Much has been written about the great flood which took place along the Hawkesbury Nepean River system in 1867 however little has been recorded about the affects on residents and property living in the Lower Hawkesbury and Colo area. The following is an account appearing in the newspaper. Following a meeting of the Relief Committee, Mr G. S. Hall and Mr Moses travelled the Hawkesbury River from Windsor on the “Sir John Young” steamer on the 24th June 1867 to ascertain the damage whilst supplying much needed provisions. The supplies included 3 tons of flour, 200 loaves of bread, blankets and meat.

The party left Windsor on Tuesday 24th June, the river was running with a strong current and the weather was fine. After about 8 miles travelling down the river, the group tried to pull in and give out some supplies but the boats anchor was lost. The steamer was towing a Water Police boat and fortunately the Water Police crew were able to assist. At Sackville, some supplies were landed despite the strong current and the steamer unable to moor to be distributed by Mr Tuckerman. Hall reports that “we were forced to reverse the engine to keep her against the stream”

The steamer continued down the river to Mr Manning’s however he was not at home and the group continued down into the mouth of the Colo where the “Sir John Young” was moored. Mr Moses then took a boat and rowed for a distance of about 6 miles, where supplies were left with Mr Burgess for dispersal, whilst Hall waited on the steamer. On their return, a number of locals had gathered near the steamer, having camped above the riverbank. Many of these people advised “they had not had a bite to eat” until the arrival of the steamer. As it seemed precarious to travel further down the river, Mr Moses once again took the small boat with crew and supplies and travelled down to Wisemans Ferry, leaving rations with Mr Black & Mr Walmsley to hand out to the needy. On Thursday morning the steamer departed the Colo and returned to Windsor, the journey taking almost 5 hours.

Hall also stated “destruction and desolation on both banks of the river were terrible to witness. Houses and buildings entirely gone, clothes and furniture washed away, and inhabitants camping in the hills or in caves.”  In particular two families suffering extreme difficulties were McGawley’s and Mitchell’s. Mrs Owen McGawley was in poor health “having been confined only a few days, and had to be carried out of her bed to a camping place among the hills, through all the tempest and drenching rain.”  Mrs Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell junior was not expected to live. Reported as only being quite young, Mrs Mitchell had only been married for about twelve months. She had spent many hours standing on a table with her 3 year niece prior to being rescued and taken to a “place of safety among the hills where she remained for 2 days and nights” her house was swept away. She was then taken to her neighbour’s, Mr Lowe where “she was confined within an hour of reaching the house” Unfortunately Mrs Mitchell was situated about 35 miles past Windsor and had not been attended to by a doctor nor was she was unable to be moved.

The following 3 lists (alphabetical by surname) are those names and descriptions as recorded in the newspaper report, as being affected in the Lower Hawkesbury area.