
Earthquakes in Australia
In Australia, there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Measured against the size of the country, earthquakes occur very rarely.12 people died since 1950 by direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 3 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.
Other natural hazards in Australia:
› Cyclones
› The most severe earthquakes in the world
Back to overview: Australia
Earthquakes in Australia since 1950

Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09/21/2021 | Melbourne | 10 km | 5.9 | 0 | |
02/26/2014 | Kalgoorlie | 29 km | 4.5 | 0 | |
04/20/2010 | Kalgoorlie | 8 km | 5.2 | 0 | |
09/22/2009 | Mornington | 41 km | 3.1 | 0 | |
12/23/2004 | Macquarie Island | 4 km | 8.1 | 0 | |
06/18/2000 | S, Cocos Islands | 13 km | 7.9 | 0 | |
12/27/1989 | Newcastle | 57 km | 5.4 | 12 | |
05/23/1989 | Macquarie Station; New Zealand | 46 km | 8.2 | 0 | |
01/22/1988 | Tennant Creek | 57 km | 6.7 | 0 | |
01/22/1988 | Tennant Creek | 58 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
09/03/1987 | Macquarie Island | 13 km | 7.7 | 0 | |
06/02/1979 | Western | 58 km | 6.1 | 0 | |
03/09/1973 | Wollongong, Sydney | 12 km | 5.5 | 0 | |
06/11/1970 | Macquarie Island | 38 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
10/14/1968 | Meckering, Northam, Cunderdin, York | 6.9 | 0 | ||
02/28/1954 | Adelaide | 5.4 | 0 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.