Earthquakes in Western Australia

The earthquake which occurred in 1906 about 400 km (250 mi) NW of Exmouth occurred before world earthquake monitoring had really developed. With an estimated magnitude of 7.5, it is probably the largest earthquake known to have occurred in the Australian region.[11][12]

On 28 August 1917, tremor was reported near midnight in Kalgoorlie, which resulted in an underground rock fall, killing one miner and injuring several others.[9] Also in the 1990s further seismic activity required consideration of seismic activity.[13]

The largest earthquake to date in Western Australia was on 29 April 1941 at Meeberrie at 01.35.39 am (Lat −26.90 and Long 115.80) with a magnitude of 7.3. (Some sources give 7.2.)[14][15][16]

The Meeberrie earthquake was one of the largest to have occurred in Australia. Its Richter magnitude was 7.2 and it was felt over a wide area of Western Australia. Damage from the earthquake was small because of the low population in the epicentral region, but the shaking at Meeberrie homestead was very severe. All the walls of the homestead were cracked, several rainwater tanks burst, & widespread cracking of the ground occurred. Although questionnaires were distributed by the WA Government Astronomer, there has been scant updated information received on known damage.

— [17][18]

On 20 April 1946 a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred near Yallingup at 9:13 pm on 19 April 1946 (5:13 local time on 20 April), which was felt at Kirup. A tremor was reported at 5:30 am at Caves House Yallingup and at Busselton on 30 April, which is probably the same event, reported on the wrong date.[9]

Gabalong, 30 August 1955, magnitude 5.8 Gabalong, a small community about 30 km (19 mi) east of Moora and 200 km (120 mi) NNE of Perth. The earthquake, at 9:52 pm local time, was felt at MM VI at Yericoin and Miling, and MM V in Moora. It was felt in Perth at intensities between MM II and MM IV, and at Dongara at MM II. It was preceded by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake at the same location at 2:09 pm on the same day. It was a SouthWest Seismic Zone earthquake, and because of the poor location capabilities at the time, may well be related to a series of earthquakes near Yericoin, which started with a magnitude 5.1 earthquake on 2 May 1949.[9]

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred at 12:07 GMT on 3 October (8:07 pm local time) at 34.5 degrees south, 114.5 degrees east. It was felt at Busselton, Yallingup, Margaret River, Bunbury, Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.[9]

18 January 1963 at Nourning Spring, approximately 20 km (12 mi) NE of Brookton and approximately 100 km (62 mi) ESE of Perth. It was felt at Intensity VII at Nourning Springs, VI at Brookton, and MM II at Perth. It occurred at 1:49 pm local time, and had a magnitude of 5.4, although it was given a magnitude of 4.9 originally. Many earthquake questionnaires were distributed for this event, and a good isoseismal map was prepared.[9]

On 14 October 1968 at 10:59 am, an earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale occurred 100 km (62 mi) east of Perth in Meckering, Western Australia.[3] Injuring 20 people, causing over 2 million dollars in damage and felt in towns 650 km (400 mi) away, it is Western Australia's most destructive earthquake to date.

The hypocentre occurred 7 km (4.3 mi) below the earth's surface in the Yandanooka/Cape Riche Lineamen region located east of Meckering. The fault trended on a 32 km (20 mi) north-south arc. Through strike-slip the eastern side of the arc shoved 2 m (6 ft 7 in) westward, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) upwards and 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) in a southerly direction which left a distinct trench in its path. This intraplate earthquake is thought to be caused through east–west compressional force within the southwest seismic zone.

24 March 1970, magnitude 6.7 near Lake Tobin in the Canning Basin, was the first in a location which had many more earthquakes over the following years. In all, there were three earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more (24 March 1970, M 6.7, 16 July 1971, M6.4 and 3/10/75, M 6.2), and 25 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or more, the last of which occurred on 13 February 1982.[9]

An earthquake struck the Wheatbelt town of Calingiri on 10 March 1970[19] with a magnitude of 5.9. No buildings were damaged despite the epicentre being 3 km (1.9 mi) from the town and the surface being uplifted as much as 30 cm (12 in).[20]

On 2 June 1979 the second-most damaging earthquake in Western Australia's recorded history hit with a magnitude of 6.1. The epicentre was close to the town of Cadoux in the Wheatbelt region about 165 km (103 mi) north east of Perth, Western Australia. One person was injured and 25 buildings were damaged along with roads, railways and power-lines over an area of 4 ha (9.9 acres). The total amount of damage was around A$3.8 million.[21]

This earthquake, 10 Aug 1997, magnitude 6.3 just off the WA north coast in Collier Bay, was the largest Australian earthquake since the magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory, in January 1988.[9]

Located near Cadoux (but not on the same physical feature) the Burakin event was named the most significant seismic activity in 40 years.[22]

This very large earthquake on 12 Dec 2001, magnitude 7.1 occurred about 1,000 km (620 mi) southeast of Albany. It was felt in Albany. It was an intraplate earthquake, as it occurred about 1,000 km (620 mi) north of the (constructive) boundary between the Indo-Australian and Antarctic plates.[9]

On 20 April 2010, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred close to Kalgoorlie.[23] The quake caused damage to a number of hotels along Burt street in Boulder and an underpass also on Burt street collapsed. Work in the Superpit and many other mines around Kalgoorlie was also stopped.[24]

On 16 September 2018 a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred with its epicentre close to Lake Muir[25] in the South West region. On 13 October another earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 was recorded[26] followed by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake on 9 November.[27]