ACT's severe weather changes
To prepare for future events we need to understand the past.
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storm
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heatwave
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fire
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earthquake
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flood
Fire 13 Jan 1939 Black Friday | Royalla Fire
The 1938-39 fires occurred during a very dry summer, which included record breaking January temperatures. These fires covered and estimated 60,000 hectares of forest and grazing land, including 1,100 hectares of pine plantation.
It’s thought they started on Tuesday 10 January in the hills behind Uriarra Station (beyond the Goodradigbee River). By late Friday night the fires reached the A.C.T. in three points, near Mt Franklin, Mount Coree and Horseshoe Bend - along the northern boundary of the A.C.T. Strong winds up to 70 kilometers per hour started numerous spot fires in the region on Saturday 14 January.
The fires soon spread to a front of 45 miles along the Murrumbidgee River crossing it in several places. Sadly, the fires completely destroyed the valuable pine plantation in the Uriarra Cotter Valley district destroyed. However that particular fire was halted along the Murrumbidgee River. Volunteers worked throughout the night extinguishing burning trees on surrounding properties to prevent the fires re-starting.
A burning ember from the Uriarra Fire started a spot fire at Huntley, which spread and headed towards Mount Stromlo. Women and children were evacuated from Mt. Stromlo on Saturday afternoon as a precaution and male residents were advised to leave if the wind changed, however the wind held. Fortunately, the bushfire was stopped by volunteer fire fighters just two miles from Mount Stromlo.
The Horseshoe Bend fire continued across the Murrumbidgee River at the Kurrajong Waterhole. It spread out to a five mile front at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. Although the wind kept it away from Hall, the township was evacuated for safety. Only two men were left in Hall to direct volunteer fighters to the right road. The Mount Franklin fire burned right across the region, with serious and damaging outbreaks at Tidbinbilla, Cuppacumbalong, Booroomba and Lanyon. As it began to enter New South Wales, there were severe outbreaks around Royalla.
While all the homes in the Tidbinbilla district were saved there was an enormous loss of stock. At one property it was estimated that 300 sheep were killed, as well as numerous cattle and horses. All the fencing and thousands of acres of valuable grass land was destroyed.
The fires were eventually extinguished on Sunday 15 January when the weather cooled and it began to rain. Fortunately no lives were lost, and stock losses were comparatively small, the main losses were to property. 150,000 acres of timbered and grazing land burnt out (including 1100 hectares of pine plantation worth 300,000 pounds) and nearly 40 miles of fencing, particularly in the Tidbinbilla and Uriarra area, were destroyed.
Radio records reveal how the community responded rapidly to the calls for volunteers and support. This inspiring behavior s what most likely prevented the loss of human lives and further property.
NB. Although the Black Friday fires of 13 January 1939 centered in Victoria, the ACT was also affected. In fact, south-east South Australia, southern New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania all experienced fires in January 1939. There was a Royal Commission for the Black Friday bushfires which played a significant role in increasing bushfire awareness and prevention throughout Australia. These bushfires are considered one of the worst in the world.
1/4 After the bushfires - Scene of destruction © Commonwealth of Australia 2012
1/4 The history of bushfires Rural Fire Service Chief, Andrew Stark, talks about the history of bushfires in the ACT.
