Victoria’s earthquake history: Five largest quakes to rattle the state

These are the most significant earthquakes to rattle the state in the past 40 years, with most originating in Gippsland.

Victoria is not immune to earthquakes, with thousands recorded across the state in the past century.

In 40 years there have been five significant quakes and most have happened in Gippsland.

The aftermath of the earthquake on Chapel St. Picture: Tom Steinfort/Twitter

Chapel St carnage. Picture: Tom Steinfort/Twitter

MANSFIELD

22 September 2021

5.8 magnitude

Wednesday morning’s earthquake was the state’s strongest since records began. The impact was felt across metro Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong and felt as far afield as Glenelg in South Australia and Sydney’s south coast. The quake caused structural damage to buildings on Chapel St in South Yarra.

Moe Woolworths after the 2012 earthquake.

Priceline was shaken up in the 2012 Moe earthquake.

MOE

19 June 2012

5.4 magnitude

The earthquake struck 10km southwest of Moe and 130km southeast of Melbourne. The impact was felt Victoria-wide with reports the quake could be felt as far as Deniliquin in New South Wales. More than 330 aftershocks were recorded — with the largest on July 20, 2012.

BOOLARA SOUTH

29 August 2000

5 magnitude

Another Victorian earthquake with a Gippsland epicentre was felt widely in town and across Melbourne. There was a 2.6 magnitude foreshock and a 1.5 magnitude aftershock following the original tremor. There were reports of minor damage.

Mt Baw Baw’s largest earthquake occurred on 25 September 1996.

MT BAW BAW

25 September 1996

5 magnitude

The earthquake’s epicentre was a few kilometres southeast of Mt Baw Baw and sounded like a large explosion. Buildings shook violently. The impact was felt in suburban Melbourne, eastern and central Victoria. Many small aftershocks occurred for months following the quake, but weren’t largely felt due to its remote location.

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Victoria’s northeast in 1982.

WONNANGATTA

21 November 1982

5.4 magnitude

The Wonnangatta earthquake was felt up to 195km away into eastern Victorian and southeastern New South Wales. Twenty-nine aftershocks followed the main event.

An almost identical quake occurred in Mount Hotham, about 25km from Wonnangatta, almost 20 years prior in 1966.