Small cyclone developed near Tewantin and the moved southeastwards out to sea. Gales brought down trees and power lines. Big tides and heavy rain caused severe local flooding at Redcliffe, Wynnum, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

There was waist deep water in Sutton St Redcliffe and other streets were under 5 feet of water. Families were evacuated at Lota. The Pacific Highway was cut by a landslide at Kirra. The Casino to Tenterfield road was washed away west of Casino leaving a 1000 feet sheer drop. Lismore had a major flood with water entering the city. Grafton then flooded with 700 families evacuated from their homes. Flooding was otherwise confined to the south-east corner of the Queensland.

Major flood Tweed River reached 5.21metres Murwillumbah. Major flood occurred at Lismore where the Wilsons River reached 11.06metres at 7pm 8 May1963. At Grafton the river peaked at 7.63metres (2.23m above major flood level) on 9 May 1963. One of the larger Macleay floods, and it reached 13.50metres at Georges Creek, 15.54metres at Bellbrook and 7.14metres at Kempsey Road Bridge.

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