This drought is often referred to as the '1914 Drought'. Across large areas of the southern states, the period May through to October 1914 remains the driest period on record. Although often spared when the eastern states are in severe drought, the south-west corner of Western Australia received less than half the normal rainfall during the critical May - October months, all but destroying the wheat crop for the season in some districts. It was the lowest Western Australian wheat yield of the century. In terms of livestock seven million sheep were lost respectively in New South Wales and Queensland, approximately three million sheep in Victoria and cattle losses totalled just over one million in various states. The Murray river ceased flowing at Swan Hill and Tasmania experienced severe water shortages.

In the April of 1915, the drought began to break in South Australia, Tasmania, and most of Victoria, and May in New South Wales. The drought lasted until July in southern Queensland, and to the end of the year in northern and central Queensland.