In the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy passed through Darwin, devastating the city and taking 66 lives. 70% of homes in the city were either destroyed or severely damaged. In this video, see footage of the aftermath of the cyclone and hear descriptions of the damage from people who experienced it. For information on records we hold about Cyclone Tracy, see our fact sheet – bit.ly/2SPZzrW | National Archives of Australia

Cyclone Tracy: 50 Years OnToday marks 50 years since Cyclone Tracy forever changed the city of Darwin. In the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, the Category 4 storm tore through the city, leaving devastation in its wake. With winds exceeding 200 km/h, Tracy destroyed over 70% of Darwin’s buildings, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and tragically claimed 71 lives.The scale of the destruction was unprecedented, and for many, that Christmas was spent enduring the storm’s fury or scramblin