List of disasters in Australia by death toll

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This is a list of disasters in Australia sorted by death toll.

This list is [Incomplete listsincomplete]; you can help by [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ expanding it].

Contents

1 100 or more deaths
2 50 to 99 deaths
3 10 to 50 deaths
4 10 or fewer deaths
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

100 or more deaths

The Centaur memorial, in Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland, commemorates the sinking of the AHS Centaur in 1943, which claimed 268 lives.

At least 242 people died in the Japanese air raids on Darwin in 1942.

Japanese prisoners of war practice baseball on the sportsground near their quarters, several weeks before the Cowra breakout, in which at least 235 people died.

Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes
1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic Australia-wide 12,000 1918-1919 Approximate death toll. Sydney was the worst affected area. [Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Polio epidemic Australia-wide 1,013 1946-1955 [Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Bubonic plague epidemic Australia-wide 550 1900-1910 [Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Heat wave Victoria 438 January, 1939 Heatwave killed 438 [Emergency Management Australia]
Heatwave Southern regions, Australia 437 1895-1896 Widespread heatwave killed 437, including 47 in Bourke, New South Wales [Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cyclone Mahina Bathurst Bay, Queensland 410 March, 1889 Estimated toll [Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cataraqui King Island, Tasmania 406 1845 Shipwreck [link]
Zuytdorp Murchison Coast, Western Australia 286 April, 1712 Shipwreck There has been speculation that there were some survivors, helped by local Aborigines. [link] [link]
AHS Centaur Caloundra, Queensland 268 1943 Hospital ship torpedoed by Japanese submarine [The sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur]
Heatwave Southern states 246 December, 1907-January, 1908 [link]
Air raids on Darwin Darwin, Northern Territory 242 February 19, 1942 The toll may have been higher, itinerants and aboriginal persons may be under represented in the official count. [National Archives of Australia], Fact Sheet 195, The bombing of Darwin
Cowra breakout Cowra, New South Wales 235-238 August 5, 1944 Escape by Japanese POWs [link] [link]
Neva King Island, Tasmania 224 May 13, 1835 Shipwreck [link] [link]
Vergulde Draeck Perth, Western Australia 186 April, 1656 Shipwreck [link]
Cyclone and sinking of SS Koombana Western Australia 149 March 1, 1912 [link] [link]
Heatwaves Australia-wide 147 1920-1921 [link]
Heatwaves Australia-wide 143+ 1911-1912 [link]
Cyclone Broome, Western Australia 141 March, 1935 Pearling fleet devastated [link]
Cyclone Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia 140 1884 Pearling fleet sunk [link]
George III shipwreck D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania 133 April 12, 1835 [link]
Quetta Cape York, Queensland 133 February 28, 1890 Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave Southern states 130 1926-1927 [link]
Batavia Western Australia 125+ June-July, 1629 Shipwreck. Mutineers murdered 125 other passengers. The death toll of 125 does not include the mutineers, of whom 7 were immediately hung and 2 were cast away when Captain Pelsaert returned. Most of the remaining mutineers were later executed. [Australian Broadcasting Commission], Shipwrecks
Heatwave Australia-wide 122+ 1913-1914 [link]
Cyclone and sinking of SS Yongala North-eastern Queensland 122 March 16, 1911 [link]
Dunbar Sydney, New South Wales 121 August 20, 1857 Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave Australia-wide 112 1939-1940 [link]
Heatwave Australia-wide 109 1909-1910 [link]
Heatwave Southern regions, Australia 105+ 1959 One source puts death toll at 145 [link] [link] [link]
Gothenburg Ayr, Queensland 102-112 February 24, 1875 Shipwreck during cyclone. Records of passengers vary [link] [link] [link]
Richmond River massacre Richmond River, New South Wales 100 January, 1846 Massacre of aborigines [link]

Disaster	Location	Deaths	Date	Notes
1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic	Australia-wide	12,000	1918-1919	Approximate death toll. Sydney was the worst affected area. [Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Polio epidemic	Australia-wide	1,013	1946-1955	[Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Bubonic plague epidemic	Australia-wide	550	1900-1910	[Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database], Accessed February 22, 2006
Heat wave	Victoria	438	January, 1939	Heatwave killed 438 [Emergency Management Australia]
Heatwave	Southern regions, Australia	437	1895-1896	Widespread heatwave killed 437, including 47 in Bourke, New South Wales [Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cyclone Mahina	Bathurst Bay, Queensland	410	March, 1889	Estimated toll [Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cataraqui	King Island, Tasmania	406	1845	Shipwreck [link]
Zuytdorp	Murchison Coast, Western Australia	286	April, 1712	Shipwreck There has been speculation that there were some survivors, helped by local Aborigines. [link] [link]
AHS Centaur	Caloundra, Queensland	268	1943	Hospital ship torpedoed by Japanese submarine [The sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur]
Heatwave	Southern states	246	December, 1907-January, 1908	[link]
Air raids on Darwin	Darwin, Northern Territory	242	February 19, 1942	The toll may have been higher, itinerants and aboriginal persons may be under represented in the official count. [National Archives of Australia], Fact Sheet 195, The bombing of Darwin
Cowra breakout	Cowra, New South Wales	235-238	August 5, 1944	Escape by Japanese POWs [link] [link]
Neva	King Island, Tasmania	224	May 13, 1835	Shipwreck [link] [link]
Vergulde Draeck	Perth, Western Australia	186	April, 1656	Shipwreck [link]
Cyclone and sinking of SS Koombana	Western Australia	149	March 1, 1912	[link] [link]
Heatwaves	Australia-wide	147	1920-1921	[link]
Heatwaves	Australia-wide	143+	1911-1912	[link]
Cyclone	Broome, Western Australia	141	March, 1935	Pearling fleet devastated [link]
Cyclone	Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia	140	1884	Pearling fleet sunk [link]
George III shipwreck	D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania	133	April 12, 1835	[link]
Quetta	Cape York, Queensland	133	February 28, 1890	Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave	Southern states	130	1926-1927	[link]
Batavia	Western Australia	125+	June-July, 1629	Shipwreck. Mutineers murdered 125 other passengers. The death toll of 125 does not include the mutineers, of whom 7 were immediately hung and 2 were cast away when Captain Pelsaert returned. Most of the remaining mutineers were later executed. [Australian Broadcasting Commission], Shipwrecks
Heatwave	Australia-wide	122+	1913-1914	[link]
Cyclone and sinking of SS Yongala	North-eastern Queensland	122	March 16, 1911	[link]
Dunbar	Sydney, New South Wales	121	August 20, 1857	Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave	Australia-wide	112	1939-1940	[link]
Heatwave	Australia-wide	109	1909-1910	[link]
Heatwave	Southern regions, Australia	105+	1959	One source puts death toll at 145 [link] [link] [link]
Gothenburg	Ayr, Queensland	102-112	February 24, 1875	Shipwreck during cyclone. Records of passengers vary [link] [link] [link]
Richmond River massacre	Richmond River, New South Wales	100	January, 1846	Massacre of aborigines [link]

