Graziers describe ‘unbelievable’ rainfall in parts of far north-west NSW and south-west Queensland

Landholders in eastern parts of the country are still in shock after ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily caused record rains to fall on numerous pastoral properties.

Coming to terms with the abundance of water left behind, property owners in parts of far north-western NSW and Queensland’s Corner Country have described the unexpected deluge as “quite unbelievable”.

Grazier Monique Betts, from Epsilon station, 100km from Cameron’s Corner in south-west Queensland, is still processing the sight of 146mm of water lying around the property, after record rainfall on Sunday and Monday. 

She said 146mm was the equivalent of the property’s average yearly rainfall of about 150mm, falling in just two days.

“I am still in a bit of awe and elation,” she said, noting that she had never seen the swamp on her property so full.

“Whilst I’ve seen water in it before, I’ve never seen it this high,” she said.

In these dryland areas of Australia, rain can be hard to come by, let alone in the quantities experienced by those bearing the force of ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

“I was pretty emotional tipping the rain gauge out,” she said.

“I don’t know what there was more of, waterworks or the rain.”

Yet, before the rains fell she wasn’t holding her breath when looking at the forecast outlook.

“I was halving the total of what they were predicting, as it always seems to be less than what they say,” she said.

“I thought, if we could just get an inch that would be amazing.”

In other parts of the country, a similar story unfolded, with Box Vale Station grazier Daniel Hayes feeling equally as chuffed with the rainfall he received.

Located 30km north of the far-western NSW town of White Cliffs, Mr Hayes recorded 137mm of rainfall in just over 24 hours.

Filling up a dam that hasn’t seen water since 2016, Mr Hayes said he could not recall any other time the property had received so much rain.

“We can’t remember having more than four inches [100mm] in one fall … as far as our memories go, in the last 20 or 30 years,” he said

“It feels amazing, bloody good.”