QuakeAUS: Detailed Australian Earthquake Loss Model

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The risk of earthquakes in Australia is relatively low compared to other countries around the world. However, earthquakes can and do occur in Australia, and the frequency and impact of these events can vary.

On average, Australia experiences 100 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more each year. Earthquakes above magnitude 5.0, such as the destructive 1989 Newcastle earthquake, occur on average every one-to-two years. About every ten years Australia experiences a potentially damaging earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or more.

The impact of an earthquake can vary depending on its magnitude, location, and depth. Earthquakes with magnitudes of less than 3.5 seldom cause damage. However, magnitude 4.0 earthquakes occasionally topple chimneys or result in other damage which could potentially cause injuries or fatalities.

The most destructive earthquake in Australian history was the 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.6. The earthquake caused widespread damage in Newcastle and the surrounding area, killing 13 people and injuring over 160.