50 to 99 deaths

Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin on Christmas Eve, 1974, killing 71.

Cable drums blown 50 feet (15 m) from their foundations after the Mount Mulligan mine disaster, which claimed 75 lives.

Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes
Heatwave Southern regions Australia 99 December, 1972 to February, 1973 [link]
1934 Cyclone Northern Queensland 99 March, 1934 Cyclone and 9.1 m storm surge [link]
Mount Kembla Colliery gas explosion Mount Kembla, New South Wales 94 July 31, 1902 coal mine gas explosion [link]
Trial Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia 93 April 23, 1622 Shipwreck Earliest recorded Australian shipwreck [link]
Gundagai floods Gundagai, New South Wales 89 June 24, 1852 [link]
Admella Carpenter Rocks, South Australia 89 August 6, 1859 Shipwreck [link]
Japanese Air raid on Broome, March 3, 1942 Broome, Western Australia 88 March 3, 1942 Official toll; may not include some refugees from the Dutch East Indies.
Granville railway disaster Sydney, New South Wales 83 January 18, 1977 Derailment followed by bridge collapse
HMAS Voyager twenty miles south-east of Jervis Bay, New South Wales 82 February 10, 1964 Sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne
Bulli Colliery gas explosion Bulli, New South Wales 81 March 23, 1887 coal mine gas explosion [link]
British Admiral King Island, Tasmania 79 May 23, 1874 Shipwreck [link]
1918 Innisfail Cyclone Queensland coast, particularly Innisfail 77+ March 10, 1918 Cyclone and storm surge with death toll estimated between 77 and 100. [link]
Clermont Floods Clermont, Queensland 65 December 27, 1916 [link]
Cawarra sinking and storms New South Wales 76 July 12, 1866 60 lives lost on Cawarra [link]
Mount Mulligan coal dust explosion Mount Mulligan, Queensland 76 September 16, 1921 coal dust explosion [link]
Ash Wednesday fires Victoria, South Australia 75 1983 [link]
USS Frank E. Evans South China Sea 74 June 3, 1969 Sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne
Ly-Ee-Moon Green Cape, New South Wales 71 May 31, 1886 Shipwreck [link]
Black Friday Victoria 71 January 13, 1939 Bushfire
Cyclone Tracy Darwin 71 December 24, 1974 Cyclone destroys city of Darwin On 17 March 2005, a Northern Territory Coroner's Inquest outcome increased the official death toll from 65 to 71. [link]
1967 Tasmanian fires Tasmania 62 1967 Bushfires in Southern Tasmania
Cyclone near Roebourne and Geraldton, Western Australia 61-71 1894 Estimated toll includes those lost at sea and those killed in flooding at Geraldton [link]
Zeewyk Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia 60 1727 Shipwreck. Approximate death toll [link]
Bushfires Victoria 60 February-March, 1926 [link]
Exmouth Cyclone Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia 59-69 1875-1876 Most casualties were at sea [link] [link]
Loch Ard Mutton Bird Island, off the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria 53 June 1, 1878 Shipwreck Sources vary on exact death toll [link] [link]
Bushfires Victoria 51 1943-1944 [link]

