Prior to European settlement, there were four open creeks that traversed the city from east to west (First Creek, Second Creek, Third Creek, and Fourth Creek), flowing from various points in the Mount Lofty Ranges and discharging at different sites along the River Torrens.
First Creek is the western most creek within the Torrens Catchment, flowing from Crafers and discharging into the Torrens near Frome Road.
Second Creek first becomes evident in Kensington, running along the southern edge of Borthwick Park before passing underneath the Norwood Swimming Centre and through most of Norwood.
It re-emerges above ground in Linde Reserve, Stepney where it has been re-naturalised to become a significant landscape feature, before passing under St Peters Street, St Peters through to the Torrens.
Third Creek flows from near Horsnell Gully Conservation Park and discharges into the Torrens at Drage Reserve via the western side of Patterson Sportsground in Felixstow.
Fourth Creek flows from Norton Summit via the Morialta Conservation Park and discharges into the Torrens at Felixstow Reserve, Felixstow.
Prior to colonisation, the Adelaide plains were populated with open forest, woodland and grasslands. At that time, the area primarily contained Eucalyptus leucoxylon (SA blue gum) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum).
In the early years of settlement, the city was mainly used for farming, market gardens, flour mills, dairies, orchards, nurseries, and potteries.
In the late 1880s a development boom occurred, which saw the subdivision and loss of many market gardens.
Any heavy rains in the hills had the effect of swelling all the creeks which flow across the Adelaide plains to the River Torrens. In those places where the water had a free course, it caused minimal damage, but where the watercourses became obstructed with debris washed down by the flood waters, considerable damage occurred.
Such was the case with the Waterfall Creek, which, after flowing through Burnside, enters Norwood near the property of Sir Edwin Smith, and then taking its course through Norwood goes in a north-westerly direction through Kent Town, having its junction with the Torrens at the back of the Botanic Gardens.
The creek gradually rose until about 11.00pm on Tuesday evening 16 April 1889. All went well until it reached Sydenham Road, Norwood.
Messrs Colliver brothers had erected a carpenter’s shop over the creek, and underneath the shop they had stored a quantity of timber. The water coming down the creek cast this timber adrift on the torrent, and it immediately floated down the stream.
The timber had only to proceed to Kent Terrace (Fullarton Road), when it met the bridge spanning that road.
The floating material, added to other obstructions carried down the stream, caused the creek to overflow its banks. The water spreading on both sides soon found its way into the houses in the vicinity.
Householders awakened by the roar of the water were forced to look after their furniture as the water reached the level of their doorsteps.
All along the course of the creek through Kent Town, anxious people could be seen with their nether garments (underwear) tucked knee high watching the flood as it rose first into their gardens and then into their houses.
The flood was at its worst in Rundle Street, with water in many places being several feet deep. The bridge at Mr O Segar’s furniture establishment was covered, and the road was a foaming torrent.
Several families on each side were washed out and their cellars were, in a very few minutes, filled with water.
The residents of one of the houses were awakened from their slumber on hearing the walls of the house cracking in a most ominous manner, and immediately the furniture was removed.
Mr Weidenhofer’s property (36 College Road, Kent Town C.T. No.: 4030/252 (the old Chloe’s Restaurant site)) was entirely submerged and his garden bore the appearance of a lake.
The Kentish Arms, owned by Mr S Barnett, was surrounded by water and the cellars were filled. The contents were destroyed, and the proprietor estimated his loss at £50.
The Kentish Arms Inn was on the corner of Little Young Street and Kent Road, now Parade West
Such floods had never before been experienced, and people who have lived there for the last 25 years declare that they have never known the creek rise in the same way that it did that evening.
An examination on Wednesday morning revealed the fact that the floodwaters did great damage to five properties in Rundle Street, Kent Town.
Much of this article was obtained from the following Trove website.
20 Apr 1889 – FLOODS IN KENT TOWN. – Trove (nla.gov.au)
PDF Version below.
With thanks to the State Library for the photographs.
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