The downpour of an estimated 500,000 tonnes of hail across Sydney suburbia resulted in widespread damage on the coastal suburbs in its path . Insured losses due to the disaster reached roughly A$ 1.7 billion , with total costs estimated to be around A$ 2.3 billion . The storm was the costliest natural disaster ever to hit Australia in terms of insured losses , surpassing the 1989 Newcastle earthquake by around A$ 600 million . The areas that incurred the most damage were between Lilli Pilli and Darling Point , located apart on the coastline of Sydney
1989 Newcastle earthquake
1989 Newcastle earthquake
1999 Sydney hailstorm