Journal article
‘A river with a city problem, not a city with a river problem’: Brisbane and its flood-prone river
Environment and History, Vol.24(4), pp.469-496
2018
Abstract
This article explores the relationship between the Brisbane River and its river-plain dwelling citizens between 1824 and 1900 through four distinctive narratives. The first is praise for the river for its economic and utilitarian potential until severe flooding in 1893 prompts a second response of incredulity, followed by a third viewpoint demanding engineering solutions to tame nature to prevent future floods. A fourth subordinate voice appeared as an undercurrent to the demands to control nature, reflecting a burgeoning realisation that human action had created the flood hazard. Settlers had created a problem for both the river and the city. I argue that despite the accumulation of flood experience and climatic knowledge, prospective actions have evolved little since the initial British settlement in 1824.
Details
- Title
- ‘A river with a city problem, not a city with a river problem’: Brisbane and its flood-prone river
- Authors
- Margaret Helen Cook (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Environment and History, Vol.24(4), pp.469-496
- Publisher
- White Horse Press
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.3197/096734018X15137949592034
- ISSN
- 0967-3407
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450960602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Studies
- History