The Heroes of Gundagai are immortalised in bronze in the town’s CBD. Photo: Reconciliation Australia.
On a cold winter’s night in June of 1852 a raging torrent swept through the colonial settlement of Gundagai.
Buildings were demolished, livestock were carried away and somewhere between 80 and 100 people lost their lives in the deadliest flood in Australia’s history.
This June marked 174 years since the tragedy that is remembered in the form of a striking bronze sculpture on Sheridan Street.
Yarri and Jacky Jacky were two of the local Wiradjuri men who demonstrated extraordinary courage in one of the greatest rescue efforts recorded.
It was noted in the subsequent enquiries that local Aboriginal people had given warnings about the flood-prone location of the town that had largely been ignored by European settlers.
After weeks of heavy rain, the Murrumbidgee River burst its banks in the early hours of the morning and a wall of water swept through the original township.
An article from the Goulburn Evening Post, written on the centenary of the flood in 1952, collected some of the firsthand accounts from the time.
As reports had drifted in to the surrounding stations, a small group rode to the river north of the town to check on a publican and his family.
“It was one great sheet of water covering every house. But smoke could be seen rising from the south of the river, and it was thought that probably the publican and his wife had reached high ground where the flood had attained its full height,” they recalled.
“Parts of haystacks, sheaves of wheat, pumpkins, melons, a quantity of timber, and much debris were rapidly passing towards Gundagai.”
Terrified residents had clung to rooftops, trees and floating debris and many more were washed away, caught unawares by the deluge or slipped exhausted from their perch.
The eyewitness account continued, describing the “immense volume of muddy water” that was flowing over the unfortunate village.
“There was gathered together a small group of men and women, each with a tale of sorrow and each lamenting the loss of loved ones who were now forever gone,” they wrote.
“Amongst others, we noticed a young man with tears streaming down his cheeks and were told that the flood had robbed him of his sweetheart.
“Three persons who had been drowned in the floods were lying in Mr. Morley’s house, and in a shed in the yard lay 14 others, amongst whom were several children, who were drowned in the schoolhouse, which was one of the places destroyed by the flood.”
The breastplates of the “Heroes of Gundagai” were donated to the Gundagai Historical Museum. Photo: Ludo Kuipers.
Along with the tragedy emerged tales of heroism and courage. Many of the settlers boats had been lost in the currents and the bark canoes of the local Wiradjuri people provided a lifeline to the survivors.
“A number of families were that night rescued from their homes by blackfellows with a boat,” the Goulburn Evening Post explained.
“It was a most difficult and dangerous task. Some were taken from the lofts of their houses. These fellows (black if you like) did splendid service.”
While a number of Wiradjuri men were involved in the daring rescue missions, recognition came slowly and more than two decades later Yarri, Jacky Jacky and a man named Tommy Davis were singled out for saving many lives.
In the custom of the day, they were awarded engraved breastplates and granted pensions in acknowledgement of their heroism.
An article from the Manaro Mercury and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser in March of 1912 pointed towards an upcoming exhibition of one of the brass artefacts that had been discovered in a bark hut.
“This is a breastplate of brass which was presented to an Aboriginal called Tommy Davis, who, with a bark canoe, rescued many residents who had climbed trees as the only available places of safety,” it said.
“The only boat used for rescue purposes became overturned, and all its occupants were drowned, and thus it became necessary to rely upon the services of the Aboriginals, whose bark canoes were a valuable asset at the time.
“There were two other Aboriginals engaged in rescue work; ‘Jacky’ and ‘Yarra,’ and these were also successful in saving numerous lives receiving inscribed breastplates as rewards of merit.
“These, of crescent shape, were engraved, and represented the owners in their canoes going to the aid of people who were ‘treed’.”
Following the disaster, Gundagai was rebuilt on higher ground, where the town remains today.
Yarri and Jacky Jacky are celebrated not only as Wiradjuri heroes but as two of Australia’s greatest lifesavers.
Original Article published by Chris Roe on Region Riverina.
