18/12/2024

A crumpled record cover of a Christmas album sitting on the ground among wreckage following the devastation of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/Cyclone-Tracy_restored_1600x775.jpg

A city torn apart: Cyclone Tracy restored in 4K

Commemorating 50 years since Darwin's darkest day with a newly restored film.

By Richard Carter and Courtney Botfield

At 3:30 am on Christmas Day, 1974, Darwin was a city in ruin. Cyclone Tracy, a Category 4 storm, tore through homes and lives, flattening 80 per cent of Darwin's buildings. The cyclone disrupted the entire fabric of life in the city, leading to the evacuation of three-quarters of its 43,000-strong population. Sixty-six people lost their lives – 45 in Darwin and 21 at sea – in what remains Australia’s most destructive natural disaster. In the immediate aftermath, while most of the nation absorbed the scale of the devastation from afar, filmmakers were on the ground capturing the stark reality.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy on 25 December 2024, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) has restored Cyclone Tracy: Darwin Christmas 1974 to 4K quality. This short film, directed by a then-unknown Chris Noonan – who would go on to international fame with Babe – is part of the Film Australia Collection of the NFSA. Made by Film Australia in 1975, it remains a vital document of human endurance, quick action, and a community confronting unimaginable challenges.

The NFSA's 4K restoration of Cyclone Tracy (Chris Noonan, 1974). Produced by Film Australia. NFSA title: 32745

An aerial view of Darwin showing the destroyed houses following cyclone Tracy in December 1974 — An aerial view of Darwin shows some of the houses completely wiped out by the cyclone.

Shot on 35mm film just days after the cyclone struck, Cyclone Tracy was completed and screened in cinemas within a week – an extraordinary turnaround by any standard. Film Australia crews arrived in Darwin within hours, documenting both the destruction and the resilience of its people.

The restoration was organised by NFSA Senior Production Specialist Richard Carter, in collaboration with the National Archives of Australia who conducted an overscan of the original 35mm interpositive film. The footage was carefully graded to maintain its stark realism, ensuring the devastation and survivors’ faces remain as powerful today as they were in 1974. This version replaces the older standard-definition copy, providing future audiences with a clearer record of this significant moment in history. The footage in this 4K restoration is now as clear and well-defined as cinemagoers in 1975 would have experienced while watching the original 35mm print.

A street in Darwin that has been destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. You can see debris all over the road and a car on its side. — A street view showing buildings and shop fronts that have been destroyed and a car upended.

Cyclone Tracy remains a defining moment in the national memory. Chris Noonan’s role in capturing this event laid the foundation for his later work as one of Australia’s leading filmmakers. Before Babe (1995) earned him international acclaim, Noonan’s focus on humanity and resilience shaped this film, preserving the strength and resolve of a community in crisis.

The film’s 4K release will premiere on the NFSA Films YouTube channel on 18 December 2024, offering an opportunity to reflect and engage with this pivotal moment in Australia’s history.

As the 50th anniversary approaches, the NFSA invites audiences to experience this restored film, ensuring the stories of those who lived through Cyclone Tracy remain accessible for generations to come.

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Main image: The record sleeve for Bing Crosby's 'Merry Christmas' album lies among the debris.

Darwin