Residents prepare as 'rare' Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches Australian coast near Brisbane

Residents fill sand bags at a temporary sand bagging station at Whites Hill in Brisbane ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Picture: PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images

Residents are stacking sandbags to protect their properties ahead of a tropical cyclone forecast to become the first in 51 years to hit the Australian east coast near Brisbane, the nation’s third-most populous city.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to cross the coast between the Queensland state capital Brisbane and the tourist city of Gold Coast to the south late on Thursday or early Friday, Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy said.