Cleveland Bay Townsville. A strong gale from the WSW prevailed in the morning. At noon the wind strengthened and the rain became very heavy. The wind backed around to the SSW and continued to steadily shift around the compass.

At 2pm the hurricane was at its greatest with pieces of 8 foot (2.4 metres) galvanised iron being whisked away like feathers and from 2 pm to 4 pm it was dangerous to walk the streets. Tents were blown down first, then the roofs and afterwards the houses. The town was a complete wreck. Rain fell in torrents.

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…