Tamworth Tornado - January 9, 1914

Terrific Tornado Sweeps over Nemingha

A catastrophe unprecedented in the history of Tamworth occurred yesterday afternoon when a tornado of terrific violence wiped out practically the whole Nemingha Flat. Houses where blown over and irretrievably ruined, crops where flattened out, the Tamworth butter factory was partially wrecked, and altogether thousands of pounds worth of damage was done.

Shortly after noon yesterday, the sky began to darken and huge banks of dense cloud rose over the town. The air was oppressive and there was a feeling that a terrific strom would be the outcome. In Tamworth itself about 2 o'clock a sharp shower fell accompanied by wind, the rain came down heavily but was of a very short duration.

Out of town towards the Paradise Bridge there was a different tale to tell. The rain began to fall about 2 o'clock and this was accompanied by hail, in some places the hailstones resembling large hen eggs. But the worse of the storm was to follow. During the height of the hailstorm, a violent wind came over from the west. This gale, which travelled with the velocity of tornado, carried all before it. Houses, crops, orchards, telegraph poles and even human beings were carried before it. Nothing in the track escaped. It was most fortunate that the belt of destruction was no wider. The extreme width of this belt appears to be between the Paradise Bridge and the Two Mile Bridge. Everything outside that radius escaped damage.

No one seems to know where the tornado came from or how it came; as it was so swift. The duration of the storms was only about ten minutes and then all was desolation.

Trees uprooted and carried away

Mrs Chapman of Garryowen [located between Hayne Steet and Paradise Caravan Park], who is one of the heaviest losers, states that she was only saying at the dinner table that Tamworth would experience something which would paralyse it, and so it turned out. People were alarmed. Some were more than that. Cattle were unmanageable and scuttled for safety, only to be caught in the violence of the storm. House were caught and tossed about like toys. Huge rafters from off some of the big hay and tobacco sheds were twisted and smashed like matchwood. Telegraph poles where twisted into figure eights. Wire fences where broken and tossed about. Huge trees which had stood the storms of centuries were blown out by the roots. A fig tree at Mr Alex Matheson's [King George V Avenue] which had been there for a good number of years and which had withstood the fury of all the floods without showing any signs of moving was lifted bodily out of the ground and hurled yards away. A mulberry tree was taken fully fifty yards our of its place.

It is difficult to describe the fury with which the storm struck the houses and sheds. It is only on seeing the amount of damage done that one can realise the tremendous force of the wind.

Remarkable Antics of the Wind

On taking a tour round the affected area the first noticeable thing is that the storm must be have had a most peculiar formation and it is difficult to say wether it was a cyclone, tornado or huge whirl-wind. Viewing the situation from Paradise which seems to be the starting point of the destruction it is amazing to see the effect of the antics payed by the wind. From here, or just below the pumping works, it seems to have divided. The trees on the Paradise flat are laying on ground pointing direct north. About twenty yards towards Nemingha, the tree are pointing due east, while on to the two-mile, they are points north-east. The only deduction to be drawn from the indications is that the storm travelling in two or three parts. One part travelled up from Paradise and cut through to about forty yards off Mr Paton's residence [near present St Nicholas school]. This seems to be the northerly limit, the southerly limit being the two-mile bridge, starting from a point below Mr Matheson's and making straight to the mountains. The belt being about one mile wide.

Destruction on the Armidale Road

The first place to suffer damage on the Armidale Road was the residence of Mrs Sullivan. This was totally destroyed. The roof was blown off, the rafters came down inside, and the walls fell in just as if some tremendous weight has been placed on top of the house. The next place, in which Mrs Kilday resides, suffered slightly from damage. Here is appears as if the knife had been used to slice the roof of the verandah off. On the left hand side, the small shop on the brow of the hill is damaged almost beyond repair. The roof was taken off and blown up the hill, the windows were blown in and the verandah taken right off. The house adjoining suffered in a similar way and will take a good deal of repairing, the weatherboard sides having been partially blown in.

Garryowen dairy is on the right hand side of the road going out, and does not seem to have suffered much damage from the front of the building but on close inspection, the back premises are seen to be in a state chaos. The yard was strewn with electric light wires. Garryowen is noted for its splendid installation of electric light throughout, including the milking sheds, etc. This has been practically destroyed and will want to be installed afresh. On looking at the top of the main premises at the back, the solid brick chimneys are seen lying flay on the roof as if some great force had simply pushed the over. The main building where the men reside is totally devoid of a roof, only the bare walls standing. These walls are of weatherboard and in several places, large holes have been made in the wood. A few sheets of iron from the roofs are lying in the yard, the rest of the iron from the roofs being somewhere in the paddocks on the other side of the road. Down the yard, further destruction is visible among the cow bails, the roofs of which were blown off. The other residence of the men is also devoid of any rood, while the walls are out of the level and will need straightening. In the house itself, the rain came through under the rood and the walls are damaged, some almost beyond repair.

