December 27, 1989 Earthquake: Newcastle, Australia

Name: December 27, 1989 Earthquake: Newcastle, Australia
Start: 1989-12-27
Location: Newcastle, Australia

December 27, 1989 · M5.4 · 12 deaths · $1 billion

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Newcastle, Australia on December 27, 1989 at 23:26:57 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 12 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: December 27, 1989
Time: 23:26:57 UTC
Place: Newcastle, Australia
Magnitude: 5.4 (mb)
Focal depth: 10 km (6 mi)
Intensity: 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 32.967° S, 151.619° E
Country: Australia

The toll

Deaths: 12
Injuries: 100
Damage: $1 billion

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

1989, Dec. 27. Twelve people killed, more than 100 injured and estimated 1.1 billion U. S. dollars damage (VIII) caused in the Newcastle area. Damage occurred as for away as Liverpool, Scone and Gladstone. Felt in a 200,000 sq. km. area of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from Albury and Cooma to Coffs Harbour and Inverell and as far west as Narromine. Also felt by people in high-rise buildings in Gold Coast and Melbourne. Believed to be the first earthquake in Australian history that has caused deaths.

1989, Dec. 27. 12 killed, $1 billion damage. (reference #1250)

1.27 billion $AUS (1990) [982 million USD (1990); 932 million USD (1989)] (reference #14033)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1989 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1989 Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5221.