On the 10 March 1918, Innisfail was hit by a cyclone. Damage was also widespread in Cairns, Babinda, and on the Atherton Tableland. Coastal areas were swept by a phenomenal storm surge at Mission Beach measuring 3.6 m and swept hundreds of metres inland. In Innisfail then a town of 3500 residents, only around 12 houses remained intact, the rest being blown flat or unroofed. Thirty-seven people died in Innisfail, while an additional 40-60 died in surrounding areas. This cyclone is widely regarded as the worst cyclone to hit a populated area of Queensland. It crossed the coast and passed directly over Innisfail. Pen on Post Office barograph was prevented from registering below 948 hPa by flange on bottom of drum. 926 hPa read at the Mourilyan Sugar mill at 7 pm 10 Mar. The eye wall reached Innisfail at 9 pm. A report from the Harbours and Marine Engineer indicated that at Maria Creek the sea rose to a height of about 3m above high water (If this refers to HAT the water was 4.65m above the tide for that day). Around 4.40pm 10 Mar at Bingil Bay a tidal wave was seen surging in from the east into Bingil Bay taking the bridge over the creek 400 m inland. Mission Beach was covered by 3.6 m water for hundreds of metres inland, the debris reached a height of 7m in the trees. All buildings and structures were destroyed by the storm surge in the Bingil Bay Mission beach area. The surge was 2.6m at Flying Fish Point. Babinda also had many buildings destroyed and some reports suggest that not one building was left standing. There was widespread damage at Cairns and on the Atherton Tablelands.

In Babinda, houses were flattened everywhere with only 3 houses left standing in a complete condition at Babinda. To gauge the strength of the wind a whole train was blown on its side as well as assorted wagons in the sidings. There was 1 death in Babinda and a visitor from Mackay said that the damage at Babinda was worse than in the Mackay cyclone.

The tram route which runs 21 miles from Liverpool Creek to St Johnstone was covered by huge trees , no scrubs were left standing and houses were devastated. Most buildings at South Johnstone were  wrecked. The police in South Johnstone advised of terrible destruction in the area and that there were 5 fatalities in the district.

A report from the Harbours and Marine Engineer indicated that at Maria Creek the sea rose to a height of about 3m above high water. Around 5pm 10 Mar at Bingil Bay a 'tidal wave' was seen surging into Bingil Bay from the direction of Dunk Island taking the bridge over the creek 400 m inland. Mission Beach was covered by 3.6 m water for hundreds of metres inland, the debris reached a height of 7m in the trees.  All buildings and structures were destroyed by the storm surge in the Bingil Bay Mission beach area. Further north the surge was 2.6m at Flying Fish Point. The Superintendent of the Hull River Mission Station and his daughter were killed, and Mrs Kenny seriously injured. The Hull River Mission was located where South Mission Beach stands today and many of the indigenous  inhabitants were killed by the surge. Those that didn't perish or could be rounded up after the cyclone were transported to Palm Island mission. There was much loss of life associated with the storm surge. There was also a drowning in the Herbert River on Monday 11 March.

The largest tree on the Esplanade Cairns came down at 8.30pm Sunday Night (10th). In Cairns most of the houses on the outskirts of Cairns were unroofed. The Newmarket Hotel was stripped of its roof. Houses were badly damaged in Lake Street. The high tides reached the pavement opposite the Strand Hotel. A man was lost to the sea off Cairns.

Reports indicated that the cyclone passed to the south of Malanda. In Malanda the cyclone struck the Tableland on Sunday evening, doing immense damage. Sunday morning broke threatening with a strong easterly wind, which gradually worked around to the south southwest and finally to west, increasing in violence with each shift, and all the time being accompanied by extremely heavy rain, nearly six inches being registered at Malanda. The cyclone reached its maximum force at ten pm on Sunday, when the wind was blowing with terrific and destructive force. Vivid lightning added to a terribly trying time. Monday morning revealed the severe damage. Crops, fruit trees and most outbuildings levelled to the ground, many old or lightly built houses collapsed altogether, nearly all windmills, cow sheds and stables were unroofed, while even substantially built buildings were canted or partly stripped of roofing. Immense piles of trees, which were broken off or uprooted,were overlaying the roads. Many cattle were killed but no loss of life was reported. Reports from Atherton indicated that there was great damage there. Two women were killed by falling trees at Tolga.

Nearly every place suffered to the extent of the loss of a sheet of iron or two, but otherwise there was no damage. The sea was very high and washed up to the post office yard, a thing never known before. The rainfall from 9pm on Sunday night to 9am on Monday moring was 1300 points. Six men lost in the Lugger Shamrock lost 10 miles NE of Hinchinbrook Channel. At Lucinda on Sunday huge waves were breaking over the jetty and damage was done to the foreshores.

Innisfail March 1918 - Edith Street

Cyclone damage to the local Methodist Church in Herberton. 'John …

Retired Senior BOM Forecaster Jeff Callaghan discusses the 1918 I…

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…

Innisfail March 1918 - Cyclone track

Innisfail March 1918 - Cyclone isobar chart