Name/Title

Photograph [Flood, Mataura Paper Mill, 1978]

About this object

This is one of a series of 38 black and white photographs taken by Keith McDonald which record the impact of the October 1978 flood of the Mataura River, on the Mataura Paper Mill. This photograph was taken around 9am on 15 October 1978 and looks upstream at the Mataura River raging between the Paper Mill (on right) and the Mataura Freezing Works (left). The Mataura Falls (Te Au Nui) have been totally submerged by the flood.

Keith McDonald was an engineer at the Mill and was part of the team that reinstated the Mill after the flood. Keith's photographs are numbered MT2011.185.171 through to MT2011.185.208.

This flood peaked at 2am on 15 October 1978. NIWA's website traces the flood and describes its effect on Mataura; the link is: http://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/October_1978_Southland_and_Otago_Flooding

Place Made

New Zealand, South Island, Southland, Mataura

Maker

McDonald, Keith (Mr)

Maker Role

Photographer

Date Made

15.10.1978

Inscription and Marks

Handwritten in pencil on reverse: '15/10/78 9am/Upstream from South end Finishing Department/ Hydro plant immediately upstream'.
Stamped on reverse: 'Keith McDonald'.
Handwritten in pencil on reverse: 'T1'.

Technique

printed

Measurements

h 166mm x w 217mm
small

Format

photograph, black and white

Object Type

photograph

Subject and Association Keywords

mataura river/floods

Subject and Association Keywords

industry/mataura paper mill

Subject and Association Keywords

industry/mataura freezing works

Medium and Materials

processed material, paper

Credit Line

From the collection of the Mataura and Districts Historical Society Incorporated.

Object number

MT2011.185.177

Rights

All rights reserved