When torrential rain began pouring across Central Victoria and Gippsland on 29 November, it seemed like a typical storm.

But by the time the rain eased 48 hours later, Melbourne had experienced 140mm of rainfall – its landscape to be forever changed.

As midnight approached on 3 December, a restless sky unleashed a torrent of rain over the suburb of Fairfield in Melbourne’s north.

The rain was unlike anything in recent memory – 106mm poured down in a mere two and a half hours.

The torrential downpour on 9 November left Melbourne’s eastern and bayside suburbs reeling.

Drivers in Croydon were trapped as water surged around their cars, while hail battered rooftops in Frankston.

On 25 December 2011, what began as a warm and sunny Christmas in the Banyule and Nillumbik areas took a dramatic turn.

At about 2.30pm, an unexpected thunderstorm shattered the festive mood, unleashing hailstones as large as cricket balls.

On the afternoon on 4 February 2011, the skies above Melbourne darkened as thunderstorms rolled across Victoria.

Heavy rain, driven by tropical moisture and a low-pressure trough, transformed calm suburban streets into rivers of water.

On December 29 the skies over Banyule darkened, and within moments the heavens unleashed a storm unlike anything people had seen in years.

The rain fell in relentless sheets: 76mm of water poured down, with 58mm of that falling in just 28 minutes.

The Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands are a living reminder of the swamp’s legacy, and testament to the balance between nature and human ambition.

From a swamp teeming with life to a vital agricultural hub, Koo Wee Rup continues navigating the balance between harnessing and respecting the power of water.

Since records began, floods have been a recurring chapter in Hawthorn’s history. They are not merely tales of destruction, but lessons for the future.

The Werribee River is central to the Wyndham community, but can turn into an unpredictable force when it rains.

Beneath our streets, a vast network of drains quietly works to protect us from flooding, and keep our waterways healthy and our urban spaces liveable.

Once the backbone of community flood response, the value of the flood wardens is now being recognised.

The transformation of Sandridge Lagoon and the Port Melbourne Pump Station demonstrates resilience and progress – but also the consequences of change.