On 4 March 1899, a category 5 cyclone hit Bathurst Bay with winds reaching 260 km per hour. A tsunami of 14.6 m swept inland for 5 km. A 13 m wave surge at Ninian Bay adjacent to Barrow Point (30 km south of Bathurst Bay) extended inland for 3_5 km. The pearling fleet was damaged with 400 people losing their lives. There was a huge storm surge of 14.6 m on Barrow Point. On Flinders Island porpoises were found 15.2 m up on the cliffs.