A River with a City Problem

‘An engrossing account of the complex relationship between a river and the cities that grew up around it.’ Nick Earls

‘Margaret Cook establishes, beyond doubt, that Brisbane will flood again and demonstrates that successive state governments have never had the courage to ban development on the floodplain.’ Peter Spearritt

‘Cook crafts an illuminating narrative that is hard to put down … This clear-sighted examination of Brisbane’s intractable flood history offers hope that change is still possible.’ Books+Publishing

‘A River with a City Problem is an excellent example of writing a multifaceted history that also makes compelling reading to advocate for change.’ Professional Historians Australia

‘A thought-provoking environmental history of how Brisbane has failed over nearly two centuries to subdue the river that runs through it.’ Historical Records of Australian Science

‘A fascinating read … strives to dispel the deep-seated myth that the region is flood-proof and encourages people to consider all strategies to better adapt to our climate to reduce future tragedies.’ Water Source

Margaret Cook holds a PhD in history from the University of Queensland. She is a member of the Professional Historians Association, has a significant body of work in environmental and social history and heritage conservation, and has worked in cultural tourism and the museum sector. Margaret is a former Deputy Chair of the Queensland Heritage Council and Vice President of the National Trust of Queensland and was inducted into the Ipswich Heritage Hall of Fame in 2015. She is currently a consultant historian and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Queensland and La Trobe University. Margaret lives in Ipswich with her husband and two sons.