This cyclone existed from 24 January to 27 January 1974 and led to extensive flooding over southeast Queensland . Although this tropical cyclone was relatively weak , it dropped enormous quantities of rain on south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales over the Australia Day ( 26 – 27 January ) weekend , resulting in some of the worst flooding seen in a century . The Queensland state capital , Brisbane , fared particularly badly , with fourteen lives lost and parts of the city submerged under 2 metres of the Brisbane River . ( See 1974 Brisbane flood . ) In northern New South Wales , a further two fatalities were reported . The cyclone 's final toll : 16 dead , over 300 injured ; 56 homes destroyed , a further 1,600 submerged ; 8000 people left homeless
1974 Brisbane flood
1974 Brisbane flood
1973–74 Australian region cyclone season