A magnitude-4.6 earthquake struck the New South Wales Hunter region just before 3 am on Wednesday. Geoscience Australia confirmed the epicentre was near Broke, about 25 kilometres south-west of Singleton. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.
Thousands Report Shaking
More than 3,800 people reported feeling the quake. Reports came from as far north as Tamworth and as far south as Canberra. Sydney residents also felt the quake. By 7.45am, more than 3,500 people had logged reports on Geoscience Australia’s website.
We’ve detected an #earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 at 2:55am in Singleton, NSW. If you need assistance, contact your local emergency services. Complete a felt report at https://t.co/XXlthuoIbE pic.twitter.com/us7FU5l949
— Geoscience Australia (@GeoscienceAus) April 22, 2025
Widespread Impact Across East Coast
The tremor was felt between Port Macquarie and Wollongong. Sydneysiders in high-rise suburbs like Wentworth Point and Mascot felt the shaking strongly. Geoscience Australia’s Phil Cummins stated, “It’s been widely felt … some of [the reports] were moderate and strong shaking.”
Locals Describe the Moment
Carma and Brett Matthews stayed at a caravan park in Broke. “It was short and sweet, but was enough to rattle the whole caravan,” Ms Matthews said. She added, “Barry thought maybe it was a person shaking it, but we realised it must have been a tremor.”
In Tea Gardens, 120 kilometres east of Broke, Jenny Bennett felt the shaking. “My bed rocked, and the wardrobe doors rattled,” she said. “I also heard like a loud rumble coming from outside.”
Alan Berry in Newcastle described the experience. “I just got up to get some water … and there was just this bang sound like against the side of the house,” he said. “I heard the fence outside and gate rattle, and the bed just moved.”
Earthquake Felt in High-Rise Buildings
Simone in Newcastle said the quake woke her up. “I was woken by the sound of my glass shower doors rattling,” she said. She initially thought it was caused by wind.
Dr Ehsan Noroozinejad Farsangi, a senior researcher at Western Sydney University, explained the experience in tall buildings. He said, “If you’re on the 30th floor, you’ll usually feel an earthquake more than someone in a bungalow.” He added, “That extra wobble is a feature, not a flaw.”
Previous Quakes in the Region
The Hunter Valley has experienced multiple earthquakes recently. On 23 August last year, a magnitude-4.7 quake hit Muswellbrook. A day later, a 4.5-magnitude quake followed. Another 4.5 occurred on 7 September, and a 4.1 on 12 November.
We’ve detected an #earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.5 at 5.58am in Muswellbrook, NSW. If you need assistance in response to this earthquake, contact your local emergency services. Complete a felt report at https://t.co/GbOFf4zc24 pic.twitter.com/bteGKWCRaB
— Geoscience Australia (@GeoscienceAus) September 6, 2024
Geoscience Australia recorded over 40 earthquakes south of Muswellbrook between 23 August and 31 October. In the past 12 months, 11 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3 or more were recorded in the region.
Expert Insights on Earthquake Causes
Phil Cummins said, “In general, earthquakes in Australia occur in response to the build-up of tectonic stress.” He added, “Eventually, it will exceed the frictional strength of faults in the Earth’s crust and an earthquake will occur.”
Dr Dee Ninis from Monash University addressed the potential role of mining. “I would say at this depth that we’ve located it that it’s too deep to be related to mining,” she said.
Quake Near Proposed Nuclear Site
The quake’s epicentre was near the Mount Thorley Warkworth open-cut coal mine. The area lies close to Liddell, where a nuclear power plant has been proposed. The federal opposition identified the region as one of seven potential sites.
Figure 1: The epicentre of the earthquake was near the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce responded to concerns. “These things are designed for vastly bigger earthquakes than anything that has been experienced in the Hunter Valley,” he said. “And if you look at it, Bayswater [a coal-fired power station just south of Muswellbrook] is still standing this morning.”
Authorities Respond to Limited Damage
The NSW State Emergency Service received several calls from concerned residents. The only response involved sandbagging a burst water pipe at a property in Rutherford near Maitland shortly after 3am.
Hunter MP Dan Repacholi confirmed local support efforts. “Well that was a bit of a rude awakening … [I] reckon most of the Hunter would’ve felt that shake,” he posted on Facebook.
No Injuries and No Tsunami Threat
Geoscience Australia reported no injuries. The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed no tsunami threat to the mainland or surrounding territories.
Aftershocks Expected
Phil Cummins warned of potential aftershocks. “They’ll probably be smaller, but some of them may be felt,” he said. “That may continue for a few days or even a week or more.”
Magnitude Downgraded After Initial Reading
The quake was initially reported as a magnitude-5.1 before being revised to 4.6. Despite the downgrade, experts described it as significant for the region. Cummins said, “I would certainly say it’s significant.” He recalled previous quakes, including the 1994 Ellalong event at magnitude 5.4 and the 1989 Newcastle earthquake at magnitude 5.6.
