A town built on a floodplain, Gundagai was nearly erased by a catastrophic flood.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Gundagai, an iconic Australian country town, has a history defined by its volatile relationship with the Murrumbidgee River. Once a bustling riverport and frontier settlement, it suffered one of the nation's deadliest natural disasters in 1852, forcing the entire community to relocate to higher ground to survive future surges.

The original town of Gundagai was gazetted in 1838 on the Murrumbidgee River floodplain, a site colloquially known as 'The Crossing Place.' While surveyors initially praised the location, the town was dangerously vulnerable. In June 1852, a massive flood swept away the entire colonial settlement. Estimates suggest at least 78 to 89 people perished out of a population of 250, marking a grim chapter in Australian history. Local Aboriginal men, including Yarri and Jacky Jacky, were credited with saving approximately 68 lives using bark canoes, a heroic effort later commemorated with a bronze sculpture.

Following another severe flood in 1853, the town was redeveloped on higher ground at North and South Gundagai, using plans drafted by James Larmer in 1850. Despite the move, the river remained central to the town's identity. In the mid-19th century, Gundagai even functioned as an inland riverport. Paddlewheel steamers like the Albury and the Gundagai navigated the Murrumbidgee, carrying supplies and transport, though the river's unpredictable nature and snags made navigation difficult. The steamer Gundagai eventually met its end in New Zealand, breaking in half on a sandbar in 1866.

Beyond its floods, Gundagai was a magnet for gold seekers and bushrangers. The discovery of gold at Spring Flat in 1861 spurred growth and attracted outlaws who terrorized the region throughout the 1860s and 1870s. The town's cemetery serves as a final resting place for both lawmen and notorious figures like Captain Moonlite, who was reinterred there in 1995. Today, Gundagai remains a symbol of the Australian interior, its history preserved through the documentary photography of Dr. Louis Gabriel and the enduring stories of its survival against the elements.

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