Water rushing down Fitzroy Street has often increased the area flooded.

The Walcha News of February 4 said in its report of the 1938 flood: “One of the worst rainstorms for eight years was experienced on last Monday afternoon and had disastrous effects on business premises and streets.

“About 1.30pm torrential rain, accompanied by hail, commenced to fall and in a short space of time Blair’s Gully was running a banker and blockages caused it to back up and overflow throwing a raging torrent through Fenwicke and Gill’s Stock and Station Agency, Thurlow’s Saddlery, the Civic Theatre and the Apsley Hotel before rushing across the street where it flooded more business premises.

“Several ploughed areas were washed away and hail during the height of the storm caused damage to house roofs, canvas car hoods and gardens.”

The flood of April 4, 1943 was due to a thunderstorm that came from the west accompanied by hail and torrential rain. Debris again blocked the underground channel leading from Blair’s Gully to the river and floodwaters entered Derby Street causing damage to business premises. In addition a tremendous flow down Fitzroy Street added to the general havoc. Water was a foot deep in the Civic Theatre.

Thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain descended on Walcha on the night of January 30, 1947.  The two-hour storm flooded low-lying areas of the town and once again property in Derby Street flooded as a consequence of debris blocking the Blair’s Gully culvert. Damage was considerable in the southern areas of the shire with hail as large as tennis balls being reported.

Walcha was flooded twice on Saturday, January 30, 1971. The first flood arrived at 6pm from Blair’s Gully leaving the area from South Street to Derby Street awash. One hour later, the Apsley River broke its banks and flooded the area from South Street to Pakington Street.

Read more Walcha history:

River breaks banks

High water rising - the devastation of 1962

Cloudburst hits town in flood of 1935

1893 flood rips through Walcha