New South Wales, December 1993

North Coast, Hunter and Sydney bushfires, 1993-94

Quick Statistics

4 Fatalities
$59.1 Million Insurance Costs
206 Homes Destroyed
19 Businesses Destroyed

Over the summer of 1993-94, from late December into January, New South Wales experienced an extended period of extreme fire weather. The impact extended north from Sydney to the Queensland border, impacting the North Coast and Hunter, and south as far as Bateman's Bay. 

In total, 800,000 hectares burnt in over 800 different, fire-related incidents. 

Both government and the New South Wales community contributed to a significant response effort. Both volunteers and military personnel were engaged in activities to protect property and provide support and relief assistance. 

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 1993/1994 damage at $59 million, with the 2011 estimated normalised cost of $215 million.

Sources

Insurance Council of Australia, Historical disaster statistics, March 2012, website viewed 25 May 2012.
New South Wales Government, New South Wales Rural Fire Service A State Ablaze The January 1994 Fires, website viewed 27 May 2011.
New South Wales Government New South Wales Rural Fire Service Brief History of Bushfires in NSW, website viewed 27 May 2011.