50 years ago, Darwin faced unimaginable devastation when Cyclone Tracy struck in the early hours of Christmas Day, 1974. With winds flattening 80% of the city, 66 lives lost, and thousands forced to flee, it remains one of Australia’s darkest days. To mark this anniversary, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) has restored Cyclone Tracy: Darwin Christmas 1974 to 4K. Directed by Chris Noonan ('Babe' 1995), this film, made just days after the cyclone, documents the destruction a

50 years ago, Cyclone Tracy forever changed Darwin. Through fear, devastation, and resilience, four survivors, alongside Solvos who lived through it, reflect on the harrowing events of that Christmas Day in 1974. This is more than just a story of survival—it’s a powerful account of community, faith, and the strength found in the aftermath of disaster. On Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy claimed 66 lives, injured 145, and destroyed 80% of the city. But in the face of unimaginable loss, Darwin’s