Weston Flood

The following transcription made by Mélissa Martin for the Weston History and Heritage website is from: Brian J. Andrews, The Pioneering Days of the Coalfields, for Coalfields Heritage Group ~ No.2, pp.78-81:

WESTON FLOOD

On Tuesday, December 28, 1926, Deep Creek came down on a high flood. In ordinary times this watercourse is only a mere trickle of water, but it was quickly converted into a raging torrent, that overflowed its banks and swept through the property and houses of residents living along its banks.

Although Weston did not suffer to anything like the extent Cessnock suffered as a result of the flood, yet there was considerable damage to property and inconvenience to residents.

Sweeping down from the hills in the vicinity of Tomalpin, the waters joined those from as far away as Native Dog Hill, near Sawyer's Gully, to became a roaring, raging torrent converging on Weston.

Both the new Kline Street and Fourth Street bridges were completely submerged. The old suspension bridge was swept away, and also the approaches to the main bridge, for quite a distance on both sides.

The residents across Deep Creek were cut off from the rest of the town as the creek became impassable. The isolated residents were thus inconvenienced owing to the impossibility of tradesmen being able to send their carts across.

Among the residents who suffered most severely along the banks of the creek were Messrs S.Lee, W.Gillard and J.Lamb.

Two residents of Chinaman's flat were completely surrounded by water and had to be evacuated.

In Second Street, several residents, Messrs G.Wright, G.Higginbottom, S.Phillips and J.Begg were also completely cut off for several days, being unable to leave their homes owing to the water spreading across the street.

The big dam at Hebburn overflowed, with an immense volume of water pouring over the spillway, rushing through the concrete archway under the railway line, with the roar like that of thunder.

The yellow, turbulent flood waters carried along large trees, logs and other debris, made an magnificent and impressive spectacle.

So forcible was the rush of the flood waters, concerns were raised that the colliery dam might burst. The manner in which the concrete barriers of the dam withstood the force of the flood spoke volumes for the engineering skill used in their construction.

TAKEN BY COMPLETE SURPRISE

“It all happened so suddenly that I was taken completely by surprise.” said Mrs Samuel Lee, of Kline Street, Weston, whose house stands right on the bank of the creek, within a few metres of the big bridge.

It was a nerve shattering experience for her as the creek overflowed, sweeping through the house and garden. Her husband was away at the time, leaving her alone in the house. It had been raining heavily all the morning.

“Suddenly, above the patter on the roof, I heard a peculiar swishing noise.” continued Mrs Lee. “I looked out the back door, and was surprised to see a sheet of yellow water, about a foot deep, pouring through my yard and swirling about the house.

“The water rose so quickly that I did not even have time to rescue a cage of parrots that I valued very much, and which were almost 35 yards away from the house. The water rose to about six feet deep in the yard and it then rushed through the house, ruining carpets and damaging furniture.

“When the flood was at its height there was three feet of water in the house. The creek was running with terrible force all day, and it was quite easy to see that the bridge, just a few yards away from my house, could not withstand the terrible strain for too much longer.

“Every now and again there would be a terrible crash as a portion of the bridge gave away, to be swept down by the raging waters. The destruction of the bridge continued by degrees all day long, and by nightfall it was a wreck.”

Mr and Mrs Sam Lee were among the worst sufferers of the Weston flood. Fifteen head of their poultry were also swept away.

PLUCKY RESCUE ATTEMPT

Two boys, who had come to Mrs Lee's assistance, were told of the missing parrots. Without hesitation, they dived off the back verandah of the house and swam to the spot where the cage had been standing.

The water was well other their heads and was rising rapidly. They had to swim for a distance of 35 yards, taking great risks in doing so. On arriving at the spot where the cage had been standing they found it had been swept away by the force of the flood waters.

They dived several times in an effort to locate it, but their plucky efforts were not rewarded. When the water subsided the cage was found some distance away with all the birds dead.

HEARTBREAK HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

Damage to the two bridges at Weston amounted to £1500. Along one bank of the creek, in the vicinity of the new bridge, saw 1000 yards of bank washed away, whilst on the other side, another 600 yards disappeared into the swirling waters.

The washaway to the bridge approaches was caused by the old swing bridge trapping floating timbers, tangling them up to form a blockage, thus applying tremendous pressure on the bridge and its approaches.

The flood coming at the height of the Christmas holidays, saw many homes unattended, the occupants spending time at the Lake and other holiday resorts.

Being washed out at their holiday camps many holiday makers were unable to get home for some days, and when they did arrive it was to find their homes devastated by the flood.

The first sight that met many a gaze was a yard of wreckage and mud and other flood signs, and parts of the fence washed away.

But the first view was nothing compared to what was seen when the house was entered. The floors covered by mud, furniture lying about, bedclothes and the contents of draws sodden and soiled by the water.

It was a sight to make many a woman weep. What a homecoming!

The Christmas holidays of 1926 were one that would not be forgotten and should not be forgotten for those who live near the creek at Weston.