Inundated – Natalie Grono’s Flood Photos

When floodwaters come, what is left behind? Heartache, struggle, and days if not weeks of cleaning and uncertainty.  The emotional and physical toll can be immense and unrelenting.

Floodwaters have always shaped Australia’s history.  They are deeply connected to our understanding of nature and community. Floods can bring rejuvenation and plenty, but also tragedy and suffering.

In the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Lismore has become emblematic for the chaos floods can cause. Situated where the Wilsons River and Leycester Creek meet, the citizens were used to flood events where the waters approached but never quite reached the 100-year flood level – an ‘improbable’ benchmark of a little bit over 12 metres above normal water levels. In 2022, the floods ignored this prediction and rose to an unthinkable 14.4 metres, devastating the local communities.

As our climate changes, floods are becoming a more common occurrence worldwide. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned in its 2018 report that 'heavy rainfall is expected to become more intense' with each degree of global warming. This effect will be even more pronounced for short-term extreme rain events.

Photographer Natalie Grono captured the impact of Lismore’s 2022 flood. These 16 images showcase the challenges left behind as the waters receded. As a resident herself, Natalie sensitively acknowledges the resilience of local people overcoming adversity together. Her photograph ‘Peter Takes a Moment’ was awarded as Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year in 2022.