Storm FrontElements that shape us

Built on the sand dunes, the suburbs of Holdfast Bay have been popular seaside destinations since the 19th century. Their proximity to the water makes them ideal for leisure seekers, but also exposes us to the relentless forces of nature. Over the last century storms have devastated parts of our community, destroying well-known landmarks and bringing tragedy to families. The severe weather has battered and shaped the coastline and human intervention has become necessary to protect the beaches and their occupants.This collection of stories and photographs illustrates how the elements have shaped our beachside community.

Ring around the sun, time for funRing around the moon, storm coming soon!

Warripira (Weather)

Aboriginal people have inhabited the vast land of Australia for more than 65,000 years. As with many nations, the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains have traditional-ly lived a seasonal lifestyle using weather changes to determine the availability of food sources and as an indicator of where to seek shelter. Four distinct Kaurna seasons present what used to be the natural bush tukka har-vest of the original hunters and gatherers. Western calendars structure the year into rigid seasonal periods, even though changes in the weather patterns do not occur like clockwork from year to year. The Kaurna calendar is in tune with the environment; its recognition of the seasons is based upon the appearance of natural events, phenomena and indicators that foreshadow seasonal changes.

Shifting Sands

Protecting our coast

Adelaide’s coast was once a vast sand dune system formed over thousands of years.

As the coast adapted to a higher sea level after the last ice age, the dunes formed a natural buffer against storms and were an essential part of the cycle of beach erosion and replenishment. Waves and currents in the gulf pushed sand north-wards, eroding the southern beaches, and the dunes supplied replacement sand. Winter storms would erode the dunes and shift the sand into offshore sandbars, which would then migrate onshore during calmer weather. European settlers, un-aware of this natural cycle, disrupted the process by building on top of the dunes and locking the sand away. Storms continued to erode the beach and it was pre-dicted the southern beaches would soon disappear. Without protection, coastal infrastructure was also at risk of deteriorating. Intervention was necessary.In the first half of the 20th century Adelaide’s seaside councils made frequent at-tempts to protect the beaches and buildings but the constant reparation costs from storm damage was a never-ending drain on revenue. After a severe storm in the 1950s, the councils asked the State Government to assist in coast protection be-cause the councils were providing recreation facilities for the whole state; not just their own ratepayers. In 1972 the State Government established the Coast Protection Board which is responsible for the protection, restoration, rehabilitation and sustainable develop-ment of the coast. New seawalls were constructed and an annual beach replen-ishment program commenced in order to return sand via trucks and pumps from where it had accumulated. Today our beaches still need to be actively managed because, without replenish-ment, many of our beaches would soon be rock and clay. Storms continue to affect our beaches but we are much better equipped to mitigate permanent damage. However, with rising sea levels and climate change there are likely to be new chal-lenges ahead.

Glenelg Jetty Destroyed

1948

The Glenelg jetty was smashed to pieces and swept away by the 24 hour storm that passed through Adelaide in April 1948. A popular gathering place, the land-mark had been enjoyed by visitors and locals for over ninety years. At 1250ft (381m) long and 18ft (5.5m) wide, Glenelg jetty was opened in April 1859, by Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell. It was one of the biggest projects the colony of South Australia had known and cost £31,294. A kiosk was added at the end in 1907. An aquarium was built on the middle section in 1929. The Glenelg Aquarium exhibited sharks, octopuses, seals, penguins and a giant crab that it was said, could “crush a man’s arm”. The kiosk and aquarium survived the 1948 storm but were inaccessible without the jetty and had to be demolished.The loss of the jetty devastated local residents and many businesses suffered finan-cially as visitor numbers declined. Community groups petitioned the government to build a replacement, but they had a long wait. The jetty we know today was opened in 1969, over 20 years after the storm.

HMAS Barcoo Aground

1948

The most dramatic incident of the 1948 storm was the beaching of the HMAS Bar-coo, a survey frigate of 1420 tons. At the height of the storm, the HMAS Barcoo was driven ashore just north of Glenelg. It was reported in the Advertiser a few days later that as the Barcoo was being relentlessly pushed towards the beach a woman ran out from a shack, carry-ing a hurricane lamp shouting “You can’t come any further – it’s all land here!”Once the storm had passed, crowds of tourists visited Glenelg to survey the dam-age and its greatest spectacle - the beached frigate. Firmly fixed into the sand, many believed she would become a permanent feature. Milk and newspaper de-liveries were even organised for the crew. After several unsuccessful attempts to tow her off, she was winched on her own anchors at high tide into deep water and was taken into tow by HMAS Warrigo. The Barcoo’s plight lasted nine days.

