{{Distinguish|Cyclone Leon}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} thumb|Destruction of the Townsville Hospital's Harvey Ward caused by Cyclone 'Leonta', 1903 thumb|Destruction of part of Townsville Grammar School caused by Cyclone 'Leonta' in 1903 thumb|Roof torn off St James' Anglican Cathedral, 1903 thumb|Destruction of the Burns, Philp and Company's Bulk Store caused by Cyclone 'Leonta', 1903 '''Cyclone Leonta''' was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland on 9 March 1903. It lasted for around twelve hours, and was the most damaging cyclone ever to hit Townsville at that time, surpassing Cyclone Sigma of 1896, with approximately 14 lives lost (12 in Townsville and 2 in Charters Towers).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml | title=History of Townsville Metereological Office | publisher=Bureau of Metereology | accessdate=14 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Cyclone Leonta – Harden Up - Protecting Queensland|url = http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1900-1909/cyclone-leonta-1903-03-09.aspx|website = hardenup.org|access-date = 17 January 2016}}</ref> It caused approximately £250,000 damage in 1903 terms.<ref name="emknowledge" />
It destroyed the Townsville General Hospital, with several of the lives lost being in the building's collapse, and Townsville Grammar School. It tore the roof off St James Cathedral and Sacred Heart Cathedral and severely damaged the Townsville School of Arts and Queen's Hotel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21810941 |title=TOWNSVILLE. |newspaper=The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939) |location=Brisbane, Qld. |date=28 March 1903 |accessdate=14 January 2016 |page=700 Supplement: Unknown |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In Townsville, it was reported that "seven out of every 10 houses between Castle Hill and Eyre St [were] either missing or seriously damaged".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/north-ward-laid-low-as-leonta-lashes-out/story-fnr9e7xb-1227268199928 | title=North Ward laid low as Leonta lashes out | work=Townsville Bulletin | date=18 March 2015 | accessdate=14 January 2016}}</ref> Three Methodist churches were destroyed in Townsville and surrounds alone, with the Baptist and Chinese churches also demolished.<ref name="emknowledge">{{cite web | url=https://www.emknowledge.gov.au/resource/474/1903/cyclone-leonta-queensland-1903 | title=Cyclone Leonta | publisher=Australian Emergency Management Knowledge Hub | accessdate=14 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023826/https://www.emknowledge.gov.au/resource/474/1903/cyclone-leonta-queensland-1903 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="24years">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60732364 |title=LEONTA CYCLONE. |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954) |location=Qld. |date=9 March 1927 |accessdate=14 January 2016 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159355686 |title=Townsville Cyclone "Leonta.". |newspaper=The Methodist (Sydney, NSW : 1892 - 1954) |location=Sydney, NSW |date=28 March 1903 |accessdate=14 January 2016 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2013/03/memories-of-cyclone-leonta-.html?site=northqld&program=north_queensland_mornings | title=Memories of Cyclone Leonta | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | accessdate=14 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111904/http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2013/03/memories-of-cyclone-leonta-.html?site=northqld&program=north_queensland_mornings | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tgs.qld.edu.au/news_main.php?newsid=345 | title=10 March 2014 - 111 years since Cyclone Leonta destroyed Grammar | publisher=Townsville Grammar School | accessdate=14 January 2016 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305091425/http://www.tgs.qld.edu.au/news_main.php?newsid=345 | archivedate=5 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.anglicannq.org/about-us/st-james-cathedral-appeal | title=St James Cathedral Appeal | publisher=Anglican Diocese of North Queensland | accessdate=14 January 2016}}</ref>{{overcite|date=April 2024}} The T. Whalley & Sons stores and offices, formerly the Norman Hall, and nearby Burns Philp & Co. bulk produce store were completely destroyed.<ref name="24years" />
In Bowen, many houses were damaged or destroyed, with widespread damage to public and commercial buildings. The Bowen railway station saw most of its buildings unroofed, the Burns Philp & Co. store, Drill Shed and municipal baths were destroyed, with many shops and hotels losing verandahs or roofs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196548280 |title=The CYCLONE LEONTA. |newspaper=Bowen Independent (Qld. : 1911 - 1954) |location=Qld. |date=13 February 1932 |accessdate=14 January 2016 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In the town of Ayr, most of the buildings were either destroyed or lost their roofs; the Shire of Burdekin describes both Ayr and Brandon as having been "substantially demolished" by the cyclone. Both the historic Burdekin Shire Council Chambers and Ayr Court House suffered major damage.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/ayr | title=Ayr | work=Queensland Places | accessdate=14 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/about/burdekin-history-and-heritage/history-of-the-burdekin/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404010057/http://www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/about/burdekin-history-and-heritage/history-of-the-burdekin/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 April 2012 | title=History of the Burdekin | publisher=Shire of Burdekin | accessdate=14 January 2016 }}</ref>
On Magnetic Island, the first Picnic Bay Jetty was significantly damaged by the cyclone, necessitating its eventual replacement.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602231 | title=Picnic Bay Jetty | publisher=Queensland Heritage Council | work=Queensland Heritage Register | accessdate=14 January 2016}}</ref>
The cyclone was named by notable meteorologist Clement Lindley Wragge.<ref name="24years" />
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Cyclone Leonta (1903)}}
Category:1903 in Australia Category:Disasters in Queensland Category:Townsville Leonta Category:March 1903 in Australia