50 years ago Darwin was deep in the aftermath of the disaster that was Cyclone Tracy. In recent days hundreds have gathered at East Point in Darwin, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and survivors who had not returned to Darwin until this year, to mark the half- century since the Christmas morning catastrophe that reduced the city to ruins.
With news of a cyclone hovering off the coast in the days before the event, no one was too concerned. After all, a cyclone had passed by just a few weeks before. Then on Christmas Eve, Tracy took an unexpected turn.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory was also destroyed that night. Since then, it has become the home of the Cyclone Tracy story, and fittingly it refreshed its exhibition this year, which reopened on 7th December, accompanied by the beautifully curated book Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas.
MAGNT Director Adam Worrall said, “This exhibition stands as a testament to the resilience of the people of Darwin and the Northern Territory. It would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our partners and the members of the community who contributed so much to its creation. From those who donated objects and shared their memories, to those who gave countless hours of their time, we are deeply grateful. Their invaluable contributions ensure we can collectively remember and honour the lives forever changed on Christmas Day in 1974.”
When Cyclone Tracy changed course on Christmas Eve in 1974, it also changed the course of a city. Small but deadly, it destroyed Darwin, leading to the largest evacuation and relief effort in Australian history.
As part of the refreshed exhibition, visitors can explore a classic Darwin house with surviving objects, monitor the cyclone in the Bureau of Meteorology office as it looked in 1974, experience an actual recording of Tracy in the new sound booth and explore never-before seen objects and images donated by the Darwin community and beyond.
Exhibition Highlights
Cyclone Country
Cyclones in the Top End are nothing new. They have visited these coastlines for thousands of years. They come during Balnba, the rainy season and Dalay, the monsoon season. For Tiwi people it’s Jamutakari – the wet season. Tracy was just one such cyclone, passing first through Tiwi Country to Larrakia Country. Visitors are welcomed to the exhibition by the work of Tiwi artist Mary Elizabeth Moreen who depicted Cyclone Tracy in 2005. The painting was stored in a private collection at a home in Darwin for nearly 20 years before its new large-scale display in the Cyclone Tracy exhibition.
Iconic Torana Replica – Tracey You Bitch
A replica of the infamous red Torana that Darwin resident John Garner scrawled with house paint 50 years ago, stands at the exhibition’s heart. The crushed car, painted with the defiant message, ‘Tracey You Bitch’, became an iconic symbol of resilience in the wake of Tracy’s devastation. John, who helped repaint the replica for the exhibition, recalls the storm’s aftermath and his irreverent response.
50 Years of Stories
Over the last decade, MAGNT has welcomed hundreds of new donations of family photo albums and treasured objects from residents who experienced Cyclone Tracy, preserving them for future generations.
The image of a crying child with a doll on the cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly in January 1975 comes to mind for many people around Australia when Cyclone Tracy is mentioned. This article inspired action from the Australian community and the world who came together in support of the Darwin Disaster Appeal by donating money and essentials to survivors. The Raggedy Andy doll featured in the famous photograph was donated to MAGNT in 2022 and is now on display.
Other objects include a Christmas tree that was salvaged from Tracy’s wreckage, a dress worn for days in the aftermath, a rifle used for self-defence, items from the HMAS Arrow and an iconic survivor t-shirt.
Weather Watchers
Sit at the desk of an authentic recreation of the Darwin Bureau of Meteorology office, much as it looked in 1974, where Tracy was first detected as a tropical low. Surrounded by equipment and items from the Bureau of Meteorology, visitors can monitor the developing cyclone on an interactive touchscreen and receive warnings from across the harbour.
Cyclone Sound Booth
Cyclones have a distinctive sound. A freight train, a fighter jet or a screaming banshee are just some of the ways survivors attempt to describe the indescribable. Perhaps it was this that inspired Father Ted Collins to record it. Experience his recordings brought to life through new technology and remastered sound in MAGNT’s iconic new sound booth.
To accompany the exhibition, MAGNT launched Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas, authored by curators Jared Archibald OAM, Paige Taylor and Caddie Brain, and beautifully crafted and richly detailed. The book highlights personal stories of survival and resilience, and serves as an education resource, with copies distributed to every school in the Northern Territory.
Bringing together decades of research, this book tells the story, not just of Darwin, but of a nation that came together and gave whatever it could to see it rebuilt.
Darwin became synonymous with resilience and reimagination over the years it took to rebuild, and ten years after Cyclone Tracy, in 1984, The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) founded the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA). Since 1992, Telstra have been the principal partner, and the Telstra NATSIAA remain not only the longest running awards dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists, but arguably the best show in the country.
MAGNT have just put out their call for entries for the 2025 Telstra NATSIAA., which is just the excuse we need to remember some of the great art we saw there in 2024.
Telstra NATSIAA is the longest running and most prestigious celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. For over 40 years, Telstra NATSIAA has provided a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to showcase their diverse practices and cultural expressions on the national stage. An important part of Australia’s cultural calendar, the Telstra NATSIAA honours established, mid-career artists and emerging artists.
Each year artists come to the fore and are recognised for their works of significance, strength and cultural integrity. Many respected Elders have graced the Awards over the decades sharing their knowledges and encouraging the next generation. Similarly, it is through Telstra NATSIAA many acclaimed artists debuted innovations in their practice or first shared their works with their peers and the world.
Taking place on Larrakia Country, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) encourages entries from all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the continent. Telstra NATSIAA marks the 42nd year that MAGNT has presented these annual awards and exhibition, and this year’s entrants, finalists and winners will shape another chapter of the Awards’ story.
The 2025 Call for Entries welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to submit their work and be in the running for the following Awards:
- Telstra Art Award – $100,000
- Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award (sponsored by Telstra) – $15,000
- Telstra General Painting Award – $15,000
- Telstra Bark Painting Award – $15,000
- Telstra Work on Paper Award – $15,000
- Telstra Emerging Artist Award – $15,000
- Telstra Multimedia Award – $15,000
The 2025 Telstra NATSIAA Call for Entries close on March 2, 2025.
NATSIAA is in August, which is also the month of Darwin Festival, NIMA, NIFA, DAFF and plenty more. Which makes it a fabulous time to visit, but rooms will already have block reservations, so Irresistible would recommend you get booking!
The Cyclone Tracy Exhibition is located at The Museum and Art Gallery of the Norther Territory, Darwin – 19 Conacher Street, The Gardens, Northern Territory, 0801
In conjunction with the exhibition, MAGNT will offer a series of public programs and events, inviting community members to reflect and explore new aspects of this significant Darwin story. More details of the talks and screenings can be found on the MAGNT website www.magnt.net.au/whatson
Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas is available at The Store at the Museum and Bookshop Darwin, and online for $25 www.magnt.net.au/shop-1
NATSIAA 2025
To find out more and submit an entry, visit www.natsiaa.com.au
| Awards Ceremony | Friday 8 August 2025 |
| Exhibition | Saturday 21 June 2025 – January 2026 |
About MAGNT
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the Northern Territory’s premier cultural institution, renowned for its rich heritage and dynamic exhibitions. With a focus on history, natural sciences, art and culture, MAGNT is home to iconic displays, including Cyclone Tracy, Sweetheart the Crocodile, the Colin Jack-Hinton Maritime Gallery and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA).
MAGNT is a leader in education, research and community engagement, with programs and collections that inspire curiosity and celebrate the diverse stories of the Northern Territory. Committed to accessibility and innovation, MAGNT continues to evolve as a cultural hub of national and international significance.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is a not for profit organisation comprising seven sites across the NT.
For more information, visit www.magnt.net.au.
