Cyclone Tracy

Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated Darwin, Australia, from December 24 to December 25, 1974. It was recorded by The Age as being a "disaster of the first magnitude...without parallel in Australia's history." It killed 65 people and destroyed over 70 percent of Darwin's buildings, leaving over 20,000 people homeless. Most of Darwin's population was evacuated to Adelaide, Whyalla, Alice Springs and Sydney, and many never returned to Darwin. The town was subsequently rebuilt with modern materials and techniques. Cyclone Tracy was at least a Category 4 storm, although there is evidence to suggest that it had reached Category 5 when it made landfall at Darwin.

Evacuation and the public response

Major-General Alan Stretton, the Director of the National Disasters Organisation, and the Minister for the Northern Territory, Rex Patterson, arrived at Darwin Airport late on Christmas Day and quickly took charge of the relief effort. After an assessment of the situation and meetings with the Department of the Northern Territory and relevant minister, he concluded that Darwin's population needed to be reduced to a "safe level" of 10,500. Around 10,000 people left within the first two days, but the rate of departures then began to slow. The government then gave support to his position, offering full reimbursement of personal costs, as long as evacuation took place. Where necessary, people were flown out from Darwin, with their cars and important possessions following by rail. Due to communications difficulties at Darwin airport, however, The Age reported on December 28 that plane landings were limited to one every 90 minutes. At major airports, refugees were met by Salvation Army and Red Cross workers. The Red Cross also took responsibility for keeping track of the names and temporary addresses of refugees. A number of primary school-age children were evacuated ahead of parents to other Australian cities, such as Perth. Stretton also regulated access to the city by means of a permit system. Permits were only issued to those involved in the relief or reconstruction effort, and were used to prevent the early return of some of those evacuated. By December 31, only 10,638 people remained in Darwin.

Related Topics:
Alan Stretton - Rex Patterson - December 28 - Salvation Army - Red Cross - December 31

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Upon receiving news of the damage, community groups across the country began fundraising and relief efforts. Major reception centres were set up at Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. Several small towns along the Stuart Highway made efforts to assist people who were fleeing by road, supplying them with food, rest, mechanical aid, and fuel. At Adelaide River, the small local population provided a hot meal for every person who stopped there. Within twenty-four hours of the storm hitting Darwin, the population of Alice Springs had raised $105,000 to assist its victims. At the Boxing Day Test cricket match in Melbourne, both teams moved around the boundaries carrying buckets into which the crowd threw cash for the relief fund. Darwin families were given priority on public housing waiting lists. On December 31, 1974, Stretton recommended that full civilian control should resume in Darwin, and handed over control of the city.

Related Topics:
Katherine - Tennant Creek - Alice Springs - Stuart Highway - Adelaide River - Boxing Day - Test cricket - Melbourne - December 31 - 1974

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