Tsunamis in 1905

March 17, 1905 Tsunami: Gulf St. Vincent, Australia

March 17, 1905 · 1.2 m · Questionable tsunami

A tsunami of unknown cause began at Gulf St. Vincent, Australia on March 17, 1905. The water rose as high as 1.2 meters. 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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
March 17, 1905
Source
Gulf St. Vincent, Australia
Cause
Unknown
Maximum water height
1.2 m (3.9 ft)
Runups recorded
1
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Questionable tsunami

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

The secretary of the Marine Board has received a letter from Mr. H. W. Franson, sen., the headkeeper at Troubridge light- house, stating that at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday last Mr. Slater, the second keeper, saw a tidal wave, about 4 ft. high. The wave, when first seen, was receding, but it soon changed its course, and approached the sta- tion. No damage was done. (reference #14311)

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
TroubridgeAustralia1.2Eyewitness observation of water heightday 17, 21:00

More

Every tsunami in 1905The 1900sTsunamis of AustraliaThis 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 6143.