QSA Talks: Remembering the 1974 floods 50 years later

Content warning: This presentation discusses traumatic events and loss of life, which may be distressing for some viewers. In 1974, South-East Queensland faced one of its most devastating natural disasters. The flood claimed fourteen lives, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and left roads, railways, and telecommunications inoperable for weeks. Its impact continues to resonate across the region to this day. Join Dr Margaret Cook, environmental historian and Research Fellow at Griffith University and La Trobe University, as she revisits this catastrophic event. In this recorded presentation, Dr Cook explores how the flood unfolded, its immediate and long-term effects on the community, and the underlying causes behind the devastation. Dr Cook’s expertise in climate-related disasters and water histories brings a unique perspective to this significant moment in Queensland’s history. She is the author of A River with a City Problem, Disasters in Australia and New Zealand, and Cities in a Sunburnt Country.