View source for List of Australian region cyclones before 1900

{{short description|None}}
{{Infobox hurricane season
| Basin=Aus
| Year=Pre 1900
| First storm formed=1568
| Last storm dissipated=1899
| Total disturbances=20
| Fatalities=500+
| five seasons='''Pre-1900''',  [[1900s Australian region cyclone seasons|1900s]], [[1910s Australian region cyclone seasons|1910s]], [[1920s Australian region cyclone seasons|1920s]], [[1930s Australian region cyclone seasons|1930s]]
}}
{{incomplete list|date=September 2019}}
The following is a list of [[Australian region tropical cyclone]]s in or before [[1900s Australian region cyclone seasons|1900]].
==Storms==
*February 1568&nbsp;– During February 1568, two ships which were sailing near the Solomon Islands, were driven southwards for six days by a tropical cyclone after they avoided being shipwrecked on a reef.<ref name="Solomon Disasters">{{cite book|author=Radford, Deirdre A |author2=Blong, Russell J |publisher=The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau |title=Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands|chapter=Cyclones in the Solomon Islands |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf |edition=2 |volume=1 |year=1992 |accessdate=July 6, 2013 |pages=125–126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502075901/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf }}</ref>
*April 1778&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone impacted Indonesia's [[Banda Islands]], where most of the houses were unroofed and 85% of nutmeg trees were destroyed.<ref name=Padgett>{{cite web|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2002/summ0112.htm|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: December 2001|date=April 4, 2002|author=Padgett, Gary|accessdate=August 29, 2019}}</ref>
*1788&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone destroyed two ships that had been sailing between Sydney and the Solomon Islands, under the command of [[Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse]].<ref name="Solomon Disasters"/> Most of the crew drowned, however, a number of them lived onshore for several years.<ref name="Solomon Disasters"/>
*1811&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone impacted Indonesia's [[Banda Islands]].<ref name="Padgett"/>
*1820&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone impacted the Solomon Islands in or around 1820.<ref name="Solomon Disasters"/>
*December 1840&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone impacted Papua New Guinea.<ref name="Furious Winds">{{Cite book |url={{Google Books URL|id=FThPAAAAQBAJ}} |title=Furious Winds and Parched Islands: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970) and Droughts (1722–1987) in the Pacific |author1=d'Aubert, AnaMaria |author2=Nunn, Patrick D |isbn=978-1-4691-7008-4 |chapter=Database 1: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970)|date=March 2012 |pages=58–171}}</ref>
*April 1841&nbsp;– A tropical cyclone impacted the Indonesian island of [[Rote Island|Roti]], where it killed 75 people and destroyed numerous houses.<ref name="Padgett"/>
*1850 – In or around 1850, a tropical cyclone impacted Indonesia's [[Kei Islands]] where numerous trees were uprooted.<ref name="Padgett"/>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1872)===
On 20 April 1872, a cyclone struck [[Roebourne, Western Australia|Roebourne]] in the [[Pilbara]] of [[Western Australia]], effectively destroying the town.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111526110 |title=Disastrous Cyclone at Roebourne |newspaper=[[Fremantle Herald|The Herald]] |location=Fremantle, Western Australia |date=18 May 1872 |accessdate=19 October 2013 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1875)===
On 24 December 1875, a total of 59 lives were lost at sea when the eye of a cyclone passed over Exmouth Gulf. Several schooners were driven ashore and wrecked.<ref name="BOM1998">Bureau of Meteorology (1998). ''Tropical Cyclones (A Guide for Mariners in Northwest Australia)'', Pamphlet, Commonwealth of Australia</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1880)===
On 9 January 1880, a cyclone passed near Yammadery Creek, between [[Onslow, Western Australia]] and Fortescue River, where the tidal surge was eight metres over the high-water mark. The ''Adalia'' was wrecked near Robe River and some of the crew drowned.<ref name="Onslow">{{Cite report|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/onslow.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Onslow|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|accessdate=April 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401165135/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/onslow.shtml|archive-date=April 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1882)===
On 7 March 1882, a severe cyclone passed [[Roebourne, Western Australia|Roebourne]] and Cossack in the evening causing damage to every building in the settlements. Cossack recorded a minimum pressure of 942 hPa. Despite the extensive loss of sheep from surrounding stations, it was considered fortunate that only one person suffered an injury.<ref name="roebourne">[http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/roebourne.shtml BoM&nbsp;– Tropical Cyclones affecting Karratha/Dampier<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1884)===
