Cyclone Mahina, Queensland, 1899
A devastating storm struck Bathurst Bay in far north Queensland. Over 400 people were killed, the highest death toll from a natural disaster in Australia's history. The death toll included crews of around 100 pearling fleet vessels and an estimated 100 indigenous people.
Black Saturday bushfires, Victoria, 2009
The bushfires killed 173 people and displaced an estimated 7 562 people. Fires swept through and damaged many towns north-east of Melbourne, including Kinglake, Marysville and Narbethong. Over 2 000 houses were destroyed. The bushfires cost the nation $4.4 billion, according to the Bushfires Royal Commission.
Queensland, Victoria and NSW floods, 2010-2011
Three-quarters of Queensland was declared a disaster zone as floods inundated the state. Toowoomba was hit by flash flooding on 10 January, and waters surged through the Lockyer Valley, devastating towns including Withcott and Grantham. The next day the Brisbane River broke its banks. Water reached an estimated 20 000 homes in the capital city. As of 24 January, 35 deaths have been attributed to the floods. Recovery efforts are estimated to cost $5.6 billion.
In Victoria, 51 communities have been affected by floods, as have many areas in northern NSW.
Ash Wednesday bushfires, Victoria and South Australia, 1983
Drought conditions combined with a heatwave to make forests combustible. On 16 February over 180 fires were burning across both Victoria and South Australia. Seventy five people were killed. Many deaths were caused by firestorm conditions as sudden wind changes in the evening rapidly altered the size and direction of the fire front.
Black Friday bushfires, Victoria, 1939
Fanned by strong winds, bushfires destroyed entire towns and burnt 2 million hectares of land in Victoria. Seventy one people died. The disaster prompted a landmark inquiry that led to measures aiming to protect life and property from future bushfires.
Cyclone Tracy, Darwin, 1974
On Christmas Eve, Darwin was hit by a cyclone which flattened the city. With winds of around 250 km/h and 195mm of rain falling in less than nine hours, Cyclone Tracy caused extensive property damage, leaving 25 000 people of Darwin's 43 000 population homeless. Seventy one people were killed.
Unnamed cyclone, north Queensland, 1918
Between 77 and 100 people are estimated to have died in a cyclone that battered the far north of Queensland. Thirty seven people were killed in the town of Innisfail, while a further 40-60 people mainly from indigenous communities surrounding the town also perished.
Bushfires, Tasmania, 1967
A total of 110 fires burned around the state and one encroached on the edge of Hobart's western suburbs on 7 February. Around 1 400 homes were destroyed and 62 people were killed. In southern Tasmania 264 000 hectares were burnt in five hours.
Gundagai floods, NSW, 1852
Gundagai had to be rebuilt on a new site after a flood destroyed 71 buildings and killed 89 of the town's 250 residents. More people would have died but were rescued by a local indigenous man, Yarri, who saved 40 people using a bark canoe.
Unnamed cyclone, Broome, WA, 1935
A pearling fleet was devastated at the Lacepede Islands in a cyclone that caused huge swells at sea and killed 141 people. Pearling camps were demolished and properties were damaged.
