Following the flood that virtually destroyed Clermont in December 1916, the people of Clermont voted to move the town to higher ground. 'Each building was raised on jacks and timber rails laid underneath it and for about one hundred metres ahead. A steam traction engine then winched the building slowly along the track. When it came to the end of the track, the rails were collected and laid down in front for another hundred metres. ...Considering the size of the task of moving a hotel, the procedure did not take long. The contract to move the Grand Hotel was signed in June 1917, the steam engine began its work on 16 August and by 15 September the Grand was opposite its new site on the corner of Capella and Daintree Streets. While the hotel was 'on the road', the boarders had their meals served in the dining room as usual and slept in their rooms each night. The other hotels were also moved in this way, although the Commercial, being so large and built in an 'L' shape plan, was sawn in half and moved in two sections. Other buildings moved by traction engine included several houses and Griffin's store.' (Information taken from: G.C. Pullar, A shifting town : glass-plate images of Clermont and its people, 1986).