Cyclone Tracy tore through Darwin in the early hours of Christmas Day in 1974 with gusts of up to 217km/h, before the wind speed reader broke.
Gales whipped up the region as far as 40km from the cyclone's centre, and a storm surge reached four metres at a beach near Darwin.
Overnight 255mm of rain bucketed down, with 145mm falling in two half-hour periods.
A total of 71 people died in the cyclone, largely killed flying debris or crushed beneath their houses.
Survivors were left with a huge recovery task, an $800 million damage bill and nearly 600 injured after Cyclone Tracy destroyed about 80 per cent of Darwin City and rendered 70 per cent of housing uninhabitable.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler remembers the day well.
"Cyclone Tracy is in Darwin's DNA," she said.
"Territory spirit was put on display 50 years ago."
Ahead of the anniversary, the federal government has provided $600,000 to honour the memories of those who died and whose lives were irrevocably changed that Christmas Day.
Visiting Darwin on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ms Lawler will announce the installation of a kinetic monument at Bundilla Beach.
"In honouring the people we lost, those who were injured, and those whose lives changed through the lasting trauma, we ensure they will not be forgotten," Mr Albanese said.
"We also recognise the enormous effort of the people of Darwin in ensuring their city was reconstructed in little more than three years."
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