by Kevin McCue
Introduction
Newspaper searches following new scans by the Australian National Library have recovered 40 previously undocumented earthquakes in South Australia and information to revise known historical earthquakes over the decade of the 1920s. There are fewer than expected based on the frequency of earthquakes there in the instrumental period (Love, 1996). These historical earthquakes add to the remarkable database compiled by Dix (2013) who predicted that more earthquakes would be found in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.
Dix (2013), formerly Malpas, searched actual newspapers and then used Trove (Australian National Library scanning system) to search for previously undocumented earthquakes in South Australia. Figure 2.7 from her thesis is reproduced below as Figure 1 which shows a rapidly increasing number of earthquakes found per decade, matching the popualtion growth, but peaking in the 1880s and 1890s then decreasing from the 1920s though the population continued to grow. Part of this peak can be explained by aftershocks of the magnitude 6.5, 1897 Kingston and the magnitude 6, 1902 Warooka earthquakes. There were just two very small aftershocks of the destructive 1954 earthquake under Adelaide but even so a small increase in the overall number of earthquakes that year. Dix (as Malpas 1991, 1993) encouraged by David Love, Bierbaum (1994), McCue (2012) and Alison McArdle (pers. comm.), had previously done manual searches of newspapers (pre-Trove) which is enormously time demanding and impossible to do exhaustively. A limitation of Trove searches is that ANL has not yet completed the scanning of old newspapers so potentially more earthquakes will be revealed. Researchers need a number of different search strategies with Trove to ensure maximum returns; journalists refer to earthquakes as earthquakes, earth shocks, earthshocks or earth tremors at different times.
Figure 1 Earthquake numbers South Australia (green rectangle) per decade (from Dix (2013). The blue columns are SA newspapers, a surprising number. The increasing population indicates the trend of earthquake risk.
To check the hypothesis that the dearth of earthquakes is related to the lack of access to newspapers, rather than a lack of earthquakes, I have examined newspapers now available for those years where Dix had fewer than average finds – the 1920’s seemed a good test. The process was made simple by using Dix’s appendix B which lists each event found, sorted by date.
Figure 2 Known seismicity of South Australia, 1920-1929, derived from newspaper reports for this paper. The epicentre pattern was very similar then to what it has been since the year 2000. Most of the earthquakes were in the Mt. Lofty – Flinders Ranges, the South-east and Eyre Peninsula zones.
Figures 2 and 3 show the distribution of epicentres and the number of earthquakes discovered searching the scanned newspapers on-line, 49 events including the five already identified by Dix (2013), an average of 4.8 per year. In some years, 1925 and 1927, there were nearly 4 times as many earthquakes as in others, 1926. Some of the printed stories are attached in the Appendix.
Future searches may uncover more stories from the 1920s, more observations not captured in the newspapers scans available to March 2024 but this apparent spatial stationarity of the seismicity is not likely to change.
Figure 3 Earthquakes numbers per year in South Australia in the 1920s.
This revised number has been added to the number plotted by Dix (2013), Figure 4, where the running average is also plotted, but the trend is still the same, there were fewer earthquakes in the 1920s.
The printed stories provide not just a way of estimating magnitudes and epicentres but can be interpreted to improve the recurrence information, describe aftershock sequences and earthquake behaviour, document building damage, and point out areas of enhanced shaking. The stories also cast light on the human impact which databases rarely capture. It is interesting that, even then, there were amateur seismologists out there:
Mr. F. Spencer, our local jeweller, may prove of interest to readers (Burra Record, 27 April 1921): — In reference to the severe earth-shock experienced on Sunday, the seismograph I have under construction records that the direction of the movement was from north to south, the first shock being very severe.
No details of his seismograph have been found, not yet.
A search in August 2017 of the Geoscience Australia on-line earthquake database yielded zero entries in South Australia for the decade of the 1920s.
Figure 4 Earthquake numbers in South Australia with the revised numbers for the decade of the 1920s from Figure 3.
Intensity
The only measure of these pre-instrumental earthquakes is the intensity, as assessed here using the Modified Mercalli scale. With enough distributed reports, an isoseismal map can be drawn up. If only one or two reports are available it can be assumed that the earthquake was limited to the area bound by towns where it was not reported felt. The epicentre is taken to be the centre of the felt area and the magnitude computed from the area over which the earthquake was felt (see Richter page 353). Earthquakes below magnitude 2 are not normally felt. The scale is not linear, up to MM5 it is based on human responses – how strongly the shaking was felt, beyond MM5 it is assessed on building damage.
Magnitudes given here are likely to be underestimated as many observers may not have reported to newspapers or authorities that an earthquake was felt. A case in point is the Kooringa earthquake of 25 July 1885 which Dix (2013) assigned a magnitude of 3.3 based on the radius of a circle equal in area to the felt area, the radius of perceptibility Rp. Re-evaluation with new information and an isoseismal map shows that Rp is nearly 50km, not 20 km, and the revised magnitude is at least 4.1.
There was minor damage at Jamestown during the nearby magnitude 5.1 earthquake on 23 April 1921, Dix (2013) assigned the maximum intensity there as MM6, in the isoseismal map she drew up. This earthquake was recorded on the Adelaide seismograph:
“(says an official statement). The respective times of the commencement of the first and second phases were 4h. 30m. 38s. a.m. and 4h. 30m. 57s. a.m. The long waves began at 4h. 31m. 9s. and attained a maximum of 0.9mm. amplitude at 4h. 31m. 18s. The duration of the tremor was approximately 10 minutes, the boom of the seismograph coming to rest again at 4h. 40m. a.m.. The record shows that ……the distance of the seat of the disturbance from Adelaide was approximately 103 miles (165km)”.
Jamestown, ~30km north of the macroseismic epicentre, is 190km north of Adelaide so the distance agreement is good, the centre of the felt area is a good proxy for the epicentre in places like South Australia where earthquakes are quite shallow.
Other isoseismal maps are presented: for the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Mt Burr in the Southeast, for the 21 April 1921 earthquake near Jamestown (from Dix, 2013), for the magnitude 4.8 earthquake on 10 October 1922 south of Adelaide near McLaren Valley, for the magnitude 4.0 earthquake on 28 October 1923, also near Jamestown, though the intensity did not exceed MM4+ so it wasn’t right under the town or there would have been minor damage at this magnitude, and the magnitude 3.7 earthquake on 8 April 1927 south of Truro.
Results
This study has uncovered more than 40 additional earthquakes in the 1920s, but not including some of the aftershocks because the time wasn’t given, bringing to 49 the known earthquakes for the decade, 9 times as many earthquakes as documented by Dix (2013) in South Australia. It is the average over the period 1830 to 1970 of about 48 per decade but demonstrates the efficacy of Trove and progress by the NLA in scanning old newspapers and making them available on line via Trove. The number of reported felt earthquakes in the populated part of South Australia in the 1920s is about the same number as found for the 1860s and 1870s and then again in the 1950s and 1960s. The count could be limited to say magnitude 3 and greater and the plot redone, but a tantalising glimpse of a periodic fluctuation can be seen in Dix’s plot (Figure 1).
The GA database was interrogated to estimate the expected annual frequency of earthquake for South Australia for 1965 – 2020. Aftershocks were not flagged. By 1965 reasonable seismograph coverage had been established in the southern part of South Australia by David Sutton at Adelaide University. The results (blue diamonds) shown in Figure 5 can be represented by the following equation (rounded to 1 decimal point):
logNc = 4.1 – 0.98M
where Nc is the cumulative number of earthquakes per year of magnitude M or more.
If the three magnitude 6+ earthquakes of 1897,1902 and 1954 are included, the period now 1840 – 2020, then the equation (black line in Figure 5) is slightly different:
logNc = 4.0 – 0.94 M
These formulae yield a once-per-year earthquake of 4.2 or 4.3 and an average of 12 to 20 earthquakes per year above magnitude 3. The once-per-decade earthquake is 5.3 and the return period for a magnitude 6 earthquake is less than 100 years. These are comparable to the values computed by Love (1996) for the Flinders / Mt Lofty zone and using the South Australian network and magnitudes, not Geoscience Australia data:
logNc = 3.48 – 0.94 M
On the same plot, the level of activity over the 1920s decade is plotted as the red squares, the largest earthquake was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Jamestown on 23 April 1923 and there were only four of magnitude 4 or more and twenty of magnitude 3 or more, so either:
- the magnitudes listed here are understated or many earthquakes were not felt or not reported felt or
- the seismicity of the 1920s decade was below average.
It could be argued that in the 1920s, few European settlements existed outside the southeast quarter of the state, but even today that is where the seismographs are concentrated.
Figure 5 Recurrence of SA earthquakes computed using the Geoscience Australia on-line database 1965-2020 plus, for M≥6, 1840-2020 (blue diamonds), red squares for the 1920s.
