On this month in 1842 (April 26th) was the first recording of a flood in the Shoalhaven River. More floods were recorded again in 1852.

The most damaging were recorded in February 1860, May 1860, August 1860 and 1870 finally one more for that year started people thinking of moving from Terara and Numbaa to Nowra. The floods of June 1864, April 1867 and June 1867 caused more crop and livestock loss.

Another flood was recorded in March 1870 and yet another in April of the same year which on this day reached its peak. This one swept away the Terara Post Office, Telegraph Office, the steam company’s store and the wharf. The paddle steamer “The Coolangatta” (affectionately known as the wheelbarrow), of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company, was washed from its moorings at Terara by this 1870 flood. It was carried 200 yards and was left stranded 75 yards inland. It demolished at least one home in its path.

The April 1870 floods were one of the biggest floods in the Shoalhaven River experienced to that time. It flooded Terara, washed many buildings away and was virtually the last straw - forcing the populace to Nowra to re-settle. In all 5 people, 387 cattle, 53 houses, 279 pigs, 5 sheep and between 4,000 & 5,000 poultry were lost. The flood was followed by a plague of caterpillars which cleared the land of grass, crops, vegetables and fruit!