On 19 January 1976, the Adelaide tsunami was meant to hit – a prophecy that made world headlines.
I’m writing about this threat of a tsunami coming to Adelaide’s shores on the event’s 50th anniversary in 2026. It is certainly one of Adelaide’s quirkier stories, involving the one-and-only Don Dunstan, former South Australian Premier.
As far as I’m concerned, any story with Don Dunstan is always worth revisiting. In the summer of 1975-76, Adelaide had settled well into the Dunstan Decade as it’s known to us locals. The state leader’s progressive policies had already seen plenty of social reform. South Australia was pioneering gay rights, (finally) relaxing drinking laws and promoting Adelaide’s festival culture. And by the time 1976 rolled around, it was believed Dunstan could solve almost anything.
Dunstan was happy to play along with this too, appeasing to South Australians with his cheeky attitude. And when the threat of an Adelaide tsunami came to his attention, he was right amongst the conversation.
The Vision
A house painter named John Nash, also claiming to be a clairvoyant, had a vision. Our pioneering laws in gay rights reform would be targeted by Mother Nature and the gods. Adelaide was set to be wiped out by a tsunami that would destroy the city and kill anyone within its path. An earthquake would occur too, affecting Adelaide’s then-800,000 residents.
Nash had supposedly moved from Melbourne, and was conservative. There’s not much more said about him in the media. But the fear mongering his ‘premonition’ caused across South Australia was phenomenal. Migrants who didn’t speak much English were fearful about the Adelaide tsunami. This was based on either superstition or believing media reports were spouting scientific fact. Elsewhere, some with properties sold up. Rumours swirled that beachfront homes were going for 50 per cent of their value… can you imagine buying then? You’d be sitting on something pretty amazing now. Seaside hotel bookings had dropped, while inland caravan park reservations boomed.
You also had people who didn’t want to look foolish should they not believe the prophecy. Locals were reported to still go to work even while ill, so they weren’t seen to be believing in the prediction.
Amongst all of this, it was enough to give the Premier fodder for some political theatrics. Dunstan was later quoted to say, “To John Nash, Adelaide was about to become the new Sodom, or Gomorrah – or both!”. And he took it upon himself to try and save his people.
When the day arrived
On the (potentially) fateful day, the tidal wave was predicted to hit Adelaide’s coastline between 10.30am and 12pm. Scores of people flocked to Glenelg beach. There, Dunstan said he would stop the Adelaide tsunami himself should it make an appearance, a la European ruler King Canute. He was all smiles while waving to the crowd from the Pier Hotel, wearing one of his famous safari suits.
Media outlets from across Australia had caught wind of the prediction and were stationed on the scene. Even the BBC had a television crew on site for the event. What they saw was a group of thousands mostly in on the joke, many carrying banners about repenting sins before the end. Others had floating devices on their arms, or surfboards hoping to catch the gnarly wave.
There was a countdown… but nothing happened. Some stayed to enjoy the beach, and others went home. Government press secretaries sighed relief, including one whose job it was to confirm that the Glenelg tram wasn’t washed away. Don Dunstan continued to reign, and John Nash became the laughing stock of the state. It’s said Nash swiftly moved to New South Wales, where his house was allegedly severely flooded soon after.
The Adelaide tsunami that never came has to be one of the quirkier, crazy stories to come out of Adelaide’s history. Even for the Dunstan Era it was up there. As a born-and-raised Adelaidean, I’m very grateful this never eventuated. I still get to enjoy Adelaide for the great city it is and share it with you on tour!
Flamboyant forever,
Katina
PS: For more reading, learn more about the foundations for SA’s gay rights reforms, and one of many articles detailing the event in retrospect here.
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