Disaster	Location	Deaths	Date	Notes
Heatwave	Southern regions Australia	99	December, 1972 to February, 1973	[link]
1934 Cyclone	Northern Queensland	99	March, 1934	Cyclone and 9.1 m storm surge [link]
Mount Kembla Colliery gas explosion	Mount Kembla, New South Wales	94	July 31, 1902	coal mine gas explosion [link]
Trial	Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia	93	April 23, 1622	Shipwreck Earliest recorded Australian shipwreck [link]
Gundagai floods	Gundagai, New South Wales	89	June 24, 1852	[link]
Admella	Carpenter Rocks, South Australia	89	August 6, 1859	Shipwreck [link]
Japanese Air raid on Broome, March 3, 1942	Broome, Western Australia	88	March 3, 1942	Official toll; may not include some refugees from the Dutch East Indies.
Granville railway disaster	Sydney, New South Wales	83	January 18, 1977	Derailment followed by bridge collapse
HMAS Voyager	twenty miles south-east of Jervis Bay, New South Wales	82	February 10, 1964	Sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne
Bulli Colliery gas explosion	Bulli, New South Wales	81	March 23, 1887	coal mine gas explosion [link]
British Admiral	King Island, Tasmania	79	May 23, 1874	Shipwreck [link]
1918 Innisfail Cyclone	Queensland coast, particularly Innisfail	77+	March 10, 1918	Cyclone and storm surge with death toll estimated between 77 and 100. [link]
Clermont Floods	Clermont, Queensland	65	December 27, 1916	[link]
Cawarra sinking and storms	New South Wales	76	July 12, 1866	60 lives lost on Cawarra [link]
Mount Mulligan coal dust explosion	Mount Mulligan, Queensland	76	September 16, 1921	coal dust explosion [link]
Ash Wednesday fires	Victoria, South Australia	75	1983	[link]
USS Frank E. Evans	South China Sea	74	June 3, 1969	Sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne
Ly-Ee-Moon	Green Cape, New South Wales	71	May 31, 1886	Shipwreck [link]
Black Friday	Victoria	71	January 13, 1939	Bushfire
Cyclone Tracy	Darwin	71	December 24, 1974	Cyclone destroys city of Darwin On 17 March 2005, a Northern Territory Coroner's Inquest outcome increased the official death toll from 65 to 71. [link]
1967 Tasmanian fires	Tasmania	62	1967	Bushfires in Southern Tasmania
Cyclone	near Roebourne and Geraldton, Western Australia	61-71	1894	Estimated toll includes those lost at sea and those killed in flooding at Geraldton [link]
Zeewyk	Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia	60	1727	Shipwreck. Approximate death toll [link]
Bushfires	Victoria	60	February-March, 1926	[link]
Exmouth Cyclone	Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia	59-69	1875-1876	Most casualties were at sea [link] [link]
Loch Ard	Mutton Bird Island, off the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria	53	June 1, 1878	Shipwreck Sources vary on exact death toll [link] [link]
Bushfires	Victoria	51	1943-1944	[link]

10 to 50 deaths

A view of the completed West Gate Bridge in Melbourne. The bridge collapsed during construction, killing 35 Australian workers in 1970.

The Port Arthur massacre claimed 35 lives in 1996 when Martin Bryant opened fire at the former penal colony.

An Australian Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in 1996 near Townsville, killing 18 Australian soldiers.

A memorial stone to some of those who died during the Eureka Stockade in 1854.

The Tasman Bridge disaster claimed 12 lives in 1975.

Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes
Pearl Brisbane, Queensland 50 February, 1896 Shipwreck [link]
Cyclone Around Broome, Western Australia 50 1908 [link]
Hunter Valley floods of 1955 Hunter Valley, New South Wales 50 February, 1955 Most deaths were around Singleton and Maitland, but most other river systems in the state were also in flood [link] [link]
Cyclonic effects North coast, New South Wales 46 1923 [link]
Sunshine train disaster Sunshine, Victoria 44 1908 Rear end collision
1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster Queenstown, Tasmania 42+ 1912 Mine fire. True toll may be higher due to subsequent deaths from the effects of the fire [link]
Clan Ranald near Edithburgh, South Australia 40 January 31, 1909 Shipwreck [link] [link]
Sydney ferry disaster Sydney 40-42 November 3, 1927 Shipwreck [link] [link]
Maria Cardwell, Queensland 36 1872 Shipwreck Some of the survivors were killed by Aborigines although others were helped [link] [link]
Port Arthur Massacre Port Arthur, Tasmania 35 April 28, 1996 Shooting massacre
West Gate Bridge collapse Melbourne 35 October 15, 1970 35 construction workers died due to a collapse during construction [Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee]
Kempsey bus crash Kempsey, New South Wales 35 December 12, 1989 Two tourist coaches collided head-on [link]
Loch Vennachar Kangaroo Island, South Australia 32 September, 1905 Shipwreck [link]
Mackay Cyclone Queensland coast, particularly Mackay 30 January, 1918 [link] [link]
William Booth Memorial Hostel fire Melbourne 30 August 13, 1966 Convalescent home for men [link].
TAA Fokker Friendship disaster Mackay 29 1960 Crashed into sea
Cyclone Fifi Western Australia 29 April, 1991 27 lost in shipwreck of Mineral Diamond [link] [link]
Eureka Stockade Ballarat, Victoria 28 December 3, 1854 Riot and insurrection. Actual death toll remains unknown.
Myall Creek massacre Myall Creek, near Inverell, New South Wales 28 June 9, 1838 28 Aboriginal people murdered by white stockmen [link]
1897 cyclone Darwin, Northern Territory 28 January, 1897 [link] [link]
ANA Skymaster Amana crash York near Perth 28 June 26, 1950 1 survivor [link]
Maria Coorong, South Australia 26 1840 Shipwreck, survivors killed by Aborigines, possibly after making sexual advances [link]. Exactly what took place remains controversial.
Gold Coast Cyclone Gold Coast and northern New South Wales 26 February, 1954 [Bureau of Meteorology], Gold Coast cyclone, February 1954
Port Hedland plane crash Port Hedland, Western Australia 26 1968 In-flight break up
Wodonga train and bus disaster Wodonga, Victoria 25 1943 Train hit bus carrying army personnel [link]
Seven Mile Beach plane crash Seven Mile Beach, near Hobart 25 March, 1946 Australian National Airways plane [link]
Ansett-ANA Viscount disaster Winton, Queensland 24 September 22 1966 VH-RMI enroute Mount Isa - Longreach
Maitland Newcastle 24 May 6, 1898 Shipwreck [link]
Bushfire Southern regions of Victoria 23 January, 1969 280 fires. 17 casualties at Lara [link].
Floods Northern Tasmania 22 April, 1929 Eight drowned when truck ploughed into river and 14 died when dam collapsed and wall swept into town [link]
Heatwave South-east Queensland 22 January, 2000 [link]
Grafton bus crash Grafton, New South Wales 21 October 20, 1989 A head-on collision between a tourist [link] coach and a truck
Trial Bay shipwreck Trial Bay, New South Wales 19-21 September, 1816 [link]
Rembrant Hotel fire Kings Cross, New South Wales 19 August 25, 1981 [link]
Star of Greece Adelaide, South Australia 18+ July 13, 1888 Shipwreck Exact number of lives lost uncertain [link]
Tumut Pond bus crash Tumut Pond, New South Wales 18 September 1, 1973 Brake failure caused bus to plummet into reservoir [link]
Blackhawk helicopter crash Townsville, Queensland 18 June 12, 1996 Army helicopters collided [link]
1997 Thredbo landslide Thredbo, New South Wales 18 1997 Landslide
Brooklyn Train crash Brooklyn, New South Wales 17 1944 Train ploughed into bus at Hawksbury River station [link]
Wasleys Crossing (Gawler) disaster Wasleys Crossing, near Gawler, South Australia 17 April 12, 1970 Bus collided with a passenger train [link]
Box Flat Colliery mine explosion Ipswich, Queensland 17 July 31, 1972 Mine gas explosion in the Box Flat Colliery [link]
Heatwave South-Eastern regions, Australia 17 February, 1993 Possibility of additional unreported deaths [link]
Camp Mountain train disaster Camp Mountain, Queensland 16 May 5, 1947 a crowded picnic train derailed on bend
Pacific Nursing Home fire Sylvania Heights, New South Wales 16 April 29, 1981 [link]
Ansett-ANA Viscount plane crash Botany Bay, New South Wales 15 November 30, 1961 All occupants (11 passengers and 4 crew) died. [link]
Savoy Hotel Fire Kings Cross, New South Wales 15 December 25, 1975 Arson [link]
Whiskey Au Go Go fire Fortitude Valley, Queensland 15 March 8, 1973 Arson
Cyclone Hazel near Carnarvon, Western Australia 15 1979 Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave South-eastern regions of Australia 15 February, 1981 [link]
Lockhart River plane crash Lockhart River, Queensland 15 May 7, 2005 [link]
Childers Palace fire Childers, Queensland 15 June, 2000 Robert Long received a life sentence for starting the fires [link] [link]
Dandenong and Lara bushfires Dandenong and Lara, Victoria 14* January 14 - January 16, 1962 *14 casualties[link] [link]. or 32? [link] [link]. Other sources state 9 casualties [link].
Bushfires Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra, New South Wales 14* January, 1968 *Sources vary on death toll but most say 14 [link].
Cyclone Ada Whitsunday Islands, Queensland 14 January, 1970
1974 Brisbane flood Brisbane, Queensland 14 January 27, 1974 Cyclone Wanda [link]
Appin Colliery Gas Explosion Appin, New South Wales 14 July 24, 1979 gas explosion during a pre-planned ventilation change [Illawarra Coal]
Dalyson Colliery explosion Wonthaggi, Victoria 13 February 15, 1937 [link]
Plane crash Tamworth, New South Wales 13 January, 1960 [link]
Kianga Mining disaster Kianga, near Moura, Queensland 13 September 20, 1975 Mine explosion [link]
Beech 200 plane crash Sydney Airport 13 February 21, 1980 Light aircraft suffers engine failure [link]
Hot air balloon accident near Alice Springs, Northern Territory 13 August 13, 1989 Collision between 2 balloons [link]
1989 Newcastle earthquake Newcastle, New South Wales 13 December 28, 1989 Earthquake
"Red Tuesday" bushfires Gippsland, Victoria 12 1 February 1898 260,000 ha burnt, 12 people killed, 2000 buildings destroyed.[link]
"Black Thursday" bushfires Victoria – Portland, Plenty Ranges, Westernport, Wimmera and Dandenong districts 12* 6 February 1851 *Approximately 12 fatalities, one million sheep, thousands of cattle, 5 million hectares burnt.[link]
SS Georgette Calgardup Bay, Western Australia 12 December 1, 1876 Shipwreck [link]
Tasman Bridge disaster Hobart, Tasmania 12 1975 The bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the bridge, causing a section to fall onto the vessel. 7 crewmen died as the ship sank. 5 people perished as their cars plummeted off the edge.
Moura mining disaster Moura, Queensland 12 July 16, 1986 Explosion in Moura No 4 Mine [Mining Wardens Court], Accessed February 22, 2006
Palm Grove Hostel fire Dungog, New South Wales 12 August 2, 1991 [link]
Boondall bus crash Boondall, Queensland 12 October 1, 1994 [link]
Cessna plane crash Mount Emerald, Queensland 11 May 11, 1990 [link]

