Earthquake Victoria: Petersen’s Bookstore, Hastings, records state’s biggest quake with Foucault’s pendulum
A Mornington Peninsula bookshop has been waiting ten years for an earthquake. Here’s why.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A scientific apparatus that has more in common with Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball than your everyday test tube has provided a Hastings bookshop with a unique insight into Wednesday’s record-breaking earthquake.
The 5.8 magnitude quake that was the largest to shake Victoria in recorded history was documented in sand by a Foucault pendulum at Petersen’s Bookstore.
Shop manager Sue Griggs said the business had been waiting 10 years for an earthquake to bring the ancient instrument to life.
“We were told when we bought it about a decade ago that it would create amazing shapes during an earthquake,” Ms Griggs said.
The 60cm tall device, which was invented in 1851 by French physicist Leon Focault to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation, didn’t disappoint.
“Normally it draws elliptical lines in the silicon sand below the weight but after the earthquake we could see angular lines in a rectangular shape that looked a bit like a mobile phone case,” Ms Griggs said.
“It was pretty amazing to see and made up for missing the quake itself.
“I was closing the back door at the time and I thought all the things falling and staff shouting were because I had slammed the door too hard!”