Assessing storm damage to the Brighton Jetty after the 1953 storm. PH-BR-0684

The Sunny South Disaster

1932

At 4pm on Easter Saturday 26 March 1932, the stretch of water beyond Glenelg’s foreshore was still and the sky blue. A fleet of more than 20 yachts were compet-ing for the Mrs. A.B Cleveland Trophy. Spectators watched on eagerly as the boats raced in pursuit of Wings which had taken the lead. Without warning a gale burst upon the fleet. A 50 mph (80 km/h) wind turned the sea into a violent force. Seven yachts capsized, their crews hurled into the wa-ter. Both Miss Johnnie and Sunny South were more than a mile from the shore. The ocean was high, waves lashed over Glenelg jetty and the rain pelted down, obscuring the view of the vessels. Spectators began to realise that crew members were fighting for their lives. Heroic members of the community assisted the lifesaving clubs by boat and in some instances by swimming into the sea themselves. These rescue attempts were carried out with difficulty and at great risk to those who went to their aid. Sunny South had capsized and was dragged away from the shore as its six crew members clung desperately to its sides. The fishing cutter Renown helmed by John Ticklie passed just 20 metres away, but the crew’s shouts for help were drowned out by the sea. However, the Renown crew managed to rescue three crew members from Miss Johnnie; the remaining three also survived after being swept ashore. As their endurance began to fail, one by one the Sunny South crew members let go. Leonard Robert Linton (helmsman), William Walsh, Edward Armstrong and the 14 year old Hammond twins Lex and William perished. Their bodies were found on the shore in the following weeks. Douglas Brown let go of the yacht in shallow waters and was found on the beach three hours later exhausted and semi-con-scious. News of the incident spread quickly, devastating the community. Thousands lined the streets ahead of funeral processions and attended the memorial services.

“When the boats were sent away there was no indication of a storm, the sun was shining brightly and the water was comparatively calm.” The Advertiser, 28 March 1932

Lessons from Sunny South

The 1932 sailing disaster was one of the greatest tragedies to hit Glenelg’s shores. Five of the six Sunny South crew members drowned during a sailing club competi-tion when their boat capsized in stormy waters. In the Advertiser on 26 March 1932 the weather forecast stated “showers expect-ed”, so the sudden squall that struck Glenelg in the afternoon caught nearly every-one by surprise. Leonard Robert Linton, helmsman of the Sunny South, predicted turbulent weather and selected a smaller suit of sail. The 180 sq ft sail reduced the effect of strong winds, but also made the Sunny South travel much slower than the rest of the fleet which carried 220 sq ft sails. Ironically Linton’s decision may well have been the downfall of his crew. Sunny South was coming last when the storm struck - farthest away from rescue. As news of the incident spread, sailing clubs across the state began to consider implementing safety measures to protect their yachtsmen. Another tragedy could be avoided with appropriate safety gear and rescue response equipment. In Glenelg, money was raised to build the town’s first lifeboat, the James Wardle, which was christened in 1933. Grange Dinghy Club made it compulsory for all dinghies to carry bags filled with kapok. Kapok is a cotton-like fluff which is very buoyant. It was used in most water rescue gear until it was replaced by foam. The South Australian Dinghy Council decreed that yachtsmen wear lifebelts and stipu-lated that only strong swimmers could compete.

Condolence letter from the Corporation of Burra, 1932. Letters were sent from across the State to Glenelg Town Council in sympathy. Holdfast Bay History Collection.

This exhibition was displayed in 2019 as part of South Australia’s History Festival.

All content and images remain the property of the City of Holdfast Bay:

• The Kaurna Seasonal Calendar. Courtesy Kaurna Nation.• Sand management in Holdfast Bay, Circa 1980. Holdfast Bay History Collection. • Crowds assessing the damage after the storm, 1948. PH-GL-1026.• Stranded. A view of the remnant of Glenelg Jetty in 1948. PH-GL-1540.• The destroyed Pavilion at the end of Glenelg Jetty, 1948. PH-GL-0920.• The Penfolds sign from the top of the jetty washed north along Glenelg beach, 1948.

PH-GN-0428A.• Aerial view of the Barcoo looking toward the Patawalonga, 1948. PH-GN-0436.• The Zephyr stranded on Glenelg Beach 1948. PH-GL-1029.• Crowds gather to see the HMAS Barcoo, 1948. PH-GL1449.• View of boats run aground including HMAS Barcoo. PH-GN-0430.• James Wardle at Glenelg Jetty, Circa 1933. PH-GL-0918.• The Sunny South Disaster, Adelaide Chronicle 1932.

You can find out more about the History of Holdfast Bay by visiting our museum, the Bay Discovery Centre. Keep watching our social media channels to stay updated on opening times:www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/BDC

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Watch the ferociousness of the 1948 storm come to life:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjc8D3urRzs