TC recurved over Cairns and Townsville. Pressures of 983 hPa were read at Cairns and Innisfail. Heavy seas pounded the Cairns waterfront with part of the jetty washed away. At Innisfail the wind ripped off some roofs and blew down fences.

The Goondi Mill lost roofing iron and the Newspaper Office was damaged. There were washaways, landslides and trees across the road in the Palmerston area. Record flooding occurred in the Burdekin. The cyclone hit Townsville Saturday (2nd ) night and lightning struck the Powerhouse leaving the city without Power and light. Water entered many houses in Townsville and two houses were swept away at Hermit Park.

There was much property damage from wind and flood in Townsville. The airspeed indicator at Garbutt Airport failed at 61 knots. 8 people died in Townsville, 3 drowned and one died from shock when told relative drowned. Total death toll was 8. A family of 4 drowned when the Don broke its banks at Merinda near Bowen. Water was waist deep in Home Hill and at Sellheim the gauge at 8pm on the 3rd reached 78 feet 6 inches (a record). At Mackay a 30 foot launch was swept out to sea. Railway lines were cut in many places and the Alligator Creek Bridge near Townsville was washed away.

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…