A possible swarm has been flagged (Table 1) in October 1925 near Copley, only the larger felt events of the swarm have been noted.
There are no surprises in the locations, all the decade-long events occurred where most earthquakes were subsequently located using the SA seismograph network post-1960; the Flinders and Mt Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula and the South-east.
Focal depths could not be estimated from the felt information as was the case again in 2017 – 2021with modern seismographic data following the abandonment of the SA state seismological network by the SA government. We assume they are all within the upper half of the crust as are most of the well located events.
Earthquakes felt in Adelaide
Earthquake risk in South Australia is dominated by the risk to Adelaide, a damaging earthquake recurring there needs to be planned for, the hazard reliably assessed and the risk mitigated by adequate building design and construction. During the 1920s three of the earthquakes were felt in Adelaide.
• On 3 November 1920 even the Government Astronomer (Mt Dodwell), who was responsible for maintaining the seismograph at Adelaide, felt the shaking from a nearby small earthquake, in fact he thought there were two.
• Newspapers were searched for the earthquake reported to be felt in Kensington, a suburb of Adelaide (Dix, 2013), on 11 November 1920 but nothing was found.
• The Jamestown earthquake of 23 April 1921 shook Adelaide quite noticeably though the epicentre was about 160km away. People were woken and windows rattled.
• An earthquake near McLaren Vale at 2:45 a.m. on 10 October 1922 was also felt in Adelaide. Based on the isoseismal map (Figure 6), the magnitude has been revised up to 4.8. It was felt fom Kingscote to Gawler, in Murray Bridge and throughout the metropolitan area.
The lack of higher intensities would seem to indicate a source in the middle to lower crust.
Discussion
A set of interesting earthquakes has been re-discovered in South Australia in each year of the 1920s, an average of 4.9 per year. Additional earthquakes may be found in this decade as Trove continues to scan papers but they are unlikely to be significant events. There are probably more earthquakes in South Australia waiting to be found, perhaps they were unimportant news stories compared with the depression and World War II. It would also be worthwhile focussing on the aftershocks and associated earthquakes of the 1897 and 1902 earthquakes.
In deriving the recurrence relation, aftershocks have been ignored as there were very few of them in the GA database. Even the largest earthquake in South Australia in the post-1965 period, the Ms 5.8 Marryat Ck earthquake, had only 5 locatable aftershocks in the following week.
The reduction in earthquake numbers following two large magnitude 6+ earthquakes in 1897 and 1902 is interesting and also happened in Tasmania following the remarkable swarm there in the 1880s and 1890s. This begs the question of how long before the next large earthquake cluster strikes South Australia, or anywhere else in Australia for that matter where previous large earthquakes have occurred. This is an important consideration in earthquake hazard assessments.
The earthquake details published by Dix (2013) and here, should be added to the national earthquake database and used for earthquake hazard assessments, without them such assessments should not be accepted as best practice.
References
Bierbaum S.J., 1994. Historical Earthquakes in the South-East of South Australia pre-1962, Flinders University of South Australia School of Earth Sciences, unpublished.
Dix K., 2013. South Australian Historical Earthquakes in the Pre-Instrumental Period 1837-1963: A comprehensive Chronicle and Analysis of Available Intensity Data. M.Phil. thesis, The University of Adelaide.
Love, D., 1996. Seismic Hazard and microzonation of the Adelaide area. Report Book 96/27. Department of Mines and Energy, South Australia.
Malpas, K.L., 1993. Historical Earthquakes in South Australia, vols 1-5, 1837-1964, 593pp Flinders University of South Australia, School of earth Sciences, unpublished
Malpas K.L., 1991. South Australian Earthquakes, Flinders University of South Australia, unpublished.
Malpas K.L., 1993. Mount Barker 1883 Earthquake, South Australia, Flinders University of South Australia, School of Earth Sciences, unpublished.
Malpas K.L., 1991. Warooka 1902 Earthquake South Australia, Flinders University of South Australia, unpublished.
Malpas K.L., 1991. Adelaide 1954 Earthquake, South Australia, Flinders University of South Australia, unpublished.
Malpas K.L., 1991. Seismic Risk in South Australia, Honours Thesis, Flinders University of South Australia, School of Earth Sciences.
McCue K., 2012. Historical earthquakes in South Australia. http://www.aees.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/McCue_SA_EQs.pdf
McCue K., 2017. Creating an earthquake catalogue for 1911; local, national and world.AEES Conference, Canberra, 24-26 November.
Richter, C. F., 1958. Elementary Seismology. Freeman.
| Date | Time UTC | Lat | Long | ML | Place | Comment |
| 1920 04 21 | 10:00 | -33.7 | 136.9 | 3.0 | Cowell | Felt over Council area |
| 1920 06 25 | 09:40 | -37.45 | 140.53 | 4.5 | Mount Burr | Widely felt around Mt Gambier |
| 1920 08 20 | 19:00 | -33.8 | 139.1 | 3.0 | World’s End | Severe |
| 1920 08 21 | 06:00 | -33.8 | 139.1 | 3.0 | World’s End | Severe |
| 1920 10 07 | 10:30 | -30.96 | 138.56 | 3.6 | Moololoo and Beltana | See Dix |
| 1920 11 03 | 11:53 | -34.9 | 138.6 | 3.0 | Adelaide | 2 events; Adelaide |
| 1920 11 11 | 12:25 | -34.93 | 138.65 | 3.1 | Kensington | See Dix |
| 1921 01 27 | 06:30 | -30.6 | 138.3 | 3.0 | Wooltana east of Leigh Creek | Severe |
| 1921 03 10 | 12:45 | -28 | 136 | 3.5 | Warrina north of Williams Creek | Four aftershocks |
| 1921 04 23 | 19.00 | -33.27 | 138.83 | 5.1 | Jamestown | See Dix |
| 1921 09 01 | 12:48 | -34.09 | 139.17 | 3.1 | Eudunda | See Dix |
| 1922 01 10 | 11:15 | -34.3 | 138.9 | 2.5 | Kapunda | possible thunderstorm |
| 1922 01 16 | 06:10 | -36.3 | 140.8 | 3.0 | Bordertown and Wirrega | |
| 1922 05 21 | 20:50 | -37.8 | 140.7 | 3.5 | Mt Gambier | No damage but picture off wall |
| 1922 07 09 | 18:10 | -32.85 | 138.35 | 2.5 | Booleroo Centre, Rockwood | Doors, windows rattled |
| 1922 10 10 | 17:08 | -35.25 | 138.52 | 4.7 | McLaren Vale | Modified from Dix |
| 1922 11 24 | 17:40 | -32.9 | 138.4 | 2.5 | Rockwood | Small |
| 1923 03 03 | 11:30 | -35.8 | 137.5 | 3.2 | Kangaroo Island | Felt strongly, 2 shocks, wall cracked |
| 1923 05 08 | 08:00 | -32.4 | 137.9 | 3.2 | Quorn to Port Augusta | Two felt at Albury Creek |
| 1923 08 12 | 08:35 | -33.1 | 138.3 | 3.6 | Port Pirie, Horns-dale, Jamestown | Clearly felt 10s duration |
| 1923 10 28 | 16:00 | -33.1 | 138.6 | 4.0 | Jamestown, Gladstone, Red Hill Peter-borough, Cal-towie, Hornsdale | Widely felt (see map) |
| 1924 04 07 | 09:35 | -34.2 | 139.1 | 3.0 | Eudunda | 5s duration |
| 1924 08 01 | – | -32.45 | 138.54 | 2.5 | Carrieton | slight |
| 1924 10 26 | 20:30 | -38.1 | 140.7 | 3.0 | Port MacDonnell | Crockey and windows rattled |
| 1925 01 16 | 14:15 | -35.0 | 138.9 | 2.5 | Mt Barker and Tweedale | |
| 1925 02 22 | 10:50 | -33.95 | 137.7 | 2.5 | Kadina | 2 events |
| 1925 03 03 | 04:30 | -33.95 | 137.7 | 3.5 | Kadina | Residents vacated homes |
| 1925 03 31 | 01:45 | -34.7 | 135.9 | 2.5 | S Eyre Peninsula | No details |
| 1925 07 23 | 17:30 | -34.3 | 138.5 | 3.0 | Owen | Residents disturbed |
| 1925 07 23 | 18:40 | -34.3 | 138.5 | 3.0 | Owen | |
| 1925 10 27 | 17:08 | -30.5 | 138.4 | 2.5 | Copley | Possible swarm |
| 1926 06 18 | 14:30 | -34.8 | 139.0 | 2.5 | Birdwood | |
| 1926 10 09 | 05:00 | -33.2 | 138.6 | 3.2 | Jamestown and Georgetown | Plaster shaken from walls at Jamestown |
| 1927 04 08 | 10:00 | -34.4 | 139.2 | 3.7 | Truro | No damage |
| 1927 04 27 | 21:00 | -33.0 | 137.5 | 2.5 | Whyalla | Slight |
| 1927 05 19 | 16:10 | -35.7 | 137.9 | 2.5 | Penneshaw | few seconds |
| 1927 05 19 | 16:55 | -34.0 | 139.2 | 3.5 | Robertstown and Eudunda | Three quakes recorded on seismograph |
| 1927 05 19 | 23:46 | -34.0 | 139.2 | 2.5 | “ | aftershock |
| 1927 05 20 | 00:44 | -34.0 | 139.2 | 2.5 | “ | aftershock |
| 1927 11 19 | 23:15 | -34.6 | 138.9 | 3.0 | Williamstown | Widely felt |
| 1928 04 07 | 21:25 | -31.8 | 138.6 | 2.5 | Hawker | Windows and doors shook and rattled |
| 1928 04 11 | 15:00 | -33.9 | 137.8 | 2.5 | Kadina | Three shocks felt |
| 1928 05 31 | 11:42 | -34.5 | 135.6 | 2.5 | Edillilie, Wanilla Eyre Peninsula | slight |
| 1928 09 05 | 13:32 | -33.9 | 137.8 | 3.2 | Kadina | severe |
| 1928 09 18 | 21:50 | -34.3 | 138.9 | 2.5 | Kapunda | Small |
| 1929 02 06 | 01:00 | -36.2 | 140.6 | 3.0 | Bordertown | Small |
| 1929 03 15 | 03:40 | -32.9 | 139.2 | 2.0 | Oodlawirra | Small |
| 1929 10 02 | 21:15 | -34.7 | 135.8 | 2.5 | Port Lincoln | Small |
| 1929 11 30 | 03:30 | -33.1 | 138.7 | 2.5 | Belalie North | Severe |
1920
Reports of five earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more were found in newspapers, and located. The largest was a magnitude 4.5 earthquake in the Southeast near Mt Burr.
