Cyclone Sigma was a deadly
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its locat ...
that caused severe damage in
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland that lies just south of Far North Queensland. Queensland is a massive state, larger than many countries, and its Tropical North Queensland, trop ...
, Australia on 26–27 January 1896
and the loss of at least 23 lives.
The cyclone caused massive destruction to
Townsville
The City of Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 201,313 as of 2024, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland and Northern Australia (specifically, the parts of Australia north of ...
and surrounding areas. The cyclone passed to the north-east of the town, creating high seas and dumping up to of rain in the area. The
Ross River broke its banks, flooding of the town's suburbs with up to of water. Ten ships were wrecked in the harbour, 17 people died in the flooding, and one sailor was also killed.
The cyclone then travelled south towards
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite.
The Scottish- ...
, creating heavy rainfall. At least 23 people died in the cyclone, with three reported as missing.
It was thought that ketch
''Lalla Rookh'' was wrecked during the cyclone; however, later reports confirmed that she had escaped.
Many buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, including:
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Townsville School of Arts
Townsville School of Arts is a heritage-listed former Mechanics' institutes of Australia, school of arts and now community cultural centre at Stanley Street, Townsville City, Queensland, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia ...
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Tattersalls Hotel
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Townsville Showground
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Townsville Supreme Court
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St John's Anglican Church
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Cluden Racecourse and railway station
References
Further reading
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External links
1896 in Australia
Tropical cyclones in 1896
Sigma
Sigma ( ; uppercase Σ, lowercase σ, lowercase in word-final position ς; ) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 200. In general mathematics, uppercase Σ is used as an operator ...
Disasters in Queensland
North Queensland
January 1896
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