4 Major Australian Storms

By Justin N. Murray
Like many places around the world, Australia has been a victim of major storms at different times. Storms often follow a season, but not always. Australia often has summer storms, but they can hit at any time of the year. The following storms stand out as having caused major damage, destruction and sometimes death. While some damage is unavoidable, property can often be protected by the use of canopies or netting.

Many cyclones hit or pass the northern coast of Australia every year. With much of the region sparsely populated, a lot of these cyclones fortunately do not interfere with human habitation. When a populated region is unlucky enough to be in a cyclone's path, the results can be devastating. So it was with some of the following storms.

Cyclone Tracy

Cyclone Tracy would be at the forefront of most Australians' minds as one of Australia's worst disasters. Hitting Darwin, Northern Territory on December 25, 1974, it certainly ruined Christmas. The death toll was recorded as 71 and the damage was extreme. The majority of the town's buildings were destroyed, meaning the town needed to largely be rebuilt. Around 20,000 were left homeless and many were evacuated far and wide to other parts of Australia.

Cyclone Mahina

Less well known, due to the elapsing of time, but much more costly on human life was Cyclone Mahina, where 400 Australians perished. Cyclone Mahina struck Bathurst Bay, Queensland in March 1899. Among the victims were the crews of pearling ships in the area, along with around 100 native Aborigines. Cyclone Mahina has been calculated as a category 5 cyclone, the most severe of all.

Cyclone - Port Hedland, Western Australia

As can be seen with Cyclone Mahina, not only those on land need to fear a cyclone's destructive force. Sea faring vessels have been particularly vulnerable throughout history. On 20th March, 1912 the SS Koombana found itself in the path of a cyclone off the coast of Port Hedland, Western Australia. All that was found of the SS Koombana following the storm was some floating wreckage, with the estimated 138 on board all thought to have passed away. Another 11 died on other nearby ships.

Broome, Western Australia

Broome's pearling fleets have been the unfortunate victims of two separate major cyclones that both took the lives over over 140 men. These occurred in 1887 and 1935. The beauty today of Eighty Mile Beach belies the horror of the bodies and debris washed up on its shore in the former of these two tragedies. Just 48 years later, it would tragically happen again, this time closer to town.

Many of these most destructive storms occurred the best part of a century ago, and some even longer ago than that. While nature's fury, in the form of storms and cyclones can't be stopped, with modern technology its destruction can certainly be drastically reduced. Modern meteorology systems help put citizens on high alert, and warn vessels not to go out to sea in times of approaching storms. Improved building standards make property more resistant, and even produce can help be protected by the use of bird netting.

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