1920 04 21 at 10:00 UTC, Cowell
Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 – 1950), Thursday 25 April 1940, page 1.
From the “Tribune.”
April 23, 1920
A very distinct earth tremor was felt throughout the Franklin Harbour District on Wednesday evening at about 7.30 p.m. [Ed. – The Franklin Harbour is at Cowell, Eyre Peninsula.]
Victor Harbor Times and Encounter Bay and Lower Murray Pilot (SA : 1912 – 1930), Friday 28 May 1920, page 3
In “The Advertiser” last week was published an account of the discovery on the south coast, near Victor Harbor, of large quantities of supposed bituminous matter which had given rise to the belief that it was direct evidence of the existence of crude petroleum in the place from which it came. A gentleman connected in a managerial capacity with an important business firm in Adelaide, in referring to the report on Tuesday, remarked that he had no hesitation in saying that the reply to the query. “ Is it oil was an emphatic “Yes.” “On seeing the paragraph,” he said, “ I brought it under the notice of the engineer of one of the large American oil refining companies who happened to be in Adelaide. We got a motor car and went to Victor Harbor. We examined the beach for two miles, and found masses of dark, gelatinous matter of the consistency of thick blanc-mange. We were informed that the same material was traceable along the coast to the western side of the Bluff and as far east as Middleton Beach. As soon as the American oil expert saw it he said it was crude petroleum oil that had not long since come out of the earth, probably not mote than four or five days. He could offer no theory regarding where the oil came from, but considered there was not the slightest sign of oil-bearing country in the neighborhood of Victor Harbor. I described to him the nature of the Kangaroo Island country, its distance, and the set of the tides, and be said it was quite possible that the substance had come from that locality, or that it might have been produced by a burst in the bed of the sea between the island and the mainland. We were interested to learn that a slight earth tremor bad been noticed a few days previously. I have sent a consignment of the oil matter to Melbourne for analysis. On examining a map of South Australia and noting various parts of the coast where supposed bituminous matter has been found from time to time, the visiting expert offered what seemed to me a feasible theory. He said it looked as if a reservoir of oil existed in the interior, with streams going out from it in the shape of a fan and soaking underground to the coast, the important thing to discover is where this reservoir or oilfield exists. Success can hardly be expected from sinking only a few bores. I was informed that the Standard Oil Company last year put down 300 bores in America, at an average cost of £3,000 each, and that only 50 per cent, were productive, although it was in a known oil bearing district. We were surprised to read the statement of the Government Geologist regarding the sample of that Victor Harbor oil matter submitted to him, that it had a smell a little like that of petroleum but it would have to be analysed to ascertain what it was, and that it would be the proper thing for those who found the substance to apply to the Minister of Mines for an investigation. If the Mines Department were alive to the importance of locating an oilfield in South Australia one would have thought that the proper course for it to take, on learning of what had occurred at Victor Harbor, would have been to send a man down to make enquiries and gather specimens.”—Advertiser.
1920 06 25 at 09:40 UTC, Mt Burr perhaps
Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 – 1954), Tuesday 29 June 1920, page 2
An Earth Tremor.—On Friday evening, about 10 minutes past 7 o’clock, a distinct earth tremor was felt by many residents in the northern part of the town and in Commercial-street. It rattled windows, crockery on shelves, &c., and was accompanied by a rumbling noise. The tremor was also felt at a number of other places in county Grey, and was particularly marked in the Hd. of Kongorong. Ideas as to its direction vary. Our Millicent correspondent writes : — “A slight earth tremor occasioned some alarm at Millicent at 7.15 p.m. on Friday last. The shock was felt for several seconds and appeared to be travelling from west to east.” The “Watch” correspondent at Tantanoola wrote yesterday:—”A slight earth tremor was felt here on Friday evening between 7.15 and 7.30. In some cases the houses shook, windows pictures, and loose articles on shelves rattled.”
Figure 6 Felt area of the 25 June 1920 earthquake in the Southeast.
South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 – 1954), Tuesday 29 June 1920, page 2
An Earth Tremor.—A slight earth tremor occasioned some alarm at Millicent at 7.15 o’clock on Friday evening last. The shock was felt for several seconds, and the disturbance appeared to be travelling from west to east. It was noticed at several towns throughout the South-East.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 3 July 1920, page 10
AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.
Narracoorte, June 28.
A slight earth shock was felt in Narracoorte shortly after 7 o’clock on Friday evening. It was accompanied by a rumbling noise. Reports from the surrounding country state that the tremor was clearly felt. The sky was quite clear and the moon was shining brightly. A distinct earth tremor was felt at Mount Gambier shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday, The furniture in rooms was moved and crockery rattled.
The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1923), Tuesday 29 June 1920, page 1.
EARTH TREMOR.
In Mount Gambier District.
Our Mount Gambier correspondent telegraphs:—” A slight earth tremor was felt on Friday night about 7.10, by people in the north parts of the town. The shock was more severely felt in Kongorong.” A message from Narracoorte states:—” A slight earth shock was felt here shortly after 7 o’clock on Friday evening. It was accompanied by a rumbling noise, and was so slight that many residents did not notice it. Reports from the surrounding country, however, state that the tremor was clearly felt.”
1920 08 20 at 19:00 UTC and 08 21 at 06:00 UTC, World’s End (Burra)
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Saturday 21 August 1920, page 6
EARTHQUAKES AT WORLD’S END. Our Burra correspondent writes:— The residents of World’s End report two severe earth shocks. The first occurred at about 4.30 a.m., and the second at 3.30 p.m.
1920 10 07 at 10:30 UTC, Beltana
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Monday 11 October 1920, page 9
BELTANA, October 7.—An earth tremor was felt this evening about 8 o’clock, and lasted for about 8 seconds. It shook the windows of the houses.
1920 11 03 at 11:53 UTC, Adelaide
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Friday 5 November 1920, page 6.
TWO EARTH TREMORS. Two slight but distinct earthshocks were felt by residents of the metropolitan area on Wednesday evening. The first was at 9.23 o’clock, and the second, of less intensity, occurred a little later. The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell, B.A.). when spoken to on Thursday, said that he had felt the first shock at the time mentioned, and that he had thought a second one occurred. The seismograph record at the Observatory was developed on Tuesdays and Fridays; so that if the tremors were recorded thereon the fact will be revealed to-day.
1921
Only three earthquakes in South Australia were reported on during 1921 but the largest, near Jamestown on 23 April suffered minor ceiling-plaster damage. Its magnitude was about 5, large enough to give Adelaide residents food for thought, and to be recorded on the seismograph at Adelaide Observatory.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Monday 31 January 1921, page 7.
Owienagin Gap. — After an enjoyable week at Moolooloo, our luggage was packed and we moved on to Owienagin Gap, where we had previously decided to make our camp. ……..
