Over a century of shifting blame

Each historic flood event has shifted the subject of public blame. In 1893, the floods were seen as an act of God or blamed on the wild forces of nature. Flood damage was attributed to a lack of technological control in the 1950s after Somerset Dam was built. In 1974, impacts were put down to a lack of insurance and flood relief. Over the decades, developers, floodplain dwellers, politicians, state government and local councils have received and deflected blame for floods. Meanwhile, progress on flood hazard reduction continues to be evaded.

Margaret Cook (2019) A River with a City Problem: A History of Brisbane Floods

Image: Aerial of Brisbane, 1965. Credit: Richard Hopkins, Queensland Places.