga resident Geoff Conway, 69, has lived in the suburb since 1953 and witnessed three major flood events – in 1956 while living in East Street and in his current home in Hampden Avenue in 1974 and 2012.
Mr Conway and his wife, Cheryl, have lived in their Hampden Avenue home since 1972.
They have packed up their belongings, secured their property and moved livestock more times than they can count but Mr Conway is adamant they will never move.
“You would not get a better suburb to live in,” he said.
The flood of 1956 required cattle to be moved to higher ground but about 60 per cent of North Wagga homes did not have water come inside.
The flood of 1974 lapped the bathtub in the Conway’s home, coming up to Mr Conway’s knees.
Mr Conway had the house hosed out and cleaned within 24 hours.
“The flood did no damage to buildings compared to what it did in 2012,” he said.
“The difference between that time and 2012, which is the only other time we’ve had water on our land, it was nearly a week before we could get back in.
“There was more damage done in 2012 because of the captivation of water.
“It didn’t get as much height but it stayed around a lot longer because there was no way to release the water.”
North Wagga residents know they have about 48 hours to evacuate before dam water reaches the city and are continuously keeping an eye on dam levels during rain events.
“We are quite prepared, most people who have been here a long time,” he said.
“Those who suffer are the ones who moved here in latter years.”
Mr Conway said there have been multiple “nuisance floods” where water has cut them off from their home.
The floods of the past have provided guidelines on where to build the levee banks and which parts of the city need protection.
Mr Conway believes natural disasters can shape a city’s history just as much as it’s sporting achievements or events.
Related coverage