1974 Flood: Fatal Electrocution on Moggill Road

The Brisbane flood in January 1974 was a huge event, and right here on Moggill Road, it turned tragic for one family. On January 27th, 1974, just after 6 PM, thirteen-year-old Peter Raymond Hall was walking with his father and their dog. The water was already about a meter deep, and his father was carrying the dog.

As they moved along, Peter stepped into a submerged pothole. He lost his balance and reached out to grab a metal light pole to steady himself. That's when it happened. The pole was live, energized by floodwaters that had shorted the street lighting system. Peter was electrocuted. His father tried to pull him away but got an electric shock himself. He managed to crawl to a nearby house to get help.

When emergency services arrived, the water was so high that they couldn't reach Peter for almost an hour. They had to wait for the electricity to be turned off. Eventually, Peter was pulled from the water and taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

There was an inquest into Peter's death, and the coroner found that the electrocution was accidental. The lights had been installed by the Brisbane City Council, and the report noted that the council hadn't taken sufficient action to ensure public safety during floods. This tragedy here on Moggill Road was largely forgotten over the years, until locals pushed for a memorial to remember Peter.