A Coral Sea low moved down to the east of Maroochydore and deepened to 996hPa. It then turned toward the SE intensifying to 985hPa by 9am 18 May while in the vicinity Lord Howe Island where a ship nearby reported ESE wind 48/55knots. It remained very intense and nearly stationary over the following 24hours.

The same ship still near Lord Howe reported 993.6hPa much same position whole SSE gale. Rated Category X (Significant wave heights> 6metres) by Blain Bremner & Williams for North Mid N and Central Coasts NSW. Floods Burnett and Wide Bay districts, on 17th. Long term May record rainfall in these areas all for the 24 hours to 9am 17 May Maryborough 202.2mm (1870 to present); Sandy Cape 254.0mm (1871 to present); Bundaberg 218.4mm (1885 to present); Gin Gin 252.0mm (1889 to present) Mt Perry 240.8mm (1886 to present).

Heavy and huge quantities of sand were carried away on the beaches, endangering buildings on the waterfront at Kirra. The brick onveniences erected by the council on the Kirra Beach. SS Wanganella adrift for a week and Eastern Moon in similar difficulties.

This event is classified as an East Coast Low.

More about East Coast Lows
Harden Up
Bureau of Meteorology website
The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research report