The river was flooded again in August 1863.

The touring mail inspector came close to drowning when he failed in an attempt to cross the river on horseback.

The Tamworth Examiner said: “It is to be hoped that this misadventure will make Mr Dillon a little more cautious in future about crossing rivers in flood.”

A flash flood in the Macdonald River at Woolbrook on January 9, 1943, endangered four boys in two separate incidents.

Two young boys were playing on a small island in the river at Nundah and became trapped there when the flood hit and were found clinging to the trunk of an old tree.

The police officer from Walcha Road cast a steel bolt attached to a cord across the water to the boys who then were able to haul a rope across and tie it to a limb of the tree.

Bill Henry swam to the island with a second rope tied around his waist and rescued the youngest boy. Neville Carter then repeated the process to rescue the other boy.

In the second incident another two boys were swimming near the bridge when they were caught in the flood. They were able to scramble to safety but lost their clothes in the process.

The flood at Woolbrook on January 13, 1962, caused considerable damage that included the washing away of the railway pumping station as well as a structure supporting the rails on the northern side of the railway bridge.

Woolbrook was again flooded during November 29 and 30, 2008 with the Walcha News report of December 4 saying among other things: “Walcha Road, Woolbrook, Niangala and Ingleba were the worst hit with flash flooding, extensive damage to roads, bridges and culverts and with livestock and fences washed away.

“At Woolbrook the bridge went under water and three caravans were washed down the Macdonald River.”

Read more Walcha history: 

High water rising - the devastation of 1962

Cloudburst hits town in flood of 1935

1893 flood rips through Walcha