On 30 January 1884, a severe cyclone hit [[Bowen, Queensland|Bowen]] in Queensland, causing damage to every building in the settlement and loss of the jetty and all boats and all communication.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3426625 |title=THE TORNADO IN THE NORTH. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=4 February 1884 |accessdate=10 January 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3426723 |title=THE RECENT CYCLONE AT BOWEN. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=6 February 1884 |accessdate=10 January 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3426856 |title=THE CYCLONE AT BOWEN. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |date=9 February 1884 |accessdate=10 January 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1887)===
On 22 April 1887, a cyclone struck the pearling fleet at Ninety Mile Beach near [[Broome, Western Australia|Broome]] claiming 140 lives. The storm was unexpected since it was so late in the season.<ref name="BOM1998" />
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1889)===
On 1 March 1889, flooding was considerable at Cossack where a cyclone coincided with high tide. All crew aboard the ''Waratah'' were lost off Cape Preston and one man drowned in the river at Roebourne.<ref name="roebourne" />
===Unnamed tropical cyclones (1894)===
On 4 January 1894 and 9 January 1894&nbsp;– Within the space of five days, two cyclones crossed the [[Pilbara]] coast. The first caused damage to many buildings at [[Roebourne, Western Australia|Roebourne]] and Cossack. The second cyclone caused more significant damage to the area completely washing away the previously damaged sea wall at Cossack. Over forty lives were believed to have been lost as twelve luggers and the steamer ''Anne'' were destroyed. Altogether, the damage was estimated at 15000 pounds and the loss of some 15000 sheep. Flooding was also substantial.<ref name="roebourne" />
=== Cyclone Sigma (1896) ===
{{main|Cyclone Sigma}}
Cyclone Sigma was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in [[North Queensland]], Australia on 26–27 January 1896.<ref name=":0a">{{Cite web |title= CBoM – History of Townsville Meteorological Office|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml|website = www.bom.gov.au|accessdate = 18 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/lives-lost-during-cyclone-sigma-on-australia-day-in-1896/news-story/3533591a948c9055f87b1a250349dda5|title=Lives lost during cyclone Sigma on Australia Day in 1896|date=30 January 2015|publisher=[[Townsville Bulletin]]|accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref> Overall 23 people died in the cyclone with 3 missing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx|title=CYCLONE SIGMA 1896-01-26|website=Harden Up|publisher=Green Cross Australia|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>
=== The Great Hurricane (1897) ===
{{Main|Great Hurricane of 1897}}
On 6 January 1897, a cyclone impacted [[Darwin, Northern Territory]]. More than 28 people perished in the event, and much of Darwin was reduced to ruin.
=== Cyclone Eline (1898) ===
In January 1898, Cyclone Eline made landfall near Mackay, Queensland. The Cremorne Hotel in northern Mackay sustained damage, as well as the Methodist church on Gregory Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/53836066/5199694|title=The Cyclone at Mackay|date=29 January 1918|work=The Morning Bulletin|access-date=6 June 2019|publication-place=Rockhampton}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|author1=Unidentified|title=Remains of the Cremorne Hotel, North Mackay, following the 1918 cyclone|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/155233856|publication-date=1918|publisher=John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland|accessdate=6 June 2019}}</ref>
===Unnamed tropical cyclone (1898)===
On 2 April 1898, a cyclone was described as causing more damage at Cossack than had ever been experienced before. Tramway, rails, roads, and bridges were destroyed and telegraph lines are downed. Houses collapsed and all boats slipped their moorings. The damage was estimated at over 30000 pounds. Whim Creek registered 747&nbsp;mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in [[Western Australia]].<ref name="roebourne" />
===Severe Tropical Cyclone Mahina (1899)===
{{Main|Cyclone Mahina}}
Upon making landfall in [[Queensland]] as an extremely powerful Category 5 severe tropical cyclone on March 4, 1899,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/cyclone-marcia-to-bring-high-winds-flooding-to-southern-queensland/news-story/6427ae9003b233216eeca4369889f026|title=Cyclone Marcia to bring high winds, flooding to southern Queensland|last1=Williams|first1=Brian|date=19 February 2015|work=The Courier Mail|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524033511/https://www.webcitation.org/78u6Sbj6C?url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/cyclone-marcia-to-bring-high-winds-flooding-to-southern-queensland/news-story/6427ae9003b233216eeca4369889f026%3Fnk=9654d6e6eea84e019e198306d609f661-1559740480|archive-date=24 May 2024|url-status=live|last2=Brennan|first2=Rose|last3=Honnery|first3=Chris|last4=Fuller|first4=Peta|last5=Akers|first5=Trenton}}</ref> Severe Tropical Cyclone Mahina produced a 40-foot storm surge, the highest ever recorded. The flooding killed 400–410 people, making it the deadliest cyclone in Australian history.
==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[Pre-1900 South Pacific cyclone seasons]]
* [[List of South-West Indian Ocean cyclones before 1900]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100619024927/http://www.idro.com.au/disaster_list/default.asp Cyclone Damage]
[[Category:Australian region cyclone seasons|0000]]