Disaster	Location	Deaths	Date	Notes
Pearl	Brisbane, Queensland	50	February, 1896	Shipwreck [link]
Cyclone	Around Broome, Western Australia	50	1908	[link]
Hunter Valley floods of 1955	Hunter Valley, New South Wales	50	February, 1955	Most deaths were around Singleton and Maitland, but most other river systems in the state were also in flood [link] [link]
Cyclonic effects	North coast, New South Wales	46	1923	[link]
Sunshine train disaster	Sunshine, Victoria	44	1908	Rear end collision
1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster	Queenstown, Tasmania	42+	1912	Mine fire. True toll may be higher due to subsequent deaths from the effects of the fire [link]
Clan Ranald	near Edithburgh, South Australia	40	January 31, 1909	Shipwreck [link] [link]
Sydney ferry disaster	Sydney	40-42	November 3, 1927	Shipwreck [link] [link]
Maria	Cardwell, Queensland	36	1872	Shipwreck Some of the survivors were killed by Aborigines although others were helped [link] [link]
Port Arthur Massacre	Port Arthur, Tasmania	35	April 28, 1996	Shooting massacre
West Gate Bridge collapse	Melbourne	35	October 15, 1970	35 construction workers died due to a collapse during construction [Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee]
Kempsey bus crash	Kempsey, New South Wales	35	December 12, 1989	Two tourist coaches collided head-on [link]
Loch Vennachar	Kangaroo Island, South Australia	32	September, 1905	Shipwreck [link]
Mackay Cyclone	Queensland coast, particularly Mackay	30	January, 1918	[link] [link]
William Booth Memorial Hostel fire	Melbourne	30	August 13, 1966	Convalescent home for men [link].
TAA Fokker Friendship disaster	Mackay	29	1960	Crashed into sea
Cyclone Fifi	Western Australia	29	April, 1991	27 lost in shipwreck of Mineral Diamond [link] [link]
Eureka Stockade	Ballarat, Victoria	28	December 3, 1854	Riot and insurrection. Actual death toll remains unknown.
Myall Creek massacre	Myall Creek, near Inverell, New South Wales	28	June 9, 1838	28 Aboriginal people murdered by white stockmen [link]
1897 cyclone	Darwin, Northern Territory	28	January, 1897	[link] [link]
ANA Skymaster Amana crash	York near Perth	28	June 26, 1950	1 survivor [link]
Maria	Coorong, South Australia	26	1840	Shipwreck, survivors killed by Aborigines, possibly after making sexual advances [link]. Exactly what took place remains controversial.
Gold Coast Cyclone	Gold Coast and northern New South Wales	26	February, 1954	[Bureau of Meteorology], Gold Coast cyclone, February 1954
Port Hedland plane crash	Port Hedland, Western Australia	26	1968	In-flight break up
Wodonga train and bus disaster	Wodonga, Victoria	25	1943	Train hit bus carrying army personnel [link]
Seven Mile Beach plane crash	Seven Mile Beach, near Hobart	25	March, 1946	Australian National Airways plane [link]
Ansett-ANA Viscount disaster	Winton, Queensland	24	September 22 1966	VH-RMI enroute Mount Isa - Longreach
Maitland	Newcastle	24	May 6, 1898	Shipwreck [link]
Bushfire	Southern regions of Victoria	23	January, 1969	280 fires. 17 casualties at Lara [link].
Floods	Northern Tasmania	22	April, 1929	Eight drowned when truck ploughed into river and 14 died when dam collapsed and wall swept into town [link]
Heatwave	South-east Queensland	22	January, 2000	[link]
Grafton bus crash	Grafton, New South Wales	21	October 20, 1989	A head-on collision between a tourist [link] coach and a truck
Trial Bay shipwreck	Trial Bay, New South Wales	19-21	September, 1816	[link]
Rembrant Hotel fire	Kings Cross, New South Wales	19	August 25, 1981	[link]
Star of Greece	Adelaide, South Australia	18+	July 13, 1888	Shipwreck Exact number of lives lost uncertain [link]
Tumut Pond bus crash	Tumut Pond, New South Wales	18	September 1, 1973	Brake failure caused bus to plummet into reservoir [link]
