On Christmas Eve, the cyclone made a sudden left turn and headed directly towards Darwin. Early Christmas morning Cyclone Tracy flattened Darwin, leaving residents to face an unimaginable landscape of loss and ruin.

As Darwin marks 50 years since that fateful night, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) has opened a reimagined Cyclone Tracy exhibition that dives deeper than ever into the stories of survival, resilience and renewal in the cyclone’s aftermath. 

“Cyclone Tracy is still very present in Darwin’s memory,” says Jared Archibald OAM, Curator of Territory History. “This exhibition is not just about facts and dates – it is about paying tribute to the spirit and resilience of the Darwin community.

“We have spent years listening to people’s stories, gathering their memories and preserving personal items that hold immense value. It’s an exhibition born from the generosity of the people who lived through this extraordinary event.” 

A centrepiece of the exhibition captures both the heartbreak and humour that carried many through the cyclone’s aftermath: a replica of a red Torana, adorned with the defiant message, “TRACEY YOU BITCH.” 

Painted by Darwin resident John Garner after discovering his car crushed beneath rubble, this iconic Torana was a flashpoint of spirit in the city’s immediate recovery. 

“John’s story and that bold statement on his car embody so much of the spirit that kept Darwin going,” Jared says. “He wasn’t insured and had only recently bought the car, but that phrase encapsulated both his frustration and his resilience. He helped us recreate 

that moment in a car painted to match his original. It’s a powerful story of grit and determination.” 

In a newly built interactive exhibit, visitors can take on the role of a meteorologist at a recreated Darwin Bureau of Meteorology office, where, 50 years ago, staff first detected Cyclone Tracy on satellite imagery. 

The display uses historical radar data and immersive elements to recreate the moments as the storm intensified, allowing guests to understand how Darwin’s forecasters tracked the cyclone’s path and growth. 

Jared says: “Even with all of their expertise and effort, they couldn’t have predicted the scale of what was coming.” 

No one who lived through Cyclone Tracy will forget the sound – a combination of roaring wind, shattering glass and chaos. 

In a rebuilt audio booth, visitors can experience a remastered recording made by Bishop Edmund “Ted” Collins as he recorded Tracy’s relentless force in his flat in Stuart Park. 

“The sound of Tracy is haunting,” says Jared. “Bishop Collins’ recording gives us a chilling insight into what people faced that night — the gusts, the roaring — it’s unforgettable.” 

The exhibition also places Cyclone Tracy within the longer First Nations history of cyclones in the Top End. 

“For Aboriginal communities here, cyclones are part of the land’s natural rhythms, a cycle that has been understood for thousands of years,” Jared says. 

The exhibition includes their voices and the perspective of Aboriginal artist Mary Elizabeth Moreen, whose work reflects that deep connection to Country and its seasonal cycles. 

Personal objects, from T-shirts proclaiming clean-up efforts, to the beloved Raggedy Andy doll made famous in The Australian Women’s Weekly, further humanise this event. 

“Some of these items are cherished family heirlooms, given to us by Darwin residents who wanted their stories preserved. When you walk through this exhibition, you’re not just learning about history – you’re connecting with the experiences, emotions and memories of people who lived it.” 

MAGNT has also published Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas, a book capturing new insights and stories for the anniversary. 

“We wanted a book that reflects the exhibition’s depth and honours all these voices. It is something for everyone, from school students to anyone who wants to understand Darwin’s resilience.” 

Through stories of humour, strength and survival, MAGNT’s reimagined Cyclone Tracy exhibition invites visitors to experience a pivotal chapter in Darwin’s history. 

“Fifty years later, the scars remain, but so does a resilient spirit,” Jared says. “This exhibition is here to honour that spirit.” 

The Cyclone Tracy Exhibition reopened on 7 of December at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and is a permanent exhibition at MAGNT. 

MAGNT is open 10am–4pm every day. 

Cyclone Tracy: A Cyclone for Christmas publication is available on the MAGNT website at magnt.net.au/shop-1