On several occasions during the nights we heard loud rumbles, seemingly a long way off, but one evening as we sat around the fire this noise commenced and quickly increased in intensity; soon we experienced an earth tremor, which, we were told later, was quite sufficient to rock the shearers’ huts at Moolooloo.
1921 01 27 at 06:30 UTC, Leigh’s Creek
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 12 February 1921, page 9.
COUNTRY NEWS. AN EARTHQUAKE.
LEIGH’S CREEK, February 3.— Last Thursday, at 4 p.m., an earth shock was felt at a camp about 10 miles east of here. Mr. H. Fergusson, a teamster, who was camped at the Nepowie wool wash on Wooltana run, says the shocks were severe there. The ground shook several times and tins rattled. There were noises louder than any thunder he ever heard. The rumbling was heard for some time.
1921 03 10 at 12:45 UTC, Warrina
Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 – 1924), Friday 11 March 1921, page 4.
EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.
A telegram was received from the postmaster at Warrina yesterday stating that a severe shock of earthquake was experienced at 10.15 p.m. the previous day, followed by four slighter shocks. The direction of the disturbance was from north.west to south.east.
1921 04 23 at 19:00 UTC, Jamestown felt Adelaide
This earthquake is almost a re-run of that on 5 November 1918, both with similar locations, both about magnitude 5, both shook Adelaide and suburbs and both were recorded on the primitive seismograph there. An isoseismal map was drawn up by Dix (2013).
Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 – 1924), Monday 25 April 1921, page 2
EARTH TREMOR
SUNDAY MORNING OCCURRENCE.
Reports came to hand on Sunday of an earth tremor which occurred at 4.30 o’clock in the morning. It seems to have been felt for periods ranging from 30 seconds to a minute, and to have been experienced as far north as Peterborough. In some parts it was accompanied by a rumbling sound. Houses shook, beds rocked, and ornaments rattled. Light, sleepers wondered what it was all about. Their more fortunate brethren did not know anything about it.
The tremor was recorded at the Adelaide Observatory, and reports of its occurrence were made from St. Peters and North Adelaide.
Mr. E. W. Bramble (Deputy Postmaster-general) received the following reports from the acting postmaster at Clare and postmaster at Peterborough: —Clare—Respectfully advise earthquake at 4.50 this morning, lasting one minute.” Peterborough—”Severe earth shock here, 4.30 Sunday morning. Lasted 30 seconds. Unable to say direction travelling. Loud rumbling noise. Building shaken. No damage done.”
Postmaster, Kadina, reported: —A very sharp earth tremor, accompanied by rumbling sounds, experienced here at 4.40 this morning, lasting several seconds. Houses shook, beds rocked, ornaments, &c., rattled for several seconds after tremor ceased. Apparently travelling east to west.
Figure 6 Isoseismal Map of the Jamestown earthquake of 21 April 1921 felt strongly throughout Adelaide from Dix (2013). A report at Templeton has been added.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Monday 25 April 1921, page 7.
City and Country Reports.
There was a distinct earth tremor in Adelaide and suburbs— also in various parts of the country — early on Sunday morning. Several households were disturbed by a rumbling noise, but, generally, little notice was taken of the occurrence. Other reports came from Norwood, St. Peters, and Unley. The seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory is constructed primarily for recording long-distance shocks, and it is possible that the instrument did not register this tremor. The record, however, will not be developed until Tuesday. Conclusive evidence was nevertheless provided by the barograph— a self-recording barometer—which is affixed to the wall of the Weather Office at the Adelaide General Post Office. On Sunday the State Meteorologist (Mr. E. Bromley) told a reporter that, although it was really outside his department, he probably had the only record of the earth shock. The mechanism of the barograph, he explained, traces an almost horizontal line of the record, but at 4.30 a.m. a sharp vertical line had interrupted the steady, progress of the needle.
—Vice-regal Household Disturbed.—
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Archibald Weigall), when questioned on Sunday concerning the effects of the earth tremor, said that it had not been severely felt at Government House, but that it had awakened some of the members of the household. His Excellency, with a smile, said that he supposed it was “another of those Australian thrills.” —Doctors’ Statements. — Dr. Basedow reported that the shock was quite noticeable at Kent Town, and it lasted for well over a minute. The windows of his house were rattled considerably. In conversation with a reporter on Sunday evening Dr. E. Angas Johnson said that, although a heavy sleeper, he was awakened suddenly. His wardrobe door, which had been left open, was violently slammed, and then the wardrobe itself began to shake. His first impression when awakened was that he was on board a ship. Dr. Johnson smilingly said that the experience was reminiscent of the days when he was in New Zealand, and that this shock was, from his personal experience, the most severe that the State has had for many years.
—A Forecast Recalled.—
This shock is one of several which have occurred in and around Adelaide within the last decade or two. The last one of importance was in 1902. Years ago Professor David prophesied that minor earthquakes would be experienced in Adelaide from time to time. Owing to the character of the surrounding country Adelaide would be subject to these tremors.
COUNTRY EXPERIENCES.
KOORINGA, April 24.—A violent earth shock occurred here at 4.40 this morning, accompanied by a loud rumbling noise, with tremendous vibration; increasing as it approached. Buildings were shaken to their foundations. Windows and doors were rattled violently. The disturbance appeared to be travelling from north-west to south-east. The tremor lasted fully 90 seconds.
KADINA, April 24.— A very sharp earth tremor, accompanied by rumbling sound, was experienced here at 4.40 a.m. It lasted several seconds. Houses shook, beds rocked, and ornaments and so on were disturbed and rattled for several seconds after the tremor ceased. The movement was apparently travelling east to west.
MORGAN, April 24.—A most severe earth shock was experienced here at about 4.31 this morning. Its duration was about 45 seconds, and it appeared to travel to the north-west. Houses rocked, roofing creaked, and furniture and crockeryware rattled. In one residence glassware was thrown down and broken. Many of the people were unnerved by the occurrence. Mount Mary and Cadell also felt the tremor at about the same hour. At the latter place the shock was very pronounced.
MURRAY BRIDGE, April 24.—Two earth shocks occurred at 4.30 this morning. The direction of the shock was towards the east.
PORT PIRIE, April 24.— A powerful earth tremor, lasting about 10 seconds, preceded by a loud rumbling noise, was experienced here about 4.30 this morning. The sound and effect appeared to be travelling from east to west. Numbers of people were awakened by what appeared to be the subsidence of the foundations in stone buildings and the vibration in wood and iron houses. Crockery and ornaments on shelves were shaken. Persons sleeping on balconies and under verandahs were especially alarmed. No damage is reported.
CLARE, April 24.— An earthquake was experienced at 4.30 this morning, lasting one minute.
PETERBOROUGH, April 24.— A severe earth shock occurred here at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday. It lasted 30 seconds. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise. Buildings were shaken, but no damage was done.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 30 April 1921, page 7
THE EARTHQUAKE.
MANY LOCALITIES AFFECTED.
Reports received from many country correspondents of The Register on Monday showed that the earth tremor in the early hours of Sunday morning was widely felt throughout the State. Among the communications were the following:— KADINA, April 25.—The inhabitants of Kadina and Wallaroo Mines were alarmed on Sunday morning at 25 minutes to 5 o’clock by a rather severe earthquake. The occurrence, which was heralded by a curious moaning noise, increased in volume of sound like a heavy wagon approaching. Beds were shaken and windows and crockery rattled. People got out of their beds scared at the phenomenon, which lasted, according to varying reports, from six seconds to nearly half a minute. It was the most severe earth tremor experienced locally for years, and travelled from north to south.
YACKA, April 25.—A severe earth tremor occurred on Sunday morning at 4.30. It lasted about 45 seconds, and appeared to be travelling from south-west
to north-east.
BLYTH, April 24.—At 4.30 a.m. Sunday an earth tremor was felt at Blyth, lasting about seven to 10 seconds. It appeared to be travelling from east to west or south-west. The shock was rather severe.
GULNARE, April 25.—At 4.30 on Sunday morning an earth tremor shook Gulnare. Many accounts of minor happenings during the “quake” have been forthcoming, all more or less credible, such as people roiling out of bed, pictures dancing on the walls, crockery walking over the shelves. However, no material damage seems to have been done, except to the nerves of timid residents. The shock was the heaviest known in this locality, and must have lasted 10 or 15 seconds according to various statements, it travelled from
all parts of the compass to every other direction.
HART, April 25.—On Sunday morning at 4.30 residents experienced an earth tremor which was the most pronounced for years. The direction seemed to be east-ward, and the duration of the tremor was about 20 seconds, although it could be heard for a longer period. People observed a distinct movement of their beds, and windows and furniture rattled.
MELROSE, April 25:—An earth shock was experienced here at about 4.30 a.m. on Sunday, and lasted about 30 to 35 seconds. Doors and windows rattled. Crockery on shelves was shifted, and in one or two instances fell and was smashed.