Blackhawk helicopter crash	Townsville, Queensland	18	June 12, 1996	Army helicopters collided [link]
1997 Thredbo landslide	Thredbo, New South Wales	18	1997	Landslide
Brooklyn Train crash	Brooklyn, New South Wales	17	1944	Train ploughed into bus at Hawksbury River station [link]
Wasleys Crossing (Gawler) disaster	Wasleys Crossing, near Gawler, South Australia	17	April 12, 1970	Bus collided with a passenger train [link]
Box Flat Colliery mine explosion	Ipswich, Queensland	17	July 31, 1972	Mine gas explosion in the Box Flat Colliery [link]
Heatwave	South-Eastern regions, Australia	17	February, 1993	Possibility of additional unreported deaths [link]
Camp Mountain train disaster	Camp Mountain, Queensland	16	May 5, 1947	a crowded picnic train derailed on bend
Pacific Nursing Home fire	Sylvania Heights, New South Wales	16	April 29, 1981	[link]
Ansett-ANA Viscount plane crash	Botany Bay, New South Wales	15	November 30, 1961	All occupants (11 passengers and 4 crew) died. [link]
Savoy Hotel Fire	Kings Cross, New South Wales	15	December 25, 1975	Arson [link]
Whiskey Au Go Go fire	Fortitude Valley, Queensland	15	March 8, 1973	Arson
Cyclone Hazel	near Carnarvon, Western Australia	15	1979	Shipwreck [link]
Heatwave	South-eastern regions of Australia	15	February, 1981	[link]
Lockhart River plane crash	Lockhart River, Queensland	15	May 7, 2005	[link]
Childers Palace fire	Childers, Queensland	15	June, 2000	Robert Long received a life sentence for starting the fires [link] [link]
Dandenong and Lara bushfires	Dandenong and Lara, Victoria	14*	January 14 - January 16, 1962	*14 casualties[link] [link]. or 32? [link] [link]. Other sources state 9 casualties [link].
Bushfires	Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra, New South Wales	14*	January, 1968	*Sources vary on death toll but most say 14 [link].
Cyclone Ada	Whitsunday Islands, Queensland	14	January, 1970
1974 Brisbane flood	Brisbane, Queensland	14	January 27, 1974	Cyclone Wanda [link]
Appin Colliery Gas Explosion	Appin, New South Wales	14	July 24, 1979	gas explosion during a pre-planned ventilation change [Illawarra Coal]
Dalyson Colliery explosion	Wonthaggi, Victoria	13	February 15, 1937	[link]
Plane crash	Tamworth, New South Wales	13	January, 1960	[link]
Kianga Mining disaster	Kianga, near Moura, Queensland	13	September 20, 1975	Mine explosion [link]
Beech 200 plane crash	Sydney Airport	13	February 21, 1980	Light aircraft suffers engine failure [link]
Hot air balloon accident	near Alice Springs, Northern Territory	13	August 13, 1989	Collision between 2 balloons [link]
1989 Newcastle earthquake	Newcastle, New South Wales	13	December 28, 1989	Earthquake
"Red Tuesday" bushfires	Gippsland, Victoria	12	1 February 1898	260,000 ha burnt, 12 people killed, 2000 buildings destroyed.[link]
"Black Thursday" bushfires	Victoria – Portland, Plenty Ranges, Westernport, Wimmera and Dandenong districts	12*	6 February 1851	*Approximately 12 fatalities, one million sheep, thousands of cattle, 5 million hectares burnt.[link]
SS Georgette	Calgardup Bay, Western Australia	12	December 1, 1876	Shipwreck [link]
Tasman Bridge disaster	Hobart, Tasmania	12	1975	The bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the bridge, causing a section to fall onto the vessel. 7 crewmen died as the ship sank. 5 people perished as their cars plummeted off the edge.
Moura mining disaster	Moura, Queensland	12	July 16, 1986	Explosion in Moura No 4 Mine [Mining Wardens Court], Accessed February 22, 2006
Palm Grove Hostel fire	Dungog, New South Wales	12	August 2, 1991	[link]
Boondall bus crash	Boondall, Queensland	12	October 1, 1994	[link]
Cessna plane crash	Mount Emerald, Queensland	11	May 11, 1990	[link]

