Rain from two cyclones and local thunderstorms had caused a huge  build up of floodwaters in the upper reaches of the Murchison River.  Underlying this was the fact that the river was nearly full (it had been flowing since Boxing Day) and the surrounding country was wet.

It was difficult to gauge the extent of the flood.  Certainly it was bigger than the 1942 event - the last time Mileura Station above Milly Milly was inundated.  It was bigger than Cyclone Bobby in 1995.  See more about our Expedition down the Murchison after Cyclone Bobby.

Fortunately for our group the Mullewa Road north was open, as was the road to the Milly Milly Crossing.  Two days before departure the water dropped at the Ballinyoo Bridge allowing us to cross over the river from the south and get to Milly Milly.

Once at Milly Milly we were confronted with a river 10 kilometres wide.  Further upriver, at Berringarra, the river was 15 kilometres wide.  Truly a massive amount of water. People of long standing in the region were saying it was the biggest flood since 1960.  Around Milly Milly it was certainly the biggest flood for 120 year (since 1886).

Milly Milly is the only really feasible start point for a journey down the Murchison (that will be a good challenge for a paddler to start from the geographical source).  The Murchison River above hereabouts  is ephemeral and its navigability to power dinghies, or even paddle craft, is questionable.  At a time like this when there is plenty of water, the river is largely inaccessible by road.  And what area is accessible does not allow access to other areas.  Though not impossible to start above Milly Milly in times of flood like this, it would an expensive and complicated logistical exercise for power dinghies, requiring a helicopter and ground support.

We were able to get within about half a kilometre of the Milly Milly Crossing on the west side and then (as we were later informed by the pilot of the plane that we saw flying overhead) the water stretched all the way to Milly Milly Station Homestead - a distance of about 10 kilometres.  Further upriver at Beringarra the water was 15 kilometres wide.

This massive amount of water was heading downstream fast and we weren't very far from the leading edge.     The boat crews took off from the Milly Milly crossing and it was late in the afternoon before they reached Murchison Crossing

Keith and Sean had a serious entanglement with a fence around Manfred.  Their boat was trapped underwater for about an hour and water seeped into the fuel tanks.  This fuel shortage caused them to run out about 10 kilometres from the Crossing but Greg and Kevin continued on, located the  support crew and returned with fresh fuel. 

The team camped at Billabalong Station before heading to Kalbarri in the morning. The floodwaters eventually breached the levee surrounding Billabalong Station Homestead and inundated the house.  A week later it was still a metre deep.  See photographs of the record floods of 2006.

Kalbarri, at the mouth of the river was under siege - and parts of it under water.  6000 sandbags were deployed.

We returned to the area two weeks later to catch sight of the peak of the floods at Hardabut Rapid and Kalbarri National Park.

RETURN