An iconic image and a new exhibition to commemorate Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a devastating natural disaster in Australia’s history. Landing in Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974, it resulted in one of the largest evacuation and relief efforts in Australian history. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) – a Trove Partner – was among many buildings destroyed that night. Stories about the cyclone and its aftermath can be found in Trove, like this article published in The Canberra Times.
In 2024, it’s been 50 years since this event and as the home of the Cyclone Tracy story, MAGNT is commemorating this moment in Australia’s history with a series of events and the reopening of their Cyclone Tracy exhibition which has been refreshed with new items publicly displayed for the first time.
As part of the refreshed exhibition, visitors can explore a classic Darwin house furnished 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.

Alongside the exhibition, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is hosting a series of related events including the world premiere of Tracy, a new documentary on Cyclone Tracy, and a special presentation of Cyclone Tracy survival stories.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory will also be conducting some walkthroughs of the exhibition to explore more of the stories behind the items. One such item is the Raggedy Andy doll in the famous image of a crying child on the cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly in January 1975. It’s an image that comes to mind for many Australians when discussing Cyclone Tracy. This doll was donated to MAGNT in 2022 and is now on display.
Keith Barlow, the photographer who captured this iconic image, at the time was passing by the Jones’ house when he spotted a sign saying, ‘Anyhow Happy New Year’ – an attempt at lightening the mood by the family. Keith requested to photograph the family, and this image ended up inspiring many to donate to the Darwin Disaster Appeal.
The story of the iconic image along with stories of survivors can be read in a recent article by The Australian Women’s Weekly. It can be read through the National Library of Australia’s eResources if you have or sign up for a free National Library of Australia account.
‘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.’ - MAGNT Director Adam Worrall
Also accompanying the exhibition is the launch of Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas, authored by curators Jared Archibald OAM, Paige Taylor and Caddie Brain. This new book highlights personal stories and will serve as an education resource, with copies being distributed to every school in the Northern Territory.
There is so much more to learn about Cyclone Tracy in Trove. Start your research today.