Staying dry: The aerial view of Perricoota Station paints a solemn picture. Photos: Steve Huntley
Photo by
Steve Huntley
In Perricoota Station’s 150-year history, it’s unlikely to have seen the flooding that has inundated parts of the heritage-listed site.
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The flood levee partitioning the station from the adjacent Murray River on Monday morning, allowing floodwaters to inundate the streets.
But last-minute efforts by Echuca SES and the ADF ensured the historical buildings, some of which were built in 1840, remained dry.
Water at the station: The flooded streets of Perricoota Station.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Fifteen emergency personnel dashed to Perricoota to deliver and stack sandbags as floodwaters crept up on the popular Packing Shed event centre.
Barry and Jodie Clark have been restoring and living on the property since 2019, and were initially fearful of seeing buildings inundated.
“You can thank the army and Dale (Bowles) for the packing shed,” Mr Clark said.
“What he did, he set the whole thing up and all those people who came out here were unbelievable.
“People have been so worried about (Perricoota) being wrecked. We want to thank the community and especially Dale for what he’s done.
“He had a meeting, he got all the army people, and then they went to war. He’s brilliant at what he does, and I can’t thank him enough.”
Island: Parts of the station resemble something more like a lake, while in the distance a massive gum tree has been brought down by floodwaters.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Despite the buildings being spared inundation, the popular tourism and accommodation venue on the Murray is staring down the barrel of a significant clean-up operation.
Two large gum trees, one as high as 20 metres, were uprooted next to the flooded roads interweaving Perricoota Station, providing some perspective as to the strength of the encroaching water.
Equipment was ferried up to the homestead which remained atop floodwaters, but heading down to the yard you can see that water has covered a significant portion of the road.
Stacks of sandbags lie at the entrance of the Packing Shed, while floodwaters lapped at the shed from the back. Mr Clark is unsure how the water did not spill inside.
The road into Perricoota Station remains blocked off by water, and bookings have been cancelled since mid-October as the situation gradually worsened.
Bring your gumboots: Water has flooded the roads within Perricoota Station but none managed to creep into the Packing Shed.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“No-one alive has seen anything like this,” Mr Clark said.
“We’ll get a heap of people out (for the clean-up); all the trees need to be done and of course, we need to sweep up everything, let the roads dry up.
“It will be about a month’s work with 20 people. Nothing can be opened until this water is gone and cleaned up. I’d say a month until we’re open.”
Murky: The Murray River has been coloured an unsavoury brown tinge due to the constant flow of debris.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
For Jodie, the uncertainty was the worst part.
“It was just the unknown, we thought it was better to be prepared than not,” Mrs Clark said.
“We’ve had so many people call up and message to offer help.
“I don’t think (the water) it’s going to get here but we didn’t want to be rushing around at the last minute.
“We just love the station, it’s our passion and it’s such a beautiful spot — and such a shame (the floodwaters).
“I’ve lost $15,000 just from bookings.”
However, history has been preserved with buildings spared the worst of the floods, and Perricoota will be hoping to welcome back visitors once floodwaters recede.
Slow down: The final stretch of road into Perricoota Station.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
