By 1974 Darwin was home to about 48,000 people (estimates vary), only slightly less than half the Territory's then total. Darwin was still very much a city dominated by the public service, but it seemed that it had achieved a critical mass which would support more balanced future development.
As had been the case on the eve of the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the pervasive mood in the town on Christmas Eve 1974 had been one of acceptance of the reality of danger, but the rejectio
n of any suggestion that the threat of a cyclone should impinge on events of the day.
By late afternoon on 24 December 1974 Darwin was cloaked by heavy and low cloud and it was experiencing ever stronger rain squalls and wind gusts. By about 10 PM the winds were causing physical damage. By midnight the damage was becoming serious, and it was apparent that Cyclone Tracy was about to pass across the city. Over the next six hours Tracy substantially destroyed Darwin. Records have identified 66 names of individuals who perished as a result of Cyclone Tracy (53 on land and 13 at sea).There are many varying accounts of how the news of the cyclone first reached the outside world from a Darwin which by daylight on Christmas morning had no internal or external communications. Gradually the news was emitted from several points of origin, by a series of improvisations. By lunch time on Christmas Day the broad details of the disaster were known to officials in Canberra; later that afternoon the Australian public had become aware that a cyclone had struck Darwin and that the city's plight was "grave".
One of the Cyclone Tracy displays at Darwin Museum we visited today
Very interesting history lesson. I find it ironic that the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales was able to receive television transmissions of the US Apollo moon landing in 1969, but the cyclone warning was in 1974 was not taken seriously - maybe because there were no images available from outer space? You live on a fascinating continent. I hope to visit it again someday.
Wow, I had no idea.....this was just not on my radar at all! And, if I had heard of it at my young age at a place so far removed, I probably would not have recognized the implications! I am glad they still remember.....was the city rebuilt soon after? eventually?!
@panthora they did rebuild Osia - I found the architecture interesting - it seemed to be a combination of untouched since the rebuild - some updating and then really new high rise
August 23rd, 2015
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
