On a cool wet season day, the prime minister and governor general unveiled a new memorial dedicated to the more than 66 people who lost their lives in Australia's most destructive disaster.
On Christmas Day 1974 thousands of families emerged from the ruins after 217km winds flattened the city.
A memorial is dedicated to the more than 66 people who lost their lives in Cyclone Tracy. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
In memory of those lost at sea and killed by the disaster, artist Techy Masero constructed 'Five Decades, Five Flowers, Forever Remembered'.
A metal awning that represents the contorted corrugated iron that flew around the city is surrounded by five frangipani flowers made from polished concrete and steel.
"Techy has described the frangipani flowers scattered by the wind as the inspiration behind her work," said Governor General Sam Mostyn who attended the unveiling in Darwin.
"Her vision and execution deserves congratulations; to you, survivors, this memorial is yours.
"This is your tenacity, your love for Darwin and commitment to ensuring that what you and your community went through will not be forgotten."
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was a child in Sydney when Cyclone Tracy hit, spoke of the devastation.
"An entire city almost wiped off the map," he said.
"Across Darwin, families huddled fearfully in the safest places they could find, whispering prayers, holding each other tight, waiting for the howling darkness to pass."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled the devastation left by Cyclone Tracy, 50 years on. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
His words resonated with survivors whose sobs became audible, their tears wiped away by each other as the trauma of Tracy resurfaced.
There was a sense of collective grief as the memorial was unveiled revealing the names of those who have been recorded as dying in Cyclone Tracy, but Mr Albanese reminded the crowd many more had never been counted.
"For many First Nations people, their loss wasn't recorded as families returned to their traditional homelands," he said.
"Today, we gather to pay our nation's respects to all those taken from their loved ones that fateful night."
He paid tribute to those who rebuilt Darwin, an act he said showed "profound courage".
The ceremony concluded with families, survivors and dignitaries embracing each other as they stood where the tropical cyclone first made landfall half a century ago.
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