Early on Christmas morning of 1974, Darwin was devastated when hit by Cyclone Tracy. As the eye of the cyclone passed over the city between midnight and 7 am, torrential rain fell and the winds were officially recorded at 217 km per hour prior to the Bureau of Meteorology anemometer being destroyed.

Cyclone Tracy had a profound impact on the Darwin community with over 70 per cent of Darwin’s homes destroyed or suffering severe damage, all public services including communications, power, water and sewerage were severed, 41,000 people left homeless, 35,362 people (of the 47,000 total population of Darwin) were evacuated and tragically 66 lives were lost.

City of Darwin has launched a new Cyclone Tracy website to collate information on events, activities and initiatives taking place to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most significant events in our city’s history.

Community members are invited to explore the website, submit their own commemorative events, activities and initiatives for inclusion, sign up for updates and contribute to the digital archive via books, artworks and documentaries.

The website has been designed as a hub for sharing information and discovering local initiatives commemorating the anniversary.

Explore the website here: Cyclone Tracy 50th Anniversary Commemoration - Cyclone Tracy 50th Anniversary Commemorations (nt.gov.au)

Image credit: Library & Archives NT. (1974). Damaged shops, Cavenagh Street. Albert A. Dixon Collection PH07780018