A swollen Campaspe River engulfed the town of Rochester and heavy rain also resulted in flooding of farmland across the north.
High intensity rainfall between January 12 and 14 in 2011 caused major flooding, and follow-up heavy rainfall events — including Tropical Low Yasi — caused repeated flash flooding in early February in many of the communities affected by January's floods.
According to a 2013 flood study report, Rochester witnessed three separate flood events in November 2010, January 2011 and February 2011.
The January flood event was the largest ever recorded for Rochester, with about 80 per cent of the township being inundated (up to 1000 properties).
The level exceeded the previous largest flood on record in 1956 by 0.2 metres in flood height, as well as the previously mapped extent.
The top of the Campaspe River catchment received the highest monthly rainfall in 43 years of recording, with 201 mm recorded in eight days, the majority of which fell in the week beginning January 10.
Farms across northern Victoria were heavily impacted by the floods, forcing many broadacre farmers to shift stock and some dairy farmers to relocate their milking herds.
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