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1964 Flood - Namoi and Manilla Rivers - January, 1964

Flooding across the North-West

Major flooding occured as heavy rain brought flooding across the North-West in this event. Flooding was heaviest in Manilla and Barraba. In Manilla, over 175mm of rain caused rapid rises in the Namoi and Manilla Rivers inundating much of the low lying part of Manilla and forcing the evacuation of an estimated one third of the population

Aerial view of Manilla 15/1/1964

1964 Manilla Flood (Aerial View)

Homes in River, Namoi and Manilla streets were worst effected. The approaches to the Namoi River Bridge were cut off and the bridge over the Manilla River on the Boggabri road was washed away.

View of Namoi River Manilla 15/1/1964

Namoi River Flood Manilla

View of Flooded Home Manilla 15/1/1964

Namoi River Flood Manilla

Flood Damage to Home Manilla

Flood Damage Manilla

Flooding in Barraba is said to have been the worst in history, the Burindi River was at 29ft at 1pm on the 15th, 8ft above the normal critical height. One home was completely swept away and another partially demolished. Water was up to 8ft deep in some homes and the town was completely isolated overnight on the 15th

In Tamworth, the Peel experienced moderate flooding, reaching a peak at 7pm of 18ft 6in bringing flooding to low lying areas.

The major flooding in the upper Namoi, when combined with the moderate flooding in the Peel and only minor flooding in the Mooki, resulted in only moderate flooding at Gunnedah and Narrabri.