Overview

• Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin in the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, killing 66 people and destroying over 80% of the city's buildings.
• The storm triggered Australia's largest peacetime evacuation, with over 36,000 residents relocated, and reconstruction efforts took years to restore the city.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined survivors and local leaders in Darwin to unveil a new memorial commemorating the lives lost and the resilience of the community.
• Survivors recall harrowing experiences, including families sheltering in bathtubs and the profound emotional and social impacts of the disaster.
• The tragedy led to nationwide improvements in building codes to better withstand cyclones, shaping Darwin into a modern, resilient city.