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Woden Flood MemorialPrint Page Print this page

09-June-2013
09-June-2013

Photographs supplied by Glen Yeomans

The monument commemorates the seven victims of the Woden Valley floods of 1971. The monument consists of a memorial sign at the entrance to a path which leads to the rock memorial on which are engraved the names of the victims.

In January 1971, a severe storm caused flash-flooding and seven deaths due to drowning and injuries. Widespread flooding occurred in Woden Valley, south-east of the city, which rapidly filled the concrete-lined creek that ran beside the Woden Valley freeway. At the time of the storm, the freeway was packed with commuters heading home.

As the deluge began, the traffic halted and culverts at one end of the valley became blocked with debris. The backup sent a flash flood surging onto the freeway which engulfed more than a dozen cars and swept them into its torrent.

Location

Address:Service Street, Parkland near Melrose Drive, Curtin, 2605
State:ACT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.335889
Long: 149.084498
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Disaster
Sub-Theme:Flood
Actual Event Start Date:26-January-1971
Actual Event End Date:26-January-1971

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Tuesday 26th January, 2010
Front Inscription

[Memorial Sign ]

WODEN FLOOD MEMORIAL

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of seven young people, including four children, who lost their lives in the Woden Floods on Australia Day 1971.

On the night of Tuesday 26 January a thunderstorm sudden in onset and severe in intensity broke of the developing suburbs of the Woden Valley. It was accompanied by torrential rain and in the flash-flooding that followed seven lives were lost. The drainage system at the intersection could not cope. Three cars were swept from the roadway. 

The tragedy was exacerbated by the absence of depth indicators and warning signs. No screens had been installed to prevent build-up at the crossing. The roadway itself was constructed on the valley floor. The system was designed to overflow. At its peak, the water on 26 January 1971 topped the culvert by 1.5 metres. 

Many selfless acts of courage by ACT Police. Emergency Services personnel and ordinary Canberrans took place on the night of the tragedy. 

The design failures and lack of warnings were addressed in the wake of the tragedy. Major reconstruction work took place. An elevated roadway incorporating massive drainage channels was built at what is now one of Canberra's busiest intersections. 

The history of the Woden Valley Floods is available from the ACT Heritage Library.


Rock Memorial Front:
      CANBERRA 
             1971
Rock Memorial Back:
       
  ​[Names]

 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au