Cyclone Mahina was the deadliest tropical cyclone in Australia’s recorded history, and probably one of the most intense ever recorded.
More than 300 people died, the great majority of whom were divers and seamen from South-East Asia, the Torres Strait and Pacific islands who worked on the Thursday Island pearling fleet. It was anchored around Bathurst Bay, Queensland, when the cyclone struck.
Queensland Government Meteorologist Clement Wragge’s forecast,The Brisbane Courier, 7 March 1899:
A new tropical disturbance, which we have named ‘Mahina,’ is about 350 miles south-east from Sudest [Vanatinai Island, PNG], and, as it is not improbable that it will make south-westing, shipping along our coast will do well to be on the alert.Australia’s most deadly cyclone
When Mahina struck, there were about 1,000 men, women and children on board around eight schooners and more than 100 luggers anchored in the Princess Charlotte Bay and Bathurst Bay area to offload shell.
More than half of the fleet was destroyed during the night, and at least 307 people were killed.
Of the Bathurst Bay schooners, onlyCrest of the Wavesurvived because its captain, William Porter, a New Zealander, cut down its mast to prevent it from capsizing.
The cyclone produced huge seas and a surge of water which swept far inland.
