How Hinchinbrook Shire Library turned the page after the 2025 floodsw
Published on 10 September 2026
Flood levels in Ingham peaked at 14.93 metres on 3 February 2025, just shy of the town's historic 1967 flood record.
The Herbert River rose an extraordinary seven metres in just 24 hours, driven by intense rainfall and unprecedented inflows from the Stone River after 1,467mm of rain fell across the Paluma Range.
In the middle of it all sat the Hinchinbrook Shire Library in the heart of Ingham.
Surrounded by floodwater and effectively transformed into an island, the library endured rain damage to its roof, a significant mould outbreak and 17 weeks of flood-related closures.
For many communities, that could have marked the beginning of a long decline in library use.
Instead, Hinchinbrook turned the page.
While the building remained closed, library staff pivoted quickly to digital services, helping residents access ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and online resources from home.
What started as a disaster response became a catalyst for lasting change.
Hinchinbrook Local Recovery Group Chair Cr Mary Brown said the library's recovery reflected the resilience of the wider community.
"The February 2025 floods tested our community in ways we never imagined, but what we've seen since is a remarkable recovery story," Cr Brown said.
"The library was heavily impacted, yet staff adapted quickly to ensure residents could continue accessing services and resources when they needed them most."
More than a year later, the results tell a remarkable story.
Digital collection use has not only been maintained, but has continued to grow. Usage increased from 971 digital loans and accesses in June 2025 to 1,429 in July 2026, representing growth of more than 47 per cent and comfortably surpassing the original 29 per cent increase recorded during the recovery period.
When the doors reopened in June 2025, the community came back in force.
Collection transactions surged from 5,970 in June 2025 to 14,611 by August 2025, an increase of almost 145 per cent. Visitor numbers climbed from 2,550 to 3,588, while new memberships jumped 48.7 per cent, with nearly 300 new members joining during 2025-26.
The library's programs have flourished too.
Regular events increased by more than 50 per cent, while attendance at everyday programming grew by around 70 per cent, creating more opportunities for learning, connection and community participation.
Community Portfolio Councillor Donna Marbelli said the figures demonstrated the evolving role libraries play in regional communities.
"Libraries today are so much more than shelves of books. They're places where people learn, connect, access technology, develop new skills and feel part of their community," Cr Marbelli said.
"To see membership grow, visitation increase and digital services continue to thrive after such a challenging period is a credit to our library team and the community that embraced these services throughout the recovery."
These numbers tell a bigger story than books borrowed or doors reopened.
They show that Hinchinbrook's libraries have not simply recovered from one of the region's most challenging natural disasters.
They have emerged stronger, with higher membership, stronger digital engagement, increased visitation and expanded community programming.
Cr Brown said the library's success was a reminder that recovery extended beyond infrastructure.
"These results show that recovery is about much more than repairing buildings. It's about restoring connections, supporting wellbeing and ensuring our community remains resilient," she said.
"Our library has done exactly that and has come back stronger than ever."
In an era of more frequent and extreme weather events, libraries are proving they are far more than buildings filled with books.
They are digital lifelines, community hubs and places where recovery begins one chapter at a time.
The floodwaters may have surrounded the library, but they never washed away Hinchinbrook's love of learning.
The restoration works were provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in association with Hinchinbrook Shire Council.