Tuesday 15 March 2011

Tomorrow will mark exactly 100 years since a truly devastating cyclone levelled Port Douglas in which two lives were lost, seven of 57 houses were left standing and 100 people were left homeless in the fledgling town. 

In nearby Mossman, several buildings were destroyed or severely damaged by the cyclone which dumped 40cm or rain in just 24 hours, and was the second large storm in to hit the area in five weeks.

According to the Douglas Shire Historical Society (DSHS), Shire Councillor Andrew Jack was killed when his house collapsed on him.  He was a pioneer of the Killaloe district and his wife survived him by only three months, leaving eight children.

Tim O’Brien, an accountant and the only son of the Macrossan Street boot maker, was helping his mother across the street to the National Bank building when he was struck by flying debris.

The original wooden lighthouse on Flagstaff Hill was blown over and all of the small boats in the inlet were lost.

A Chinese Joss House, cordial factory and the Oddfellows Hall were destroyed, and the school and hospital lost their roofs. The Port Douglas and Mossman Record newspaper’s office was destroyed and the Port Douglas Court House was blown off its stumps.
   
The Court House Hotel (formerly the Buchanan's Family Hotel) which at the time was a single storey building was extensively damaged by the cyclone, while the North Australian Hotel was also damaged and rebuilt as a two-storey hotel.  Some of it survives today as the Central Hotel.

Bob McLean’s Caledonian Hotel, now the site of Billy’s Restaurant, was unroofed and its brick chimney destroyed but it was the least damaged of all the pubs and was the only one to have its license renewed in April. 

Many buildings were never rebuilt because of the town’s uncertain future.
   
At Mossman, Lunn’s Theatre and both the Catholic and Anglican churches were destroyed. Mossman Central Mill, the Mill Kitchen and the barracks were severely damaged.     

The DSHS is presenting a photographic exhibition of this catastrophic weather event in the Port Village Shopping Centre, opposite Salon Z.  The display demonstrates how we are now better forewarned of extreme weather events giving us time to prepare, unlike the residents 100 years ago.

The Society would like to thank Centre Management for donating the use of an empty shop.

For more information, please phone Pam Willis-Burden on 4098 4900