Stonnington City Council

Historically, the Stonnington municipality was significantly impacted by flooding from the Yarra
River. Toorak & South Yarra are located approximately 4km south east of Melbourne in a predominantly residential area. The Yarra River is the prominent watercourse in the area, flowing from the North East through the municipalities of Yarra, Boroondara and beyond. High Intensity, short duration rainfall events can cause flash flooding in and around the area, while prolonged rainfall may see the Yarra River flood.

In the Great Flood of 1891, for example, the Yarra River rose 14 metres above its normal
level in some areas. It flooded many riverside suburbs including Prahran and caused extensive
damage. There was also extensive flooding along the Yarra River in 1934. Since the 1891 flood,
extensive remedial work has been carried out on the lower Yarra River, including widening and
redirecting its course to Port Phillip Bay. As a result, the impact of riverine flooding on the community has now been substantially reduced.

The last major flooding within the Stonnington municipality was in February 2011 when large areas
across the municipality were affected. The storm caused significant basement flooding with some
evacuations of residential and commercial property. It also affected public areas and infrastructure.

Flooding is also influenced by tidal conditions which extend up the Yarra River beyond the City of Stonnington.

At this time, there are no Local Flood Guides for the Stonningon City Council area. Go to the Plan and stay safe page for information on how you can plan and prepare for emergencies.