Mrs Chapman has been very unfortunate of late and to make matters worse her moth is at present very ill. When the storm burst upon them, Mrs Chapman was attending to her moth and she had a hard task keeping the patient quiet. The first intimation she had that anything unusual was happening was when water began to pour into the room, and she had difficulty in getting her mother out of the wet. Mrs Chapman estimates the damage at Garryowen at 150 pounds but as she is the leasee of two other houses on the other side of the road, this estimate will be exceeded. The plumbers where soon on the spot and Mrs Chapman states that she hopes to have things fixed up temporarily so that dairy work can be carried out as usual.

Damage at the Vineyard

At the next place, owned by Mr Matthews, a large shed at the back was totally wrecked but the main residence did not suffer to any great extent. On the other side of the road, the houses are more or less damaged through the loss of doors and other minor losses. Hane and Spiller's fine vineyard and orchard suffered much damage. Many of the vines were uprooted and many fruit trees were destroyed.

After a break, there is O'Brien's [Railway Gatekeepers Cottage - Cnr Hall Street and Armidale Road] where the roof of the house was dislodged and carried onto the paddock opposite. The rain came in through the breach in the roof and drenched everything. The railway authorities sent up tarpaulins so that the rain would be kept out until repairs had been effected.

In the stretch along from Mathews to O'Brien's, the iron telegraph poles on the railway line were twisted into all the fantastic shapes imaginable. Some resembled figure eights and others figure threes. The is not one post that does not show the effects of the storm. Some of the cups on the post have been broken off and it looked as if the wire in some places had been snapped.

Goldbold's on the opposite side to O'Briens, did not suffer much. The front fence was blown clean out and spread flat on the roadway. A small shed at the back was dismantled.

The Butter Factory [Foot of Hall Street]

This partially demolished and looks a wreck. The roof of the butter-making room was taken clean off and deposited in the paddock, the iron being twisted beyond recognition. Some of it was torn to ribbons. Two large tanks at the back of the butter-room which were full of water were blown over and completely wrecked, the iron being twisted in all shapes. The big funnel of the engines was blown down and broken beyond repair. The verandah at the side of the butter-room was totally demolished, the rafters being smashed in halves. The window on the main side of the building were completely blown in. Though strange to say, the glass was not broken. The other side where the butter boxes are stored in a shed is in a state of chaos. The shed was carried away bodily and butter boxes were scattered in all directions some finding a resting place in the mountain. Other were caught in the railway fence. Some were broken beyond repair. There is simply a trail of butter boxes in the track of the storm. Then out at the back there are pipes, iron and wood all in one tangled heap. The wire fence enclosing the paddock is broken right through.

Mr Kenny, the manager, states that they were fortunate in having all the cream that was received there yesterday in the churn so that it is safe, as also is the butter that was made. There is no roof on the building but the machinists and plumbers are hard at work and temporary arrangements will be made so that there will be no necessity to discontinue making butter. The manager also stated that they would work back late yesterday so that everything could be put in ship shape order. It is estimated that the damage here will be several hundred pounds.

Pigs Whirled About

Opposite the butter factory, My H Fleming has a piggery. When the storm was at its height, pigs were being whirled around in all directions. Mr Fleming states that one big sow that it would be impossible for a man to carry was whirled away and became entangled in the wire fence. She was cut about and damaged a little. Mr Fleming's shed was also blown down and his fences broken.

An Extraordinary Experience

Perhaps the funniest experience of the storm happened here and it is a wonder that serious results were not the outcome. It appears that a man by the name of Sharp, who is employed by Mr Fleming, was engaged in drawing a load of hay. The storm stuck the hay, carried it off the cart, tipped the cart and horse over, the horse being left on its back, carried Sharp off the top of the load and whirled him away, throwing him against a wire fence and depositing him on to the roadway. He was terribly shaken and knocked about while one of his ears was almost severed from the head. Mr Fleming estimates his damage [to property] at well on 100 pounds.

