Exactly 50 years ago, on Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin and left a trail of devastation. It remains one of the most destructive natural events in Australia's history.

The prime minister has joined survivors from Darwin and around the country to mark five decades since Cyclone Tracy, one of the worst natural disasters in Australian history.

In the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, a tropical cyclone swept through Darwin... leaving an indelible mark on the city and its people. Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy is regarded as one of the most significant cyclones in Australia's history.

A new memorial to the victims of Cyclone Tracy has been unveiled in Darwin, 50 years on from the devastating tragedy.

Hundreds of Cyclone Tracy survivors and their descendants have gathered in Darwin to mark the 50th anniversary of the disaster. On Christmas Day in 1974, the tropical storm killed 66 people and destroyed 85% of homes in Darwin.