Late on 6 January 1897, a cyclone developed near Port Darwin, striking in the early hours of 7 January. The peak of the cyclone was recorded at approximately 3:30-4:30am. As the cyclone passed, Darwin recorded rainfall of 292 millimetres.

The 1897 cyclone was the largest on record before Cyclone Tracy; it destroyed buildings, uplifting roofs, and uprooted trees and telegraph poles. By approximately 7:30am, almost all of the buildings in Port Darwin had been destroyed. Eighteen pearling luggers, the government steam launch and three sampans were wrecked.

Twenty-eight people were killed by the cyclone. 

The Bureau of Meteorology estimated the costs to be in excess of £150,000, in 1897 values.