Great Flood Benalla Sept 24th, 1916 - Looking towards Benalla East
Great Flood Benalla Sept 24th, 1916 - Showing depth of water at gardens entrance.
History
Prior to European settlement the Broken River catchment was occupied by different Aboriginal tribes. For example, the Yeerun-illam balug clan of the Daung Wurrung tribe are said to have inhabited the Broken River above and below Benalla, although it is also suggested that the Yorta Yorta tribe inhabited much of this area.
Around October 13th, 1836, Major Thomas Mitchell crossed the river and named it the 'Swampy'. Sometime after this, the river became known as the ‘Broken’, probably in reference to the broken network of ponds along the river in drier months.
Squatters then took up grazing runs in the Benalla district from the mid 1840s. Much of the river frontage between Benalla and Shepparton was part of the huge ‘Goomalibee’ run, estimated to be 98,560 acres. By 1880 most of the runs in the state, including Goomalibee, had been forfeited to the government to enable selectors to obtain freehold title of Crown land.
(Source: SKM (2004) Assessment of Gowangardie Weir: Study into Environmental, Social and Economic Impacts of Improved Fish Passage. A report prepared for the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.)
