THE KILLARNEY TORNADO
22 November 1968
Most people remember Cyclone Tracy which devastated Darwin in 1974, but few outside of Killarney and the Warwick district recall the tornado that wrought havoc on the small rural community on the Darling Downs six years earlier.
On the evening of 22 November 1968, the school was having its annual speech night and many of the town’s residents were gathered to see the event in the Capitol Theatre. The storm hit around 8pm and at the height of the storm, locals were forced to hold the theatre doors closed in order to keep those inside safe.
It was fortunate that so many people had been in the theatre, as it was one of the town’s few buildings to survive. When people stumbled out of the theatre and their homes, they were met by a scene of unbelievable devastation. Rubble was everywhere and there was no electricity to light the way.
The deadly tornado had cast a path of destruction across the Southern Downs, One young girl died, and 200 homes were destroyed with only 27 remaining on their stumps. Most of the buildings in the town’s main street were destroyed and the few still standing had been severely damaged. All the churches, the show pavilion and most of the buildings along Acacia Street were flattened. In the light of day, the town looked like a war zone.
In the aftermath, the community came together to rebuild their town. The army, electricians, telephone workers and many volunteers came and started the mammoth clean-up. The Bowls Club became an outlet for food parcels and clothes, all of which had been donated. The Co-op was repaired and became a very important source of materials. The abattoir also kept going and kept the town afloat.
Some people whose businesses or houses had been destroyed left the town to find a future elsewhere, but many other families rebuilt their homes and were part of Killarney’s regrowth. All the churches and the halls such as the Show Pavilion, the RSL and the Masonic Lodge were rebuilt. The school was repaired, and the children were able to go back to class the following Monday. Eventually Killarney became a town again.
All images sourced from the internet.