We have just digitised one of the University Library’s recent acquisitions – “Floods in the Hunter : report of Commission appointed to organise into and report respecting floods in the district of The Hunter River” by New South Wales. Hunter River Flood Commission, Sydney: Thomas Richards, Govt. Printer, 1870.
It was prepared by Edward Orpen Moriarty (1824-1896), the Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and Rivers and includes 12 maps and cross sections showing the extent and depths of the flood.
The Report (located in Rare Books F627.4099442 NEWS) and related plans (relocated to M7501) are available on our Living Histories @ UON Digital Platform at the following link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/92809
In addition, we have also digitised the 1870 Progress Report (located in Rare Books Q627.4099442 NEWS)
These reports provide vivid contemporary eye witness testimony from across the Hunter Region relating to flooding, dating back to the early days of European settlement in the Region, so are a valuable insight.
Title: Floods in the Hunter : report of Commission appointed to organise into and report respecting floods in the district of The Hunter River. Thomas Richards, Govt. Printer, 1870.
Author: New South Wales. Hunter River Flood Commission
Subject: Floods — New South Wales — Hunter River.
Description: Hunter River (N.S.W.) — Floods; 125 p.; [4] leaves of plates (12 folded) : plans (some col.); Parliamentary paper (New South Wales. Parliament); 322/1870
Call Number: F627.4099442 NEWS
H.R.F.C. Plan shewing alteration in bank of River at West Maitland, since 1861 (Relocated to Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Plan Shewing the various schemes for shortening the Hunter River as referred to in my report of 12 January 1869. (Signed E. Moriarty) (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Sheet No. 1 Cross Sections of the Hunter River (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Sheet No. 2 Cross Sections of the Hunter River (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Sheet No. 3 Cross Sections of the Hunter River (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Sheet No. 4 Cross Sections of the Hunter River (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
N.S.W. Hunter River Flood Commission. Diagram Shewing Extent of Flood Country Lower Hunter River District (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Plan of West maitland Shewing the position of the proposed Embankment. September 1870 (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Diagram Shewing heights of some of the Principal Floods of the River Hunter and the various inclinations of their surfaces. (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
H.R.F.C. Section of Site of Proposed Embankment, round the most densely populated portion of West Maitland. (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
Separate Appendix A. Shows Raymond Terrace, Graham’s Town Swamp, The Moors, Moffitt’s Swamp (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
Separate Appendix B. Copy 1. (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
Separate Appendix B. Copy 2. (Relocated to Archives Shelf Location M7501 from F627.4099442 NEWS)
Floods in the Hunter Progress Report, 1870. Title Page. RB Call Number Q627.4099442-NEWS.
