Cyclone Tracy

While Darwin had already experienced major cyclones in 1897 and 1937, none were more catastrophic than Cyclone Tracy. Destroying more than 90 per cent of Darwin’s buildings, it reshaped the development, architecture and memory of the city.

In the early 1970s, Darwin was a relaxed tropical city of 48,000 people. Its rapid expansion meant that many new houses were inadequately constructed and poorly equipped to withstand the cyclones and storms which regularly occur during the wet season.

Early on 20 December 1974, a tropical low formed in the Arafura Sea about 700 kilometres northeast of Darwin. Its forecasted track was out to sea, away from the coast. Residents continued arrangements for Christmas, ill-prepared for what was to come. On the morning of 24 December 1974, the cyclone radically changed direction and headed straight for Darwin.

By late afternoon on 24 December 1974, Darwin was covered by heavy clouds, with strong winds and torrential rain. In the next few hours the winds intensified as residents took shelter. It was the last time they would see their neighbourhoods intact.

Over the next six hours, winds reached at least 217 kilometres per hour before the wind speed measurement equipment itself was destroyed. At least 255mm of rain fell in just 12 hours.

Cyclone Tracy killed at least 66 people. Most of them were killed under collapsed houses, by flying debris, or were lost at sea. For many survivors, the experience was so traumatic they cannot talk about it to this day.

In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, Darwin was left without power, water or communications. Health services were overwhelmed and with no shelter or sanitation, the town faced the threat of disease outbreaks.

The majority of Darwin’s population was homeless. Planning immediately began for the largest civil evacuation in Australian history. This image was taken at Casuarina High School, the registration centre for evacuation. 

More than 35,000 people were evacuated from Darwin in the week after Cyclone Tracy, by air and by road. One Boeing 747 flight had a record-breaking 674 people crammed on board. It is estimated that as many as 60 per cent of evacuees never returned to Darwin.

As Director of the National Disasters Organisation, Major-General Alan Stretton (pictured) arrived in Darwin late on Christmas Day to coordinate the emergency response. Police, including many from interstate, the Navy and volunteer organisations assisted with the clean-up and re-establishment of essential services.

In February 1975, the Darwin Reconstruction Commission was established, tasked with rebuilding the city. It coordinated the construction and repair of more than 2,500 homes in just three years at a cost of more than $150 million.

The fundraising efforts of Australians raised more than $8 million to assist the people of Darwin, including over $100,000 raised by the small town of Alice Springs. Pictured is one of the fundraising events held in Darwin at the Travelodge. The Travelodge survived the cyclone, albeit with a few cars in the swimming pool.

While the trauma of Cyclone Tracy has never left many Darwin residents, the cyclone led to the introduction of improved building codes across Australia.