Cyclone Tracy, Darwin

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Events of December 1974

The northern Australian city of Darwin was devastated early on Christmas morning 1974 when hit by the tropical weather depression that was given the name Cyclone Tracy. As the eye of the cyclone passed over the city between midnight and 7am on Christmas morning, torrential rain fell and the winds were officially recorded at 217 kilometres per hour prior to the Bureau of Meteorology anemometer being destroyed. Houses and other buildings disintegrated under the onslaught, accompanied by the sounds of flying debris and breaking glass. Records have identified 66 names of individuals who perished as a result of the cyclone (53 on land and 13 at sea), and many more were injured. Seventy per cent of Darwin’s homes were destroyed or suffered severe damage, and all public services – communications, power, water and sewerage – were severed.

Rescue, recovery and reconstruction

Major-General Alan Stretton, Director-General of the Natural Disasters Organisation, was placed in charge of the rescue effort. Emergency committees were established to deal with such matters as accommodation, clean-up, clothing, communications, evacuation, food, law and order, sanitation and health and social welfare. The defence forces played a major role in cleaning up the city and suburbs.

With essential services all severed, and with food and shelter at a premium, many Darwin people were evacuated and in the week that followed Darwin’s population was reduced to little more than 10,000. For the next six months access to the city was regulated by means of a permit system.

Darwin Reconstruction Commission

The Darwin Reconstruction Commission (CA 2276) was established on 28 February 1975 by the Darwin Reconstruction Act 1975 to plan, coordinate and undertake the rebuilding of Darwin. Between 1975 and 1978 the Commission coordinated many construction projects including the building or repair of more than 2500 homes.

Records relating to Cyclone Tracy

Selected records relating to Cyclone Tracy held by the National Archives in Canberra, Sydney and Darwin are listed below.

The Darwin office holds a range of published sources about Cyclone Tracy, including the four annual reports of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission.

Searches on RecordSearch, the National Archives collection database, using keywords such as 'cyclone tracy' and ‘Darwin reconstruction' will identify records of interest.

Use our online image bank, PhotoSearch, to identify images taken in Darwin in the days following the cyclone and during the clean-up and reconstruction phases.

Canberra

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files (search using keywords 'Darwin cyclone') 1957– A1209

Australian Overseas Information Service
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Photographs of Indonesian planes unloading supplies at Darwin airport following Cyclone Tracy 1975 A6180, 30/1/75/17
Photographs of Indonesian planes unloading supplies at Darwin airport following Cyclone Tracy 1975 A6180, 30/1/75/18
Photographs of Indonesian planes unloading supplies at Darwin airport following Cyclone Tracy 1975 A6180, 30/1/75/19
Photographs of Indonesian planes unloading supplies at Darwin airport following Cyclone Tracy 1975 A6180, 30/1/75/

Sydney

Department of the Media
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Tape recordings of ABC news reports, emergency warnings and programs relating to Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 C3123
Australian Information Service press clippings relating to the Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 SP1378/11
Tape recordings of ABC news reports, emergency warnings and programs relating to the Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 SP1378/12
Photographs of Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 SP1378/2
Department press releases relating to the Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 SP1378/5
Bound volumes of edited transcripts of ABC radio reports relating to Darwin cyclone disaster 1974–75 SP1378/7
Films of the Darwin cyclone disaster 1975 C1968
Magazine and newspaper issues relating to the Darwin cyclone disaster 1975 SP1378/4

Darwin

Bureau of Meteorology
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Case history material for tropical cyclones 1956– E490

Department of the Northern Territory, Central Office
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Correspondence accumulated by Director, Emergency Services (Ray McHenry) during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy 1974–75 E1593
Applications for travel warrant and re-entry permits after Cyclone Tracy 1975 E1597
Copies of minutes, agenda and submissions –Darwin Reconstruction Commission 1975–77 NTAC1979/335
Entry permits and Northern Territory News list 1975–78 E1613

Darwin Reconstruction Commission
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Darwin Reconstruction Commission lot data sheets 1975–77 E526
Index to lots not photographed 1975–77 E608
Index to photographs taken of lots in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy 1975–77 E609
Photographs of Darwin taken after Cyclone Tracy (negative film held as E607) 1975–77 E610
Post Cyclone Tracy building condition survey 1975–76 E953
Records relating to the rebuild of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy 1975–77 E1614
Minutes of meetings, agenda items, decisions and correspondence 1975–77 NTAC1980/420

Darwin Cyclone Tracy Relief Fund
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1975–76 E1604

NT Administrator's Council
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Record of entry to / departure from Darwin and permits to enter or re-enter – powers of Director, Emergency Services 1975 NTAC1980/73

Department of Social Security
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Lists relating to Darwin evacuees post-Cyclone Tracy (Microfiche copy held as E1095) 1975–77 E1487

Australian Valuation Office
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Darwin post-Cyclone Tracy building condition survey 1975–76 E953

Other records relating to cyclones

For further information on records relating to cyclones please see Fact sheet 90 - Cyclones and the Northern Territory.