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1900
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1901
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1902
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1903
- 26 Dec 1903 / Canberra Central
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1904
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1905
- 1 Jan 1905 / Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River
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1906
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1907
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1908
- 17 Feb 1908 / Queanbeyan
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1909
- Dec 1909 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1910
- 23 Jan 1910 / Queanbeyan
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1911
- Dec 1911 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1912
- 28 March 1912 / Queanbeyan
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1913
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1914
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1915
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1916
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1917
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1918
- 10 Dec 1918 / Coree, Stromlo, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
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1919
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1920
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1921
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1922
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1923
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1924
- 7 March 1924 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Coree, Gungahlin + 8 other regions
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1925
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1926
- 29 Jan 1926 / Cotter River, Paddy's River, Stromlo
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1927
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1928
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1929
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1930
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1931
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1932
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1933
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1934
- 15 Nov 1934 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1935
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1936
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1937
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1938
- Dec 1938 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1939
- 13 Jan 1939 Black Friday | Royalla Fire / Belconnen, Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River + 6 other regions
- Dec 1939 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1940
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1941
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1942
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1943
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1944
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1945
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1946
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1947
- Jan 1947 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1948
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1949
- 10 March 1949 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1950
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1951
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1952
- 25 Jan 1952 / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong + 6 other regions
- 5 Feb 1952 - Stromlo fire / Stromlo, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
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1953
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1954
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1955
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1956
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1957
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1958
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1959
- Dec 1959 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1960
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1961
- 9 Feb 1961 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
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1962
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1963
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1964
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1965
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1966
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1967
- 24 Jan 1967 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
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1968
- Jan 1968 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1969
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1970
- 25 April 1970 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1971
- Canberra Woden Valley Flood 26 Jan 1971 / Woden Valley
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1972
- Dec 1972 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 21 Dec 1972 - Pago fire / Stromlo
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1973
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1974
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1975
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1976
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1977
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1978
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1979
- Jan 1979 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 13 Feb 1979 - Hall and Sutton fire / Belconnen, Gungahlin, Hall
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1980
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1981
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1982
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1983
- 8 Jan 1983 - Gudgenby fire / Cotter River, Rendezvous Creek
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1984
- 9 August 1984 - Oolong Earthquake / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
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1985
- 2 March 1985 / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Majura, Queanbeyan
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1986
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1987
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1988
- Jan 1988 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1989
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1990
- 13 Jan 1990 / Tuggeranong
- 3 March 1990 / Majura
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1991
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1992
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1993
- 5 April 1993 / Majura
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1994
- 8 March 1994 / Tuggeranong
- 6 Nov 1994 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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1995
- 28 Jan 1995 / Canberra Central
- 29 Nov 1995 / Canberra Central
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1996
- 5 March 1996 / Majura
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1997
- 8 Feb 1997 / Kowen
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1998
- 15 Feb 1998 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 19 August 1998 / Booth, Cotter River, Mount Clear, Paddy's River + 7 other regions
- 31 Dec 1998 / Booth, Cotter River, Mount Clear, Paddy's River + 7 other regions
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1999
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2000
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2001
- 24 Dec 2001 - Black Christmas / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong + 7 other regions
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2002
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2003
- 14 Jan 2003 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 18 Jan 2003 / Booth, Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River + 11 other regions
- 14 March 2003 / Canberra Central
- 24 August 2003 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 26 October 2003 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Coree, Gungahlin + 13 other regions
- 16 Nov 2003 / Queanbeyan
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2004
- 2 Nov 2004 / Canberra Central, Belconnen
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2005
- 20 Jan 2005 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- Canberra Severe Storm Feb 2005 / Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, Woden Valley + 5 other regions
- 13 Oct 2005 / Gungahlin
- 26 Nov 2005 / Canberra Central
- 2 Dec 2005 / Canberra Central, Weston Creek, Woden Valley, Molonglo Valley
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2006
- 6 Jan 2006 / Paddy's River
- 16 Jan 2006 / Belconnen
- 15 Feb 2006 / Belconnen
- 27 Feb 2006 / Canberra Central
- 2 March 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 21 April 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 13 August 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 3 Nov 2006 / Belconnen
- 29 Dec 2006 / Queanbeyan
- 31 Dec 2006 / Tuggeranong, Belconnen
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2007
- 10 Feb 2007 / Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
- 23 Feb 2007 / Kowen
- 27 Feb 2007 / Cotter River, Mount Clear, Rendezvous Creek
- 27 Feb 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- 27 Feb 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- 18 Nov 2007 / Canberra Central
- 30 Nov 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan + 8 other regions
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2008
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2009
- 2009 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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2010
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2011
- 5 Jan 2011 / Canberra Central
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2012
- 18 Feb 2012 / Gungahlin, Hall
- March 2012 / Cotter River, Paddy's River, Tennent
- March 2012 / Cotter River, Mount Clear, Rendezvous Creek
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2013
- Jan 2013 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall
- Jan 2013 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 18 June 2013 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Hall
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2014
- Jan 2014 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 19 Feb 2014 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
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2027
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2028
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2029