QSA Talks: Remembering the 1974 floods with Dr Margaret Cook

Join environmental historian and Research Fellow Dr Margaret Cook as she revisits the 1974 floods, one of Queensland’s most devastating natural disasters.

The flood claimed 14 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across South-East Queensland. Roads, railways and communications were cut for weeks, leaving a lasting impact on the region.

More than 50 years on, as communities across Queensland again face the impacts of widespread flooding, this talk offers a timely reflection on the events of 1974 and what they continue to teach us.

Dr Cook will explore how the flood unfolded, its causes and consequences and the legacy it left behind.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view original archival records related to the floods.

Content warning: this presentation discusses traumatic events and loss of life.

About the speaker
Dr Margaret Cook, is an environmental historian and Research Fellow in the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University and the Centre for the Inland at La Trobe University. Her research interests include climate-related disasters, and water and river histories.
Her recent books are A River with a City Problem, Disasters in Australia and New Zealand and Cities in a Sunburnt Country.

Can’t attend in person? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. If you can’t make it at the scheduled time, the talk will be available to view on our YouTube channel after the event date.