HORNSDALE, April 24.—A severe earth shock was felt here at 4.30 a.m., on Sunday. It lasted quite 25 seconds, and shook residents in their beds. It was the most serious shock since the one 19 years ago. After the noise had ceased the ground still had a gentle heaving motion.
SADDLEWORTH, April 24.—An earth shock was felt this morning at 4.40 a.m. It was fairly severe, rattling doors and windows, and causing plaster to fall. It was accompanied by a rumbling noise, and seemed to be travelling in an easterly direction.
AMBLESIDE, April 24.—On Sunday morning, between 4 and 5 a.m., an earth tremor was felt by the local residents. Some of them reporting glassware upset. It appeared to be travelling from north west to south-east, and lasted for a few seconds only.
KAPUNDA, April 24.—A distinct earth tremor was felt here this morning at about 4.37 o’clock. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise. Doors and windows were severely shaken. The trembling lasted a few seconds, and the wave appeared to travel from north to south.
ANGASTON, April 24.—A severe earth tremor was experienced here on Sunday morning, residents being awakened suddenly from their slumber at 4.40 a.m. Windows and other moveable things rattled, and the distinctive trembling of the houses continuing for several seconds. It apparently moved from westerly to easterly, and was violent.
HAMILTON, April 24.—A severe earthquake was felt here this morning about 4.38 a.m. Windows and doors rattled, and beds shook, waking up the occupants. The tremor lasted about 30 seconds and appeared to be travelling in waves, the swell of the earth being distinctly felt from north-east to south-west.
MORCHARD, April 24.—A severe earth shock was experienced at about 5.10 a.m. to-day. It lasted for about 20 to 25 seconds.
TEROWIE, April 24.—An earthquake was felt here this morning about 4.32 o’clock, the worst encountered for many years. The shock lasted about 30 seconds, and was very severe. Some residents scrambled out of bed and ran outside, thinking the walls of the houses would collapse. A large heap of wood, which had been stacked in one yard, was so shaken that it collapsed. As soon as the earthquake had passed, rain started, but did not last long.
JAMESTOWN, April 25.—A severe earthshock was experienced here on Sunday morning at 4.30. It was accompanied by a rumbling sound. The visitation lasted a few seconds. Buildings were shaken in places, and plaster was displaced from ceilings. It was the most distinct tremor felt here for years.
YONGALA, April 25.—One of the most severe earthshocks experienced here occurred on Sunday morning at 4.29 o’clock. Buildings were considerably shaken, but no serious damage was done. It appeared to travel from south south-west to north north-east.
AUBURN, April 25.—Residents were rudely awakened by an earthquake on Sunday at about 4.20 a.m. It was estimated that the phenomenon lasted for
about a minute.
WOODSIDE, April 24.—An earth tremor was felt here at about 4.30 this morning, accompanied by a very distinct rumbling sound. Roofs creaked and windows rattled. The disturbance seemed to be travelling east and west. The vibration continued for 30 or 40 seconds.
WAIKERIE, April 24.—An earth tremor was felt here about half-past 4 this morning. Windows, furniture, and houses were considerably shaken. The direction taken appeared to be north to south.
PETERBOROUGH, April 25—Yesterday morning, at about 4 o’clock, a severe earthshock was experienced here. It lasted for 30 seconds. Windows and crockery rattled, and beds and furniture shook. The disturbance appeared to be travelling from west to east.
AN EARTH TREMOR. CITY AND COUNTRY REPORTS.
(Continued from Page 7).
There was a distinct earth tremor in Adelaide and suburbs—also in various towns of the country—early on Sunday morning.
Several households were disturbed by a rumbling noise, but, generally, little notice was taken of the occurrence. Other reports came from Norwood, St. Peters, and Unley. The seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory is constructed primarily for recording long-distance shows, and it is possible that the instrument did not register this tremor. The record, however, will not be developed until Tuesday. Conclusive evidence was nevertheless provided by the barograph—a self-recording barometer—which is affixed to the wall of the Weather Office at the Adelaide General Post Office. On Sunday the State Meteorologist (Mr. E. Bromley) told a reporter that, although it was really outside his department, he probably had the only record of the earth shock. The mechanism of the barograph, he explained, traces an almost horizontal line of the record, but at 4.30 am. a sharp vertical line had interrupted the steady progress of the needle.
—Viceregal Household Disturbed.—
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Archibald Weigall), when questioned on Sunday concerning the effects of the earth tremor, said that it had not been severely felt at Government House, but that it had awakened some of the members of the house-hold. His Excellency, with a smile, said that he supposed it was “another of those Australian thrills.”
—Doctors’ Statements.—
Dr. Basedow reported that the shock was quite noticeable at Kent Town, and it lasted for well over a minute. The windows of his house were rattled consider-
ably. In conversation with a reporter on Sunday evening Dr. E. Angas Johnson said that, although a heavy sleeper, he was awakened suddenly. His wardrobe door, which had been left open, was violently slammed, and then the wardrobe itself began to shake. His first impression when awakened was that he was on board a ship. Dr. Johnson smilingly said that the experience was reminiscent of the days when he was in New Zealand, and that this shock was, from his personal experience, the most severe that the State has had for many years.
—A Forecast Recalled.—
This shock is one of several which have occurred in and around Adelaide within the last decade or two. The last one of importance was in 1902. Years ago Professor David prophesied that minor earthquakes would be experienced in Adelaide from time to time. Owing to the character of the surrounding country Adelaide would be subject to these tremors.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 30 April 1921, page 19
COUNTRY EXPERIENCES.
KOORINGA, April 24.—A violent earth shock occurred here at 4.40 this morning, accompanied by a loud rumbling noise, with tremendous vibration, increasing as it approached. Buildings were shaken to their foundations. Windows and doors were rattled violently. The disturbance appeared to be travelling from north-west to south-east. The tremor lasted fully 90
seconds.
KADINA, April 24.—A very sharp earth tremor, accompanied by rumbling sound, was experienced here at 4.40 a.m. It lasted several seconds. Houses shook, beds rocked, and ornaments and so on were disturbed and rattled for several seconds after the tremor ceased. The movement was apparently travelling east to west.
MORGAN, April 24.—A most severe earth shock was experienced here at about 4.31 this morning. Its duration was about 45 seconds, and it appeared to travel to the northwest. Houses rocked, roofing creaked, and furniture and crockery ware rattled. in one residence glassware was thrown down and broken. Many of the people were unnerved by the occurrence. Mount Mary and Cadell also felt the tremor at about the same hour. At the latter place the shock was very pronounced.
MURRAY BRIDGE, April 24.—Two earth shocks occurred at 4.30 this morning. The direction of the shock was towards the east.
PORT PIRIE, April 24.—A powerful earth tremor, lasting about 10 seconds, preceded bv a loud rumbling noise, was experienced here about 4.30 this morning. The sound and effect appeared to be travelling from east to west. Numbers of people were awakened by what appeared to be the
subsidence of the foundations in stone buildings and the vibration in wood and iron houses. Crockery and ornaments on shelves were shaken. Persons sleeping on balconies and under verandahs were especially alarmed. No damage is reported.
CLARE, April 24.—An earthquake was experienced at 4.30 this morning, lasting one minute.
PETERBOROUGH, April 24.—A severe earth shock occurred here at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday. If lasted 30 seconds. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise. Buildings were shaken, but no damage was done.
FARRELL’S FLAT, April 24.—A violent tremor, travelling relatively slowly from the east, was felt at 4 40 a.m. on Sunday. It lasted 30 seconds.
NURIOOTPA, April 25.—This town experienced the earth shock on Sunday at 4.20 a.m. Windows rattled and beds shook violently enough to awaken sleepers.
MALLALA, April 25.—Yesterday morning, at 4.30, folk were aroused from their slumbers by one of the most severe earth shocks experienced for years. Beds rocked in a most alarming fashion, and doors and windows rattled. The disturbance must have lasted nearly a minute.
MAITLAND, April 25.—A severe earth tremor was felt at 4.33 on Sunday morning. It shook the houses and rattled the crockery in a rather alarming manner. There was no distinct travel-ling sound.
WALLAROO, April 25.—On Sunday morning, at 4.30, a distinct earth tremor, was experienced. Many residents were awakened from their slumbers by the swaying of the beds. It was the severest shock felt for years.
GREEN’S PLAINS, April 25.—A fro”esome young earthquake seems to have passed through here at an early hour yesterday morning. It was travelling rapidly, as if wishing to escape observation ; but one man, at least, is positive that he saw it, or something else, when he went out to feed his horses at about 4 21 by his Waterbury watch. The ground suddenly began to tumble and wobble under him. An iron tank jumped about on its stand, and four empty petrol tins started to waltz gracefully around in and out and all about, as if doing the Lancers. There was a commotion in the stockyard, and a crash in the fence, and something large and dark passed swiftly over him as he fell, and rose and fell
again in a hurried endeavour to reach the house on record time. But whether it was a horse or an earthquake he is not prepared to say. Whatever it was, it was travelling in the direction of his back paddock. Although he sat on the stockyard fence with his gun and waited until the horses came home at daylight, he neither saw nor heard anything more of the uncanny visitant. He is of the opinion that these early morning visitors are calculated to have a disturbing effect on even the best-regulated establishments.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 30 April 1921, page 28.
