June 18, 1868 Tsunami: Newcastle, Australia
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake began at Newcastle, Australia on June 18, 1868 at 14:00 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- June 18, 1868, 14:00 UTC
- Source
- Newcastle, Australia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 5.3
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 32.750° S, 151.550° E
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses damaged
- Some (about 51 to 100) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
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.
Reference #14274:
Earthquake at Newcastle:
[…]
It is also stated that about this time the tidal wave, which usually follows an earthquake, broke upon the beach with terrific violence.
The street in the vicinity of the Ship Inn was quickly filled with persons, who rushed from their houses in alarm. The sensation caused by the concussion is described as being similar to the shock from a galvanic battery - almost “paralysing.” It appeared to come from a north-eastern direction, and with a rumbling noise, which gradually grew louder until it became like a distant thunder, and disappeared with a loud crash - the tidal wave which followed beating on the beach with terrific noise.
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | Australia | 30 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1868The 1800sTsunamis of AustraliaThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 6121.