The Fury of Tracy Alawa, Northern Territory, Australia
By
NTSTROM on 08-Jun-09. Waypoint GA1479
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Virtual |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S12° 22.953' E130° 52.699' (WGS 84) |
| 52L 704212E 8630426N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 26 m |
| Local Government Area: | Darwin |
/130.878317,-12.38255,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
On the night of Christams Eve in 1974 Cyclone Tracy destroyed the City of Darwin in just a few hours.
Cyclone Tracy registered wind speeds of 217 km/h at Darwin Airport before the equipment itself was blown away. There are estimates of wind speeds up to a maximum of 300 km/h!
The three steel girders at GZ were twisted into their shapes by the force of Cyclone Tracy's winds. Set in concrete at the Casuarina College, they are a small reminder of the strength of mother nature.
GZ was previously the site of a physical GC cache container (GC163A7) owned by me, however the area is very prone to muggle College students and unfortunately the container disappeared and the cache has been archived.
As the site is of significant importance and interest I decided to keep the cache going on GCA by means of a virtual cache.
In order to log the cache you need to visit the location and simply obtain a photograph of the girders with you and your GPS in the shot and then upload it to your log.
Good luck and enjoy.
Logs
Day 68 of our greynomad trip up north from Vic, after a the JLWEvents in Wudinna SA, a tour of Maralinga and caching to claim LGAs in the Eyre Peninsula, through to Allice Springs, Uluru and now Nth NT, we have finally escaped the southern weather that has been wet and windy. Not sure that we are acclimatised to the northern heat yet as we are feeling it by early afternoon, but out sightseeing and caching in the morning. It is also day 67 of a streak, so we would like to keep it rolling.
Took hubby to go crabbing today and my goal is to find the cache types required for this months challenge. I managed all but the event. Wow, that is power.
TFTC
Took hubby to go crabbing today and my goal is to find the cache types required for this months challenge. I managed all but the event. Wow, that is power.
TFTC
We were caching in the area waiting for my wife to buy supplies…. The kids got a bit of a history lesson here. It’s amazing what they don’t learn about at school these days!?
Rated: for Overall Experience
As a kid I moved to Darwin with my family 6 months before Cyclone Tracy (6 months BT).
We lived in a caravan on a concrete slab just near Goyder Rd in Salonika Crossing but thankfully we moved to a flat atop the office block, where my parents worked, in December.
We rode out Tracy in that flat with the roofing iron torn off and water dripping through the ceiling. When the eye of the storm came through we moved everyone downstairs and set up in 2 cars and the office. I went back to sleep and woke up in the morning not very happy because it would be my birthday the next day and we were supposed to be going to Mandorah to watch a corroboree.
I have passed this site many times over the years and never stopped as everyone is always in a rush. Well this time it was a DEFINITE stop site or me even tho I picked schools out and there were cars and kids everywhere because i parked in the school parking lot.
Thanks for the Virtual and bringing me here.
We lived in a caravan on a concrete slab just near Goyder Rd in Salonika Crossing but thankfully we moved to a flat atop the office block, where my parents worked, in December.
We rode out Tracy in that flat with the roofing iron torn off and water dripping through the ceiling. When the eye of the storm came through we moved everyone downstairs and set up in 2 cars and the office. I went back to sleep and woke up in the morning not very happy because it would be my birthday the next day and we were supposed to be going to Mandorah to watch a corroboree.
I have passed this site many times over the years and never stopped as everyone is always in a rush. Well this time it was a DEFINITE stop site or me even tho I picked schools out and there were cars and kids everywhere because i parked in the school parking lot.
Thanks for the Virtual and bringing me here.
Rated: for Overall Experience
A savage wind indeed. A friend told me about this relic back in the 90's, and I've looked for it unsuccessfully from time to time since then, so a very special TFTC NTSTROM.
Rated: for Overall Experience
We missed this the other day when in the area. But having realised that a special trip today.
Pretty impressive this piece of history and we thank you for sharing it with us.
TFTC
Pretty impressive this piece of history and we thank you for sharing it with us.
TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Quite sure we drove past this a number of times before realising it. Today we made a special trip to see it. Some amazing history of Tracy around Darwin. She more than earned that famous statement on the back of the squashed car.
TFTC ntstrom
TFTC ntstrom
Rated: for Overall Experience
Visited this site as part of the Summer Scavenger Series. Thank you for this cache NTSTROM.
Rated: for Overall Experience
A permanent reminder of Tracy's force. Thanks for showing us. Snapped required photo.
Rated: for Overall Experience
On an early morning walk today and stoppdd past this virtual. A great piece of history and just astounding what the cyclone did. TFTV
After a long day of inspecting houses, I decided to do some geo-caching and noticed that this virtual was nearby. Stopped by and marveled at the destructive power of Mother Nature. TFTC.
I rolled up, rolled up to GZ on the bike.
An interesting bit of sculpture.
I wondered who the artist was ?
Tracy somebody according to the plaque
An interesting bit of sculpture.
I wondered who the artist was ?
Tracy somebody according to the plaque
Rated: for Overall Experience
0950 Found the virtual after coming from Berrimah to Casuarina by PUSHbike, as I had to have the rear cluster replaced (after 6 hours use!?!) Didn't find the GC today, found it later.
Only prob is, my camera and SD card was nicked from outside of Harvey Norman, Berrimah before heading back to NSW. BUMMER
Only prob is, my camera and SD card was nicked from outside of Harvey Norman, Berrimah before heading back to NSW. BUMMER
Tracy - She came... She saw .... She conquered... I still have the T shirt and the memories of that night ... Good to have a reminder of her fury T4TC 
Rated: for Overall Experience
Never disrespect mother nature, photo taken with phone also used as GPS not able to supply both
Rated: for Overall Experience
Note to self - don't hang around to witness the awesome power of Mother Nature.
Wow - just wow....
TFTC - and the sobering reminder of just what she can do when she puts her mind to it....
Wow - just wow....
TFTC - and the sobering reminder of just what she can do when she puts her mind to it....
Rated: for Overall Experience
Have driven past this heaps of times and finally took the time to take a photo. Amazing reminder of the strength of nature.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found it just after saying "Oh, we don't have time to stop and find this one" - and there it was! Amazing structure and artwork.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I have had this one on the list for some time and today seemed like as good as any other time - it was not raining.
The spot reminds one of the fury of the winds and I am really glad, that I did not have to live through that one.
A shame that there is not some off road parking as the traffic on the road makes it a challenge.
TFTC
The spot reminds one of the fury of the winds and I am really glad, that I did not have to live through that one.
A shame that there is not some off road parking as the traffic on the road makes it a challenge.
TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
My first GCA cache Perfect start to GCA caching I think - particularly for a Darwin-ite.
I parked the car at Casuarina Shopping Centre and walked to this one.. needed the exercise. I've driven by this site so many times in the last 7 years but have never taken the time to stop. Seeing those girders up close emphasises just how strong those winds were, and how terrifying that night must have been, like nothing else can.
Perfect start to GCA caching I think - particularly for a Darwin-ite. I parked the car at Casuarina Shopping Centre and walked to this one.. needed the exercise.
I've driven by this site so many times in the last 7 years but have never taken the time to stop. Seeing those girders up close emphasises just how strong those winds were, and how terrifying that night must have been, like nothing else can.Rated: for Overall Experience
It is amazing how much moving air can damage. Took Miss Shifter here before going to the NT Museum to show her what a cyclone can do. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
WanderingAus wandered by on day 19 of a "climatic refugee" trip, having finally arrived in the North for the winter, and took the requisite photo. Bugga, one day too late to claim the First To Find. 
*Recommended* *Overall Experience: 2 T4TH NTSTROM Keith
*Recommended* *Overall Experience: 2 T4TH NTSTROM KeithRated: for Overall Experience
Was finally driving past with all the right bits of kit to do this one. Defiantly a spot that should have a cache.
Rated: for Overall Experience