THE EARTHQUAKE.
The earth tremor felt in Adelaide on Sunday morning was recorded by the seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory (says an official statement). The respective times of the commencement of the first and second phases were 4h. 30m. 38s. a.m. and 4h. 30m. 57s. a.m. The long waves began at 4h. 31m. 9s. and attained a maximum of 0.9mm. amplitude at 4h. 31m. 18s. The duration of the tremor was approximately 10 minutes, the boom of the seismograph coming to rest again at 4h. 40m. a.m. The period during which the vibrations would be perceptible would, of course, be much shorter than this. The record shows that the tremor was not of a very violent nature, and that the distance of the seat of the disturbance from Adelaide was approximately 108 miles.
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 29 April 1921, page 1
An Earthquake.
A very sharp earth tremor, accompanied by a rumbling sound, was experienced by residents of this town at 4.30 Sunday morning. It lasted for nearly a minute. Numbers of people were awakened by the noise and vibration. Houses shook, beds rocked, windows, crockery and ornaments rattled for several seconds after the tremor ceased. No damage was done. It was apparently travelling from nor’east to sou’west.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 27 April 1921, page 3.
An Earth-shock.
On Sunday morning last, most of the residents of Burra were suddenly awakened at 4.40 a.m., by a peculiar vibration accompanied by a loud rumbling. By the time folk were fully awake, the noise had become much louder, the vibration had increased and for about ten seconds buildings were shaken, causing the windows, doors and roofs to rattle. It then gradually died away. From the time the vibration was first felt, until it passed, a fraction over a minute elapsed. Several reports are to hand of cracked walls and fallen plaster but no serious damage was done. The atmospheric conditions of Saturday night were noted by several who remarked that it felt like “earthquake” weather. The following report of Mr. F. Spencer, our local jeweller, may prove of interest to readers : — “In reference to the severe earth-shock experienced on Sunday, the seismograph I have under construction records that the direction of the movement was from north to south, the first shock being very severe. It continued with some force for 30 seconds then gradually ceased. It lasted in all 80 seconds. The portion of seismograph which shows direction gives the first movement as coming from the north-east, which is very decided. Thereafter it settles down to a snake-like movement from direct north to south. Our Farrell’s Flat correspondent writes : — “A severe earth tremor passed over the town at 4.30 a.m. Sunday morning, preceded by a strong wind which blew things about. The shock, which lasted fully a minute, rattled crockery and shook things in general and passed on in a north-easterly direction.”
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 29 April 1921, page 1
GENERAL NEWS.
EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.
On Sunday morning, about 4.30, many residents were awakened by the rumbling and rattling of an earth tremor. The shock was very noticeable, and appeared to be travelling in an easterly direction. Fowls, ducks etc., seemed to be much excited, but so far as can be learnt no damage was done, other than disturbed sleep.
Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 – 1954), Friday 29 April 1921, page 2
EARTHQUAKE.
Two distinct earth tremors, one immediately succeeding the other, frightened many residents of Gawler on Sunday morning at 4.30. The loud rumbling noise that preceded the shake awakened many sleepers, and the first concussion caused little concern, but the second and longer one made many very anxious. Furniture oscillated, and the rattlings of doors and windows be-came very pronounced. Altogether the disturbance was about two minutes duration. The quake was reported from most of the northern towns, and agree with the readings at the Observatory that it was local in character, happening in that strata which lies between the hills and the Gulf. The Observatory gave the distance of the earthquake as 108 miles from Adelaide.
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Monday 25 April 1921, page 2
SEVERE EARTHSHOCK
EARLY MORNING EXPERIENCE.
RESIDENTS OF PIRIE STARTLED
An earth tremor of a rather sharp nature was experienced in Pirie at 4.34 yesterday morning. People who were awake at that time heard a rumbling noise, which was immediately followed by a trembling of the earth, and the rumbling sound died away in the distance.
Crockeryware and articles of a similar description rattled for about a minute or so in consequence of the shaking of the houses. In one establishment, where inmates were sleeping on the balcony, at least two of the number were alarmed to such an extent as to fear that the balcony was parting company with the house. One of the number at first thought that someone was under his bed bumping against it.
In the opinion of some residents of Pirie, the shock was the most severe felt for many years. Cracks in some walls were reported yesterday to have been caused by the shock.
According to a statement by the Pirie postmaster, the duration of the shock was 15 seconds.
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 – 1942), Friday 29 April 1921, page 6
AN EARTH TREMOR FELT AT MORGAN AND CADELL.
Morgan April 24.
The most severe earth tremors ever experienced by even the oldest residents passed over Morgan at 4.31 a.m. on Sunday. The direction of the tremour was very difficult to judge, but most of the residents agree that it was travelling between a north westerly and north easterly direction. The duration of the tremor itself was about 45 seconds, but the vibration was felt for some considerable time after the tremor proper had passed. Houses swayed, furniture moved, beds shook and windows rattled. There was a most distinct creaking of the galvanised iron on the rooves of houses and in one house some glassware was broken.
Several of the residents were quite unnerved by the shock, and one gentleman lay in bed trembling for over an hour. The tremor has been the chief topic of interest to-day, and is being discussed in all quarters. Some of the reports are extremely laughable. One man states that it lasted about 20 minutes, and another who was inclined to treat it rather lightly, having just been awakened, says “that he was brought to his senses when he found his bed almost capsized.
A severe shock was also experienced at Mt. Mary about the same time, where residents were considerably alarmed by the severity of the tremour. It was also felt at Cadell, where it was described as most severe. An exceptionally hot sultry day followed
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 29 April 1921, page 3
STRATHALBYN.
A somewhat sharp shock of earthquake was felt here as in most parts of the State on Sunday morning early, the tremors lasting for several seconds. People were awakened from sleep, and in several houses pictures on the walls were displaced a good deal, and other evidences were given of the severity of the movement of the earth.
Wooroora Producer (Balaklava, SA : 1909 – 1940), Thursday 28 April 1921, page 2
NEWS LETTERS BARABBA, April 28th.
MT. TEMPLETON, April 28.
On the 24th inst., at half-past 4 a m., a violent earthquake shock occurred here. It shook all the houses and made the beds swing as if rocked, crockery rattled on the shelves, and people were all prepared to rise earlier than usual. The vibration lasted about two minutes and was travelling in a south-easterly direction. As the usual Sunday morning sleep was upset, large congregations were expected at all churches to bid a welcome goodbye to the untimely visitor, and find out from those in authority why, how, and where was the cause of the earth tremor.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Thursday 28 April 1921, page 8
TRURO, April 25.— A severe earthshock was felt here on Sunday morning at 4.30 o’clock. Windows and crockery rattled, and some residents got up and ran outside their houses. Another tremor, not so severe, was also felt here.
Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 – 1924), Wednesday 27 April 1921, page 4
SUNDAY’S EARTH TREMOR.
The earth tremor felt in Adelaide on Sunday morning was recorded by the
seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory. The respective times of the commencement of the first and second phases were 4h. 30m. 38s a.m. and 4h. 30m. 57s. a.m. The long wave commenced at 4h. 31m. 9s, and attained a maximum of 0.8mm amplitude at 4h. 31m. 18s. The duration of the tremor was approximately 10 minutes, the boom of the seismograph coming to rest again at 4h. 40m. a.m. The period during which the vibrations would be perceptible would, of course, be much shorter than this. The record shows
that the tremor was not of a very violent nature, and that the distance of the seat of the disturbance from Adelaide was approximately 108 miles.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 25 June 1921, page 28
THE TRAIL OF THE COMET?
Our Narracoorte correspondent writes:— About 20 minutes to 10 o’clock on Wednesday night several residents heard a rumbling noise something like a roll of distant thunder, finishing up with a sound like a number of rifle shots fired irregularly. The sound lasted about half a minute, and some of those who heard it thought it was a fore-runner of an earth shock. Others who were out of doors at the time state that they saw a very large and brilliant meteor falling in the north-eastern heavens, which illuminated the whole countryside, and its appearance in the horizon was followed by a rumbling noise. It appeared to fall from the zenith in the vicinity of the moon. Some who saw it state that the meteor appeared quite near, and that it looked as if it was a brilliant light of an approaching motor car. Perhaps the meteor is connected with the Pons-Winnecke comet.
1922
1922 01 10 at 11:15 UTC, Kapunda
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 13 January 1922, page 2.
An earth Tremor.
