[2][3][4] There were a number of fatalities, and extensive damage was sustained to many homes and businesses and much of the local infrastructure, including the telecommunications, electricity and transport networks.
[7] On 28 February 1949, reports emerged that a tropical cyclone had developed and was 100 miles east-south-east of Willis Island, moving in a south-south-westerly direction.
[8] On 1 March 1949, it was reported the cyclone had been maintaining a parabolic south-westerly to southerly track, and was 80 miles east of Cape Capricorn.
[10][11] The cyclone then almost immediately swung north, and travelled back up the coast to Rockhampton before eventually moving west through Capricornia dumping heavy amounts of rain throughout inland areas and ultimately weakening near Tambo.
[14][15][16] A weaker cyclone then crossed the coast north of Mackay on 16 February 1949, bringing heavy rain to the city but no significant damage.
[19] Many marine vessels were destroyed or badly damaged including a local tourist boat Norwest which was washed up onto the banks of Auckland Creek.
[23] The city of Rockhampton and adjacent coastal areas were extensively damaged when the cyclone made an unexpected northern turn back up the coast, once it had crossed near Gladstone.
[29] Power supply began being progressively restored the day following the cyclone, with priority given to hospitals, water treatment plants and other essential services.
[30] The lack of auxiliary power at the hospital and the necessity of requiring volunteers to manually operate the machine prompted a public debate in the local press.
[42] The Rockhampton Newspaper Co Pty Ltd issued an apology in the following day's edition, explaining that the decision not to publish had been owing to "unsurmountable difficulties".
[44] Despite the widespread damage and the substantial clean up that occurred following the cyclone, several scheduled events went ahead as planned in the weeks following, including the visit to Rockhampton by Lord Rowallan, the Chief Scout of the Boy Scout Association, who attended several official events in the city, including a civic reception at City Hall and a Rotary Club luncheon.
[45] The Communist Party of Australia also attempted to proceed with a scheduled open-air meeting in the city centre on 28 March 1949, which led to the infamous 1949 Rockhampton riot when around 1500 protestors gate-crashed the meeting and showered supporters with various projectiles including rotten eggs, rotten fruit, flour bombs and stink bombs before breaking through police cordons and assaulting party supporters.
[60][61] A variety show was held at the Palais Royal in Rockhampton on 6 April 1949 as a fundraising event, featuring well known Brisbane comedians Buster Fiddes and Mavis Monk.
The Rockhampton Chamber of Commerce criticised the fact that no person in the city had been tasked with the responsibility of warning people of an incoming cyclone.