Anglican (Church of England) Church of the Holy Nativity blown off its stumps during cyclonic weather, Cooroy, 19 February 1954

The cyclone brought winds of tremendous velocity and heavy rain which battered North Coast areas causing widespread damage and loses to crops and buildings. Only a cemented tank at the rear of the Cooroy Anglican Church stopped the building from sliding down into a deep nearby gully. The Anglican Church of the Holy Nativity had been constructed in Tewantin Road, Cooroy, in 1913-1914. The stump capping ceremony was held on 21 October 1913 and the Church dedicated on 21 March 1914. The Church was destroyed by a cyclone on 19 February 1954. Reverend Eric H Smith designed and organised the rebuilding of the church during that year. He salvaged what he could from the ruins of the damaged church for the rebuild to save costs to the parish. As result of his efforts on 6 November 1954 the new Church was dedicated by Archbishop of Queensland, Sir Reginald Charles Halse. (Supplied by Donald Russell)