A slight earth tremor was felt in Kapunda at about 8.45 on Tuesday evening. A distinct rumble was heard, and was mistaken by many for thunder, but very little vibration was noticeable.
1922 01 16 at 06:10 UTC, Bordertown
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 17 January 1922, page 6. (see Dix)
EARTH TREMORS IN THE COUNTRY. A telegram was received at the General Post Office on Monday from the post-master at Bordertown which stated:— “Slight earth shocks were felt here at 3.40 p.m. They were apparently traveling from the north-west. Wirrega reports that two distinct shocks were experienced there. The disturbance lasted for approximately six seconds. The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) stated that the seismograph at the Observatory had developed no signs of the shock. It was not likely to do so as it was set for long-distance tremors. However, the Weather Office had reported that a slight indication had been recorded on its instrument.
Border Chronicle (Bordertown, SA : 1908 – 1950), Friday 20 January 1922, page 2
An Earth Shock.—A district earth tremor was felt in Bordertown on Monday, 16 January. The time of shock was 3.40 p.m. and it appeared to travel from south to north. In some business premises articles were shaken from the shelves and the quake was felt by most. Wolseley and Wirregaboth reported the experience at about the same time.
1922 05 21 at 20:50 UTC, Mt Gambier
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Friday 26 May 1922, page 6.
EARTH TREMOR AT MOUNT GAMBIER.
Our Mount Gambier correspondent writes:— An earth tremor, slight but distinct, was experienced here at 6.20 a.m. on Monday. People asleep in bed were awakened by a loud rumbling noise, accompanied by the unmistakable vibrations of a seismic disturbance. Crockery rattled, and in one instance a picture fell from the wall, but apart, from this no damage was done. It is just a little more than 25 years since the severest earthquake ever experienced in Mount Gambier occurred. That was on May 10, 1897, and the oscillation of the earth on that occasion cracked buildings, levelled chimneys, twisted at least one church spire, and brought down elevated pinnacles on the taller buildings in the town.
1922 07 09 at 18:10 UTC, Booleroo Centre
Times and Northern Advertiser, Peterborough, South Australia (SA : 1919 – 1950), Friday 14 July 1922, page 2.
BOOLEROO CENTRE.
July 10, 1922.
An earth tremor passed over the district at 3.40 a.m., doors and windows rattling severely. The shock was of short duration.
1922 10 10 at 17:08 UTC, McLaren Vale, felt Adelaide
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Thursday 12 October 1922, page 6
AN EARTH TREMOR.
The Government Astronomer Mr. G. F. Dodwell, reported on Wednesday that at 2.38 a.m. that day an earth tremor was distinctly felt in Adelaide and the country districts. From what he had learned the shock was slight in Adelaide, but Murray Bridge experienced sharp rumblings which caused the buildings to sway and their contents to rattle. The disturbance was registered on the barograph at the Meteorological Department at West-terrace. Dr. Waters of South-terrace, stated that he and an occupant of the room adjoining him were awakened at about 2:30 by a rumbling noise and the shaking of their beds. Mr R. Sandercock, of Piccadilly, reports that the earthquake was felt in that district about 2.30 a.m. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling, and shook the houses severely. A sharp tremor at Yankalilla has been reported to the telegraph authorities, but the time mentioned is about 2.45.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Friday 13 October 1922, page 11
EARTHQUAKE FELT AT COUNTRY CENTRES.
Our Morphett Vale correspondent wrote on Wednesday.— At 2.35 this morning this district was visited by a rather severe earthshock preceded by grumbling sound resembling the passing of a heavy motor lorry driven at a good speed. The shock lasted several seconds, and made the timbers of a large stone house creak. A strong dry northerly wind prevailed yesterday until about 4 p.m. There was no wind at the time of the earthshock, but a strong westerly breeze sprang up 10 minutes after the shook had ended. A brief heavy rainsquall followed. A distinct earth tremor, was felt, here at about 2.40 a.m. on Tuesday (reports our Milang correspondent). The vibration was of brief duration, but sufficiently strong to cause glassware and other articles to rattle on shelves. An earth tremor was experienced here at about 2.30 on Tuesday morning (writes our Inman Valley representative). It was severe enough to awaken most sleepers. The disturbance appeared to be travelling from north-east to south-west, and was accompanied by a fairly loud rumbling noise.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 14 October 1922, page 31. see Dix
AN EARTH TREMOR.
A sharp earth tremor was felt in Adelaide and suburbs at about 2.45 a.m. on Wednesday. It lasted for six or seven seconds, and appeared to be travelling from west to east. The vibration was distinctly perceptible. The Acting Deputy Postmaster-General (Mr. Monfries) advised on Wednesday evening that Yankalila had reported that a sharp earth tremor had been felt in that locality at about 2.45 a.m. on that day.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 13 October 1922, page 2.
THE EARTH TREMOR.
Residents of Mount Barker and district were aroused from their slumbers about 2.30 on Wednesday morning by an earth tremor. Those who slept soundly were sceptical when others spoke of the shock, but Thursday’s daily paper announced that the barograph at the Adelaide Observatory had recorded the shock about 2.30 a.m. At Murray Bridge and Kangarilla it was also felt more severely than in the city, and in Mount Barker the rattling of windows and articles in homes proved that the shock was fairly severe. The times of the shock recorded at various places differ, which is quite in accordance with such tremors travelling from one direction to another.
Figure 7 Places where the earthquake on the 10 October 2022 were reported felt. The magnitude equated to about 4.7.
Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 – 1951), Saturday 14 October 1922, page 2.
Earthquake.
An earth tremor was felt at Kingscote at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The shook lasted several seconds and was accompanied by a dull rumbling noise. It was the most severe experienced on the Island for many years.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 13 October 1922, page 2
THE EARTH TREMOR.
Residents of Mount Barker and district were aroused from their slumbers about 2.30 on Wednesday morning by an earth tremor. Those who slept soundly were sceptical when others spoke of the shock, but Thursday’s daily paper announced that the barograph at the Adelaide Observatory had recorded the shock about 2.30 a.m. At Murray Bridge and Kangarilla it was also felt more severely than in the city, and in Mount Barker the rattling of windows and articles in homes proved that the shock was fairly severe. The times of the shock recorded at various places differ, which is quite in accordance with such tremors travelling from one direction to another.
Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 – 1951), Saturday 14 October 1922, page 2
Earthquake.
An earth tremor was felt at Kingscote at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The shock lasted several seconds and was accompanied by a dull rumbling noise. It was the most severe experienced on the Island for many years.
Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 – 1954), Friday 13 October 1922, page 2
AN EARTH TREMOR.
About 2.30 on Wednesday morning several residents of Gawler were awakened by the rumbling and the distinct tremor of an earthquake. The shock was of short duration, and appeared to be travelling from west to east. In some homes the shock was sufficient to shake the beds and set crockery rattling.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 20 October 1922, page 1
ASHVILLE.
On Tuesday night last, October 10, an earth shock awakened a number of residents at about 2.30. The tremor sounded to be travelling from east to west.
1922 11 24 at 17:40 UTC, Rockwood
Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1923), Tuesday 28 November 1922, page 1.
A LITTLE QUAKE.
Felt at Rockwood.
Another earth tremor was experienced in the Rockwood district at about 10 past 3 o’clock on Saturday morning. Although not so severe as that felt in October there were a loud rumbling sound and a distinct vibration. The disturbance apparently was travelling in the same direction as the former one—from south-west to north-east.
1923
1923 03 03 at 11:30 UTC, Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 – 1951), Saturday 10 March 1923, page 2.
Earth Shocks.
Two distinct earth tremors were noted at various parts of the Island on Saturday last at about 9 p.m. At Hawks Nest the shocks were proceeded by a loud rumbling noise, and these conditions were also experienced at the Salt Lake, we understand. Mr Wohlack, of MacGillivray, reports that the shock was severe there and cracked the kitchen wall in two places.
1923 05 08 at 08:00 UTC, Quorn
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 11 May 1923, page 1.
Earth Tremor.
Quite a distinct earth tremor was felt at the residence of Mr G. Fitzgerald, of Albury Creek, at 5.30.p.m. last Tuesday, The shock lasted several seconds and crockery and windows rattled, the tremor was accompanied by a rumbling noise. Residents at Woolshed Flat and Quorn also felt the tremor. On April 23, about 2 a.m., an earthquake was also felt at Mr Fitzgerald’s residence.
Several residents of Port Augusta state that beds, crockery and windows rattled on Tuesday evening last.
1923 08 12 at 08:35 UTC, Port Pirie
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 25 August 1923, page 13
PORT PIRIE.
August 14. — An earth shock was experienced by residents at about 6.5 on Sunday evening. The direction seemed to be from west to east, and the tremor was of about ten seconds’ duration. Houses were shaken and crockery and glassware on shelves rattled.
