The new Launceston flood levees have been in the news this week. Launceston's most severe flooding was in 1929. Some of the comments made suggested that 26 people had died in the 1929 Launceston floods. I don't think this is correct. The Launceston floods were severe, but the disaster spread across the northern half of the state. The mining town of Derby in the NE, Longford in the central north, and the Ulverstone region in the NW were severely affected too. At the time, the newspapers stated that there had been 22 deaths: 14 at Derby, when the Cascade Dam burst and flooded the tin mine, and 8 at the Gawler River, a tributary of the Leven River at Ulverstone, when a motor carrying 9 plunged into the river (one boy survived). Does anyone know of any others? As far as I know, there weren't any deaths in Launceston caused directly by the flooding, though there was extensive property damage. There are lots of references on Trove, April 1929, for those interested. Judy

My Great Grandfather, Donald Alexander Richardson was a horsemaster for the Briseis Mine at derby and was taken by the flood when he was in the stables unhitching the horses and could not hear the water coming. His wife, my great Grandmother, Florence Ellen Richardson (nee Hills) was watching from their home up on the hill. Very sad. Florence never remarried and passed away in 1979, aged 92. His body was never found. http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/B/Briseis%20Dam%20Disaster.htm The Ringarooma River flowed backwards for 6 miles before it changed back, from the water from the Cascade Dam regards Warren -----Original Message----- From: Judy H Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2014 1:01 PM To: aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com Subject: [AUS-Tas] Deaths in 1929 Tasmanian floods? The new Launceston flood levees have been in the news this week. Launceston's most severe flooding was in 1929. Some of the comments made suggested that 26 people had died in the 1929 Launceston floods. I don't think this is correct. The Launceston floods were severe, but the disaster spread across the northern half of the state. The mining town of Derby in the NE, Longford in the central north, and the Ulverstone region in the NW were severely affected too. At the time, the newspapers stated that there had been 22 deaths: 14 at Derby, when the Cascade Dam burst and flooded the tin mine, and 8 at the Gawler River, a tributary of the Leven River at Ulverstone, when a motor carrying 9 plunged into the river (one boy survived). Does anyone know of any others? As far as I know, there weren't any deaths in Launceston caused directly by the flooding, though there was extensive property damage. There are lots of references on Trove, April 1929, for those interested. Judy