The Millennium Drought

URBAN
Written By Paula Hardie

The Millennium Drought lasted from 1997 to 2008, recognised as the worst on record. Around this time, Brisbane became Australia’s fastest growing city. Newcomers built homes on the floodplain, unaware of flood risks. Urban density increased in low-lying suburbs like Kurilpa, Sherwood and Rosalie. Between 2005 and 2011, the Brisbane City Council approved 1,811 development applications on land that flooded in 1974. 

Margaret Cook (2018) “It Will Never Happen Again”: The Myth of Flood Immunity in Brisbane” Journal of Australian Studies

Credit: Matt Palmer, Unsplash.

Paula Hardie
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