Viewed from the butter factory the next place noticed to suffer damage was Chaffey's farm situated on the river bank. Here a big shed was totally demolished, the whole falling in as if some heavy weight had fallen on top of it. The iron was twisted and whirled yard away, some of it lodging on the Armidale Road. A large mowing machine and rake were lodged in the river. Mr Chaffey suffered a good deal of damage.

Looking for his house

On the other size of the river opposite the butter factory a man was noticed walking about as if he was searching for something. When questioned, he said he was looking for his house, which had disappeared. After a search, he managed to find some of his clothes which has come out of the house in the bed of the river. The furniture had disappeared as had many other things. He discovered a few sheets of iron which he said originally belonged to his home but where the rest was could not be ascertained. A shed, also belonging to Mr Chaffey, was also found deposited in the river.

A little further along Armidale Road two big gum trees which had stood at the edge of town for ages where found lying right in the track of vehicles and it was only by going around the side near the fence that it was possible to proceed any further. Here the overseer of works, Mr Ian White, and the Council clerk were inspecting the damage and making arrangements for the removal of fallen trees.

Crawford's house on the left hand side did not suffer any damage in the front, most of the destruction being confined to the back where the premises where blown away and the kitchen partially demolished. The post of the front verandah was blown away and the roof just left standing.

Crawford's on the right hand side suffered extensive damage, the roof of the house being taken off and other damage done to the walls.

Jeffrey's situated at the two mile bridge, also suffered heavily. The house was totally unroofed and the whole of the furniture was more of less damaged. The rain came in and made matters worse. The fences were twisted about beyond repair and will need replacing.

Beyond the two-mile bridge, nothing had occurred and this was the limit of the track of the storm.

Coming down the lane at the two-mile, a shed on the side of the lane was partially dismantled and a shed at the back was totally wrecked. This property is owned by Mr G.S Brown. The house had the back roof at the corner carried away.

From here down to Mr Matheson's, roofing iron and tree and branches of trees were all over the road and made it difficult to drive.

Mr A Matheson, Heavy Loser

Mr Matheson is perhaps the most unfortunate loser of the lot. He had a big shed erected and this was hit by the storm and smashed like match wood. Rafters were twisted and broken and the iron all twisted into all shapes and is utterly useless. The shed on the other side of the lane was also totally destroyed, while the house more or less suffered damage. A fig tree at Mr Matheson's, which had stood the fury of wind and flood for over fifty years, was lifted bodily from the ground and deposited about twenty yards away. Mr Matheson was away from home at the time of the storm but Mrs Matheson states that they had no warning that anything was about to happen. They only heard an extra heavy storm. The hail being down upon the roof made a great noise and the wind was stronger than usual. It was only when they heard the noise of the shed being lifted and splintering of woodwork that they were made aware that something unexpected was happening. Besides these shed, etc, being destroyed all Mr Matheson's tobacco and lucerne were totally destroyed, being flattened. Mr Matheson estimates his damage at 1000 pounds.

The Chinamen below Mr Matheson also suffered heavily. Shed were unroofed and Chinamen were engaged in the usual task of looking for iron off their house so that should;d have a bit of shelter for the night. When they did find the sheets, some were totally useless, being ripped up as one would tear a piece of rag.

Bing On's huge tobacco shed was totally destroyed, together with all his tobacco plants which had only been recently planted.

The place adjoining Mr Matheson's viz Mr R.A. Pearson's also suffered considerable damage. His house and shed were also totally dismantled.

His tobacco crop was also destroyed, his house and shed were more or less destroyed and the fence was broken down in all directions. He estimated his damage at well over 100 pounds. All the fine lucerne crops here along to Paradise on both sides of the road were totally destroyed and the losses ran into hundreds of pounds.

Paradise nearly destroyed

This old place was almost totally destroyed. The big roof under which many dances where held in the old days was taken off and deposited in the paddock. Many fruit trees where blown out by the roots. The old pavilion at the back was totally destroyed and the old windmill was demolished and old wine shop was practically wrecked. The fence was blown down and the whole place presents the appearance of its last days having come after many years' of existence.

A good deal of other damage was done in a small way, but pressure on our space prevents a description.

Note: The Anglican Church at Duri was also reported as being destroyed during this storm.

Map of Tamworth Area showing area mentioned in article

Note that the map and the urban area defined in it date from 1975. The extent of the Tamworth urban area would have been much smaller in 1914, with development mainly limited to East and West Tamworth. It was not reported if there was further damage south of the area highlighted in red.

Wilga Tree - Copyright 2004