10 or fewer deaths

Julian Knight murdered 7 Australians in the Hoddle Street massacre in 1987.

The Canberra bushfires of 2003 claimed 4 lives.

Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes
Bushfires Victoria 10 January, 1965 [Emergency Management Australia]
Heatwave Eastern and Southern regions Australia 10+ January-February, 1997 Strong likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Derailment Near Traveston railway station, Queensland 9 9 June 1925 trestle bridge. Retrieved from the Internet Archive on 2006-06-09.
Violet Town railway disaster Violet Town, Victoria 9 7 February 1969 Head on collision after driver died at controls [The South Western Rail Society], History of "Southern Aurora" Dining Car 'RMS 2360', Accessed February 22, 2006
Gracetown Cliff Collapse Gracetown, Western Australia 9 September 27, 1996 5 adults and 4 children died when a cliff face collapsed at Cowaramup Bay near Gracetown (Margaret River) [link] [link]
Seaview Air Aircrash Williamtown, NSW-Lord Howe Island 9 2 October 1994 Seaview Air Aero Commander 690 crashes between Williamtown, NSW and Lord Howe Island. [link], Williamtown-Lord Howe Island, NSW Light Aircraft Crash, Accessed March 14, 2006
Eyre Peninsula bushfires Eyre Peninsula, South Australia 9 January 11, 2005 Worst bushfires since Ash Wednesday [link]
Wandillo bushfires Wandillo, South Australia 8 April, 1958 8 firefighters died ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Bushfires Western Victoria 8 February, 1977 Around Streatham was the worst affected area [Victoria State Emergency Service]
Queen Street massacre Melbourne 8 1987 Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Whyalla Airlines Disaster Off Whyalla, South Australia 8 2000 All on board drowned, Chris Schuppan's body was never recovered ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Snowtown murders Remains discovered in Snowtown, South Australia 8 1999 Serial killings [Sadists get life], The Age, September 9, 2003
Nigo Kim cargo ship explosion Off Dampier, Western Australia 8 November 18, 2001 Cargo ship explosion [link]
1971 Canberra flood Canberra 7 26 January 1971 Seven motorists were killed when their cars were swept into a creek [link]
Truro murders Remains discovered in bushland near Truro, South Australia 7 1977 Serial killings ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Milperra massacre Milperra, New South Wales 7 1984 Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Hoddle Street massacre Clifton Hill, Victoria 7 1987 Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Nyngan and Charleville Flood Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria 7 1990 More than a million square kilometres of flooding [link]
Strathfield Massacre Strathfield, New South Wales 7 1991 Massacre in Sydney. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Cyclone Justin Around Cairns, Queensland 7 March, 1997 1 death from landslide. There were also 26 deaths from the same cyclone in PNG. [link]
Glenbrook train disaster Glenbrook, New South Wales 7 1999 Collision after "Stop and Proceed"
Heatwave around Adelaide, South Australia 7 February, 2000 [link]
Waterfall train disaster Waterfall, New South Wales 7 2003 Excessive speed after driver died at the controls [Waterfall train had mind of its own], The Sydney Morning Herald, May 10 2003
Spotswood Sewer Disaster Spotswood, Victoria 6 1895 The drilling of an underground sewer in Melbourne went too close to the Yarra River [Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee], Spotswood Sewer Disaster.
Hills Railway line disaster Between Blackwood, South Australia and Belair, South Australia 6 January 31, 1928 Railway embankment collapsed during tunnel demolition [Geoscience Australia]
Sydney floods Sydney and Penrith, New South Wales 6 February to March, 1978 [link]
Hawkesbury and Georges River Flood Hawkesbury, New South Wales 6 August, 1986 [link]
Air Ambulance Plane Crash Essendon, Victoria 6 September 3, 1986 Air Ambulance Cessna (call signal RED) crashed on take off after single engine failure.[link]
Cyclone Nancy flood Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales 6 February, 1990 Drowning deaths [link]
Brooklyn train disaster Brooklyn, New South Wales 6 May 6, 1990 commuter train crashed into a stalled chartered steam train [link]
1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Tasman Sea 6 1998 5 boats sank and 6 people died ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Hit and run accident Cardross, near Mildura, Victoria 6 18 February, 2006 Car ploughs into group of teenagers, driver flees ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Plane crash Willowbank, Queensland 5 January 2, 2006 Skydiving Cessna 206 plane crash. [link]
Riverstone landslide Cairns, Queensland 5 May 31, 1900 Tramway cutting caves in on workers [link]
Sydenham Rail Disaster Sydenham, New South Wales 5 1953 Wrong side failure causes rear end collision of two trains ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Heatwave Southern South Australia and northern Victoria 5+ January, 1990 Likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Heatwave Townsville region 5 January, 1994 [link]
Linton bushfire Linton, Victoria 5 1998 Wildfire engulfs five volunteer firefighters [Reducing the Risk of Entrapment in Wildfires: A case study of the Linton fire], 2 December 1998, Country Fire Authority
Bus/Train Collision Salisbury railway station, Adelaide 4 24 October, 2002 The Ghan passenger train hit a car and a bus at a busy level crossing at Salisbury, in Adelaide's north. [link]
HMAS Warrnambool Cairns, Queensland 4 September 13, 1947 Sunk after hitting a mine left over from WW2 [link]
Floods from Cyclone Joy North and Central Coast, Queensland 4-5 December, 1990 and January, 1991 Extensive damage from flooding [link] [link]
Heatwave Melbourne 4+ December, 1990 Likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Bushfires Eastern Seaboard, New South Wales 4 January, 1994 Over 800 bushfires. 3 of the dead were firefighters [link]
Flood Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales 4 May, 1996 [Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cradle Mountain landslide Cradle Mountain National Park 4 February 18, 2001 4 people died when landslide causes a bus to fall into a ravine [link]
Plane crash Toowoomba, Queensland 4 November 27, 2001 Plane hit powerlines [link]
2003 Canberra bushfires Canberra 4 January 18, 2003 Bushfire reaches capital city suburbs [Firestorm truth buried in the ashes], The Age, February 6, 2005
HMAS Westralia Indian Ocean 4 May 5, 1998 Unsuitable fuel hose in engine room bursts, spraying diesel which ignites, creating a fireball below deck. [link]
Plane crash Newman, Western Australia 4 January 26, 2001 Fuel starvation on Western Australia Police aircraft. [link]
Peter Dupas Melbourne 3+ Serial killer [Dupas guilty of second killing], The Age, August 12, 2004
Sydney Hilton bombing Sydney 3 February 13, 1978 Bomb explosion outside Sydney Hilton Hotel during the CHOGM. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Claremont serial killer Claremont, Western Australia 3 1990's Serial killer
Paul Denyer Frankston, Victoria 3 1990's Serial killer
Tropical Cyclone Winifred south of Innisfail, Queensland 3 February, 1986 Category 3 cyclone in region from Cairns to Ingham [link] [link]
Cyclone Althea Townsville, Queensland 3 December, 1971 Cyclone and storm surge [link]
Katherine (and Daly River) flood Katherine, Northern Territory 3 January, 1998 Flooding cause by ex-tropical cyclone Les [link]
Severe storm Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Sydney and central western regions 3 November, 2001 [link]
Esso Longford gas explosion Gippsland, Victoria 2 25 September 1998 Industrial disaster [Victorian Coronors Report into the Longford Gas Explosion], Accessed February 22, 2006
Rover Broulee, New South Wales unknown October 13, 1841 Shipwreck. Death toll varies greatly between sources. [link] [link] [link]

