Fiona Harper
Darwin remembers Cyclone Tracy's destruction 50yrs later
Fifty years ago, Cyclone Tracy tore through Darwin, leaving a trail of destruction which changed the course of the city. Now, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is taking us back to that fateful Christmas eve in 1974 with the reopening of its Cyclone Tracy exhibition..
New Cyclone Tracy exhibit opens in Darwin
Take a journey back in time as you step into a classic Darwin home in the 1970s. A home of the era is recreated so that you can see the remnants of a life interrupted as Darwin’s homes exploded at the peak of the storm. Explore a recreated Bureau of Meteorology office and witness the storm’s path as it unfolded on Christmas Eve. Listen to the chilling sounds of the cyclone in a dedicated sound booth, a firsthand account of the storm’s fury.
The exhibition showcases the incredible resilience of the Darwin community who rallied around to support each other when the cyclone had moved on the wind died down. In this exhibit you’ll discover personal stories, artifacts, and photos donated by survivors, such as the Raggedy Andy doll featured in a famous photograph that appeared on the cover of the Australian Women’s Weekly.
A feature of the exhibit is the iconic “Tracey You Bitch” Torana, a symbol of defiance painted on a wrecked car by local resident John Garner. John’s Torana was destroyed at the height of the storm’s fury. At the opening of the new exhibit, John talked about what a treasured asset his vehicle was before it was destroyed.
“I’d bought it brand new,” he said. “It was the first car that I’d ever bought new, so it was a substantial expense for me at the time.”
John awoke on Christmas morning to see his prized possession completely destroyed. A day after the storm, when he was cleaning out the car to see if anything was salvageable he came across a tin of white paint.
In the spur of the moment he decided to paint the words which were eventually transmitted around the world, “Tracey you bitch.”
When asked about the apparent misspelling of Tracy, John explained, “You must remember, we had no internet, no newspapers, no TV. I heard about Cyclone Tracy by radio. I had no idea of the correct spelling, I just painted it as I thought it was spelt.”
Weather watchers and the Bureau of Meteorology keep an eye on cyclones
While you’re visiting the exhibition, sit at the desk of a recreated office of the Darwin Bureau of Meteorology, much as it looked in 1974, where Tracy was first detected as a tropical low. Surrounded by equipment and items from the Bureau of Meteorology, visitors can monitor the developing cyclone on an interactive touchscreen and receive warnings from across Darwin Harbour.
Hear the fury of the storm in a cyclone sound booth
Cyclones have a distinctive sound. A freight train, a fighter jet or a screaming banshee are just some of the ways survivors attempt to describe the indescribable. Perhaps it was this that inspired Father Ted Collins to record this incredible soundtrack.
Experience his recordings brought to life through new technology and remastered sound in MAGNT’s iconic new sound booth.
Fifty years of stories after Cyclone Tracy
Over the last decade, MAGNT has welcomed hundreds of new donations of family photo albums and treasured objects from residents who experienced Cyclone Tracy, preserving them for future generations.
The image of a crying child with a doll on the cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly in January 1975 comes to mind for many people around Australia when Cyclone Tracy is mentioned. This article inspired action from the Australian community and the world who came together in support of the Darwin Disaster Appeal by donating money and essentials to survivors. The Raggedy Andy doll featured in the famous photograph was donated to MAGNT in 2022 and is now on display.
Other objects include a Christmas tree that was salvaged from Tracy’s wreckage, a dress worn for days in the aftermath, a rifle used for self-defence, items from the HMAS Arrow and an iconic survivor t-shirt, plus more!
Cyclone Tracy is remembered in a book
To accompany the exhibition, MAGNT have launched Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas, authored by curators Jared Archibald OAM, Paige Taylor and Caddie Brain. The book highlights personal stories and serves as an education resource for generations to come. Every school in the Northern Territory will receive a copy, ensuring that the legacy of Tracy lives on.
JUST THE FACTS
More like this...
- Are these the best rubber boots in the world?
- I spent the weekend at a luxe Airport Hotel in Darwin
- Sleeping with rock star royalty at the Dorchester
