Australian National Maritime Museum exhibition captures Lismore Flood aftermath

 The Australian National Maritime Museum, located in Darling Harbour, Sydney has opened a new exhibition ‘Inundated’ which explores the harrowing impacts of the 2022 floods in Lismore and the Northern Rivers region, told through the lens of Northern Rivers photographer Natalie Grono.

Recently acquired by the Australian National Maritime Museum for the National Maritime Collection, Grono's images document the aftermath of the historic eastern Australian floods in February-March 2022 and depict the challenges left behind once the waters receded.

The exhibition features a series of 16 images (including the award-winning ‘Peter takes a moment’ which secured Grono the Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year Award in 2022) which highlight the destruction caused while also acknowledging the resilience of local people overcoming adversity together.

The Northern Rivers region of northern NSW has historically been prone to flooding, with record floods of 12.2metres occurring in 1954 and 1974, however the 2022 floods rose to an unthinkable 14.4 metres, which far surpassed the 100-year flood level.

The exhibition is especially significant as the Australian climate continues to change and floods are becoming more prevalent worldwide, with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology warning in 2018 that heavy rainfall is expected to become more intense with each degree of global warming.

‘Inundated’ provides a rarely seen perspective, not only of the aftermath, but of the extreme flood levels reached in this tragic event and allows visitors to better understand the severity of this natural disaster.

Australian National Maritime Museum curator Roland Leikauf advised “These photographs depict the reality faced by residents in the receding floodwaters and capture both the desperation of the situation and the weary resilience of community members during one of Australia's most destructive and displacing floods. The photographs are a fitting inclusion in the National Maritime Collection documenting our relationship with the waters around us.”

Natalie Grono (pictured above) shared “It is crucial to make these images publicly accessible to showcase one of Australia's most devastating floods. They clearly illustrate the magnitude and impact of the event, making the issues more tangible and accessible for everyone. Additionally, they highlight the wider environmental challenges which affect us all.”

This free exhibition is located in the Tasman Light Gallery at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

For more information on the exhibition, please visit: Inundated - Australian National Maritime Museum (sea.museum)