Disaster	Location	Deaths	Date	Notes
Bushfires	Victoria	10	January, 1965	[Emergency Management Australia]
Heatwave	Eastern and Southern regions Australia	10+	January-February, 1997	Strong likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Derailment	Near Traveston railway station, Queensland	9	9 June 1925	trestle bridge. Retrieved from the Internet Archive on 2006-06-09.
Violet Town railway disaster	Violet Town, Victoria	9	7 February 1969	Head on collision after driver died at controls [The South Western Rail Society], History of "Southern Aurora" Dining Car 'RMS 2360', Accessed February 22, 2006
Gracetown Cliff Collapse	Gracetown, Western Australia	9	September 27, 1996	5 adults and 4 children died when a cliff face collapsed at Cowaramup Bay near Gracetown (Margaret River) [link] [link]
Seaview Air Aircrash	Williamtown, NSW-Lord Howe Island	9	2 October 1994	Seaview Air Aero Commander 690 crashes between Williamtown, NSW and Lord Howe Island. [link], Williamtown-Lord Howe Island, NSW Light Aircraft Crash, Accessed March 14, 2006
Eyre Peninsula bushfires	Eyre Peninsula, South Australia	9	January 11, 2005	Worst bushfires since Ash Wednesday [link]
Wandillo bushfires	Wandillo, South Australia	8	April, 1958	8 firefighters died ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Bushfires	Western Victoria	8	February, 1977	Around Streatham was the worst affected area [Victoria State Emergency Service]
Queen Street massacre	Melbourne	8	1987	Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Whyalla Airlines Disaster	Off Whyalla, South Australia	8	2000	All on board drowned, Chris Schuppan's body was never recovered ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Snowtown murders	Remains discovered in Snowtown, South Australia	8	1999	Serial killings [Sadists get life], The Age, September 9, 2003
Nigo Kim cargo ship explosion	Off Dampier, Western Australia	8	November 18, 2001	Cargo ship explosion [link]
1971 Canberra flood	Canberra	7	26 January 1971	Seven motorists were killed when their cars were swept into a creek [link]
Truro murders	Remains discovered in bushland near Truro, South Australia	7	1977	Serial killings ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Milperra massacre	Milperra, New South Wales	7	1984	Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Hoddle Street massacre	Clifton Hill, Victoria	7	1987	Shooting massacre ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Nyngan and Charleville Flood	Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria	7	1990	More than a million square kilometres of flooding [link]
Strathfield Massacre	Strathfield, New South Wales	7	1991	Massacre in Sydney. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Cyclone Justin	Around Cairns, Queensland	7	March, 1997	1 death from landslide. There were also 26 deaths from the same cyclone in PNG. [link]
Glenbrook train disaster	Glenbrook, New South Wales	7	1999	Collision after "Stop and Proceed"
Heatwave	around Adelaide, South Australia	7	February, 2000	[link]
Waterfall train disaster	Waterfall, New South Wales	7	2003	Excessive speed after driver died at the controls [Waterfall train had mind of its own], The Sydney Morning Herald, May 10 2003
Spotswood Sewer Disaster	Spotswood, Victoria	6	1895	The drilling of an underground sewer in Melbourne went too close to the Yarra River [Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee], Spotswood Sewer Disaster.
Hills Railway line disaster	Between Blackwood, South Australia and Belair, South Australia	6	January 31, 1928	Railway embankment collapsed during tunnel demolition [Geoscience Australia]
Sydney floods	Sydney and Penrith, New South Wales	6	February to March, 1978	[link]
Hawkesbury and Georges River Flood	Hawkesbury, New South Wales	6	August, 1986	[link]
Air Ambulance Plane Crash	Essendon, Victoria	6	September 3, 1986	Air Ambulance Cessna (call signal RED) crashed on take off after single engine failure.[link]
Cyclone Nancy flood	Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales	6	February, 1990	Drowning deaths [link]
Brooklyn train disaster	Brooklyn, New South Wales	6	May 6, 1990	commuter train crashed into a stalled chartered steam train [link]
1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Tasman Sea	6	1998	5 boats sank and 6 people died ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Hit and run accident	Cardross, near Mildura, Victoria	6	18 February, 2006	Car ploughs into group of teenagers, driver flees ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Plane crash	Willowbank, Queensland	5	January 2, 2006	Skydiving Cessna 206 plane crash. [link]
Riverstone landslide	Cairns, Queensland	5	May 31, 1900	Tramway cutting caves in on workers [link]
Sydenham Rail Disaster	Sydenham, New South Wales	5	1953	Wrong side failure causes rear end collision of two trains ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Heatwave	Southern South Australia and northern Victoria	5+	January, 1990	Likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Heatwave	Townsville region	5	January, 1994	[link]
Linton bushfire	Linton, Victoria	5	1998	Wildfire engulfs five volunteer firefighters [Reducing the Risk of Entrapment in Wildfires: A case study of the Linton fire], 2 December 1998, Country Fire Authority
Bus/Train Collision	Salisbury railway station, Adelaide	4	24 October, 2002	The Ghan passenger train hit a car and a bus at a busy level crossing at Salisbury, in Adelaide's north. [link]
HMAS Warrnambool	Cairns, Queensland	4	September 13, 1947	Sunk after hitting a mine left over from WW2 [link]
Floods from Cyclone Joy	North and Central Coast, Queensland	4-5	December, 1990 and January, 1991	Extensive damage from flooding [link] [link]
Heatwave	Melbourne	4+	December, 1990	Likelihood of additional unreported deaths [link]
Bushfires	Eastern Seaboard, New South Wales	4	January, 1994	Over 800 bushfires. 3 of the dead were firefighters [link]
Flood	Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales	4	May, 1996	[Emergency Management Australia], Disaster Database, Accessed February 22, 2006
Cradle Mountain landslide	Cradle Mountain National Park	4	February 18, 2001	4 people died when landslide causes a bus to fall into a ravine [link]
Plane crash	Toowoomba, Queensland	4	November 27, 2001	Plane hit powerlines [link]
2003 Canberra bushfires	Canberra	4	January 18, 2003	Bushfire reaches capital city suburbs [Firestorm truth buried in the ashes], The Age, February 6, 2005
HMAS Westralia	Indian Ocean	4	May 5, 1998	Unsuitable fuel hose in engine room bursts, spraying diesel which ignites, creating a fireball below deck. [link]
Plane crash	Newman, Western Australia	4	January 26, 2001	Fuel starvation on Western Australia Police aircraft. [link]
Peter Dupas	Melbourne	3+		Serial killer [Dupas guilty of second killing], The Age, August 12, 2004
Sydney Hilton bombing	Sydney	3	February 13, 1978	Bomb explosion outside Sydney Hilton Hotel during the CHOGM. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}
Claremont serial killer	Claremont, Western Australia	3	1990's	Serial killer
Paul Denyer	Frankston, Victoria	3	1990's	Serial killer
Tropical Cyclone Winifred	south of Innisfail, Queensland	3	February, 1986	Category 3 cyclone in region from Cairns to Ingham [link] [link]
Cyclone Althea	Townsville, Queensland	3	December, 1971	Cyclone and storm surge [link]
Katherine (and Daly River) flood	Katherine, Northern Territory	3	January, 1998	Flooding cause by ex-tropical cyclone Les [link]
Severe storm	Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Sydney and central western regions	3	November, 2001	[link]
Esso Longford gas explosion	Gippsland, Victoria	2	25 September 1998	Industrial disaster [Victorian Coronors Report into the Longford Gas Explosion], Accessed February 22, 2006
Rover	Broulee, New South Wales	unknown	October 13, 1841	Shipwreck. Death toll varies greatly between sources. [link] [link] [link]

References

External links

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List of disasters in Australia by death toll

100 or more deaths

50 to 99 deaths

10 to 50 deaths

10 or fewer deaths

See also

References

External links