This Friday, 6 March, marks the anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Agnes, the first tropical cyclone officially recorded in Far North Queensland in 1956.
With the wet season currently underway and a forecast low developing off the coast, this is a timely reminder that this type of weather is a normal part of life in the tropics.
As Cairns marks 150 years since its establishment, Cairns Regional Council is reflecting on the powerful forces of nature that have helped shape our city's identity and our community spirit.
When Cyclone Agnes crossed the coast near Cairns 70 years ago, it caused widespread damage to homes, businesses and crops. The damage cost the city 2.5 million pounds, the equivalent of roughly $75 million today.
For a young and growing regional city, it was a defining moment and one that would influence how Cairns prepared for severe weather in the decades to come.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the city's cyclone history had been an important part of the 150-year story and informed today's disaster resilience actions.
"Living in the tropics has shaped who we are. Our community has faced powerful storms, rebuilt stronger each time, and developed a deep respect for the environment we live in," Cr Eden said.
"As we celebrate 150 years of Cairns, it's important to acknowledge not just our milestones and achievements, but the challenges that have made us more resilient.
"We know that cyclones are unpredictable, but we also know the key actions we can take to minimise the damage and speed up recovery.
"We have lived experiences of severe weather events that have led to stronger building standards, improved emergency management systems and better forecasting."
The Cairns region has always been impacted by monsoonal rains, flooding rivers and tropical cyclones.
Over 150 years, several severe tropical cyclones have shaped and strengthened the resilient Cairns community we are today:
- The Willis Cyclone (1927) – caused widespread destruction to the region and devastated Chinatown.
- Cyclone Winifred, Category 3 (1986) – caused extensive crop and structural damage across the region.
- Cyclone Rona, Category 1 (1999) – crossed near Cow Bay and caused 24-hour rainfall totals of more than 530mm between Cairns and Townsville.
- Cyclone Larry, Category 5 (2006) – devastated Innisfail and affected the wider Far North with an estimated 10,000 houses damaged.
- Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 (2011) – crossed the coast as a Category 5 system and became one of the most powerful storms ever to threaten Queensland.
- Cyclone Jasper, Category 2 (2023) – brought record-breaking rainfall and significant widespread flooding in the region.
Disaster preparedness is embedded in Council planning, community education and infrastructure design.