1923 10 28 at 16:00 UTC, Jamestown
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Wednesday 31 October 1923, page 8.
NORTHERN EARTH TREMORS.
The earth tremors reported to have occurred at Jamestown and Gladstone on Monday, were stated by the Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) on Tuesday to have been only slight, and were not recorded on the seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory. Mr. Dodwell added that a slight shock had also occurred at Redhill, and the tremors appeared to be confined to the southern portion of the Flinders Range. Such shocks were occasionally reported in consequence of local earth movements in the range areas.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 3 November 1923, page 32.
EARTH TREMOR IN THE NORTH.
The Jamestown correspondent of The Register reported on October 29:—”At 1.30 a.m. on Monday residents here were disturbed from their slumbers by a rather severe earth shock, which was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise.
Figure 8 Isoseismal map of the 28 October 1923 earthquake near Jamestown.
Doors and windows were shaken perceptibly.” A message from Gladstone states:—”A sharp earth tremor was experienced here about 1.25 a.m. on Monday. It seemed to travel in an easterly direction. It was sufficiently strong to cause windows and crockery to rattle.” The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) states that the tremors at Jamestown and Gladstone were only slight, and were not recorded on the seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory. Mr. Dodwell added that a slight shock had also occurred at Redhill, and the tremors appeared to be confined to the southern portion of the Flinders Range. Such shocks were occasionally reported, in consequence of local earth movements in the range areas.
PETERBOROUGH, October 29.—This morning about 1.40 a.m., a severe earthquake was experienced, travelling in a north-easterly direction.
CALTOWTE, October 29.—A severe earthshock was experienced here shortly before 3 a.m. this morning, the rumblings of which could be heard for a considerable time. It appeared to be travelling in a south-easterly direction.
HORNSDALE, October 29.—An earth tremor was felt here at 2.25 a.m. this morning, lasting two seconds. It appeared to be travelling from north to south.
1924
Only two small events were uncovered in the South Australian newspapers, neither of them previously tabulated by Dix (2013). Reports of the 1 August Carrieton earthquake have obviously not yet been digitised.
1924 04 07 at 09:35 UTC, Eudunda
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Wednesday 9 April 1924, page 11
AN EARTH TREMOR.
Our Eudunda correspondent states that at 7.5 p.m. on Monday an earth shock was felt by many residents. The tremor was of about five seconds’ duration, and appeared to be travelling, in a southerly direction. Windows and crockery rattled.
1924 08 01 time?, Carrieton
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 2 August 1924, page 44.
The Government Astronomer states that he has no record of an earth tremor at Carrieton on the seismograph, which seems to indicate that the tremor was slight, and confined to the locality of Carrieton. He has not had any information from other residents of the district, and will keep a copy of the details with the records for future reference.
1924 10 26 at 20:30 UTC, Port MacDonnell
Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 – 1954), Tuesday 28 October 1924, page 3.
An Earth Tremor is reported to have taken place yesterday, the effects of which were felt at Port MacDonnell about 6 a.m., when crockery and windows rattled. The tremor, which travelled from north-west to south-east, lasted for about 30 seconds.
1925
1925 01 16 at 14:15 UTC, Mount Barker
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 23 January 1925, page 2.
EARTH TREMOR FELT.
Those not abed and other aroused from their slumbers at Mount Barker distinctly felt the earth tremor, which has been reported at about midnight in various localities of the State. Although, of short duration, there was no mistaking the nature of the “quake.”
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 23 January 1925, page 5
TWEEDVALE.
On Friday at about a quarter of an hour before midnight, a low rumbling noise of several seconds’ duration was experienced here, resembling that of an earth tremor. It apparently came from a worth-westerly direction and travelled towards the south-east. Many people were aroused from their slumbers by the hollow sounding noise. Although very little vibration was felt everybody declares it was an earthquake.
1925 03 03 at 04:30 UTC, Kadina – several mining related events?
Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 – 1954), Friday 6 March 1925, page 6
EARTH SHOCK AT KADINA.
Residents of Kadina and particularly Kadina South and Newtown, were alarmed on Tuesday, when a particularly severe earth shock was experienced. The occurrence took place at precisely 2 o’clock, and the shock rattled doors, windows and roofs, and in some ways resembled an earth tremor. Accounts of the disturbance differ, some people likening it to a blast as felt in a quarry, others attributing it to a severe thunder clap. In each instance it caused residents to vacate their homes, and compare the happening with the observations of their neighbors and fears were expressed that it was the precursor of an earthquake, such as took place several years ago. It was then recollected that several slight shocks had been noted during the past few months, the latest being on Sunday last, when two distinct shocks, one about a second after the other, were felt at 8.20 p.m. The shock on Tuesday was felt all over the town, and at Jerusalem, and the mineral leases in the vicinity of Jericho, where the ground shook considerably. The occurrence is attributed to a caving in at the mines, which are within a quarter of a mile of Kadina, and that the rising water in the abandoned shafts is responsible.
1925 03 31 at 01:45 UTC, Eyre Peninsula
Eyres Peninsula — AND — West Coast News
STOKES. April 6.
The residents of this locality were somewhat startled on Tuesday, the 31st March, at about 11.15 a.m. by a very peculiar noise. Everyone says it sounded like three distinct explosions, followed by a loud rumbling like thunder. There are a number of opinions as to the cause of the noise. Some declared it was an aeroplane dropping bombs over the sea, others thought there was a big explosion somewhere, and then others say it was probably a meteor fell and exploded. It was heard also at Tumby Bay and Lipson, but not on the other side as far as I can hear, so it could not have been an earthquake as some supposed. One lady says the windows in her house rattled, but no one felt any motion.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Tuesday 14 April 1925, page 2
Eyre Peninsula Tremors — From enquiries made at the Adelaide Observatory today it was learned that little importance was attached to the reports concerning earth tremors on Southern Eyre Peninsula on March 31. The records on which the disturbance would be indicated had not yet been developed. The seismograph at the Observatory is of the Milne 1904 type, and does not record local tremors so well as it does those which occur in distant parts of the world. Since 1904 much scientific data has been gathered and a thoroughly up-to-date Milne-Shaw seismograph will be installed at the Observatory in the near future.
1925 06 ? Date/time, Waikerie – not an earthquake
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 – 1942), Saturday 4 July 1925, page 9
RIVER BANK EROSION
Waikerie, June 30.
A further erosion of the river bank occurred at the end of last week. A number of tons of earth fell away from the cliff side a little upstream from the Waikerie pumping station. Residents of O’Loughlin Street noticed a distinct earth tremor accompaned by a low rumbling sound.
1925 07 23 at 17:30 and 18:40 UTC, Owen
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Saturday 25 July 1925, page 9
SEVERE EARTHSHOCKS.
Reports from Northern Towns
About 3 o’clock, and again at 4.10 o’clock, on Friday morning, two distinct earth tremors were felt at Owen. Most of the residents were awakened by the shocks, which appeared to travel from north to south. Our Balaklava correspondent reported a severe earth tremor at that town at 4.13 a.m. It seemed to travel from west to east. Windows and crockery were shaken, and people who were asleep were awakened by the shock. Our Mount Templeton representative also reported that doors and windows of houses rattled at about 2.15 o’clock on Friday morning.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 31 July 1925, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
On Friday morning of last week, about 4.30 o’clock, a distinct earth tremor was felt in Kapunda. It was accompanied by a loud rumble. Several other lower northern towns report having felt the tremor.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 1 August 1925, page 45
NEWS
At 3 a.m., and again at 4.10 a.m. on July 24, residents of Owen were disturbed by earth tremors. The noise seemed to be travelling from north to south.
Wooroora Producer (Balaklava, SA : 1909 – 1940), Thursday 30 July 1925, page 2
EARTHQUAKE.—A somewhat severe earth tremor was noticed on Friday morning about 4.15 by residents of Balaklava who happened to be awake or who are not sound sleepers. As the majority dld not hear anything of the quake’ it is evident that generally speaking, their rest is not disturbed by troubled consciences or insomnia. Doors and windows shook and plates and dishes rattled on the shelves. There seem to be too many variations in the accounts of the direction the shock was travelling to make any of them acceptable as regards reliability but the conflict of opinion concerning the time may be explained by the fact that about an hour previously there was a slight earthquake.
1925 10 27 at 17:08 UTC, Copley
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Thursday 29 October 1925, page 8
EARTH SHOCK AT COPLEY.
A message from our Copley correspondent on Wednesday night stated that a severe earth shock, which lasted for some time, had been experienced at that town in the early hours of Wednesday morning. There were two distinct shocks, and their direction was thought to be north-west. The rumble was first felt at 2.38 a.m. The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) said that he had not received any notification of the occur-rence, but the seismograph at the Observatory would be examined on tbe following morning.
The Register, Friday 27 November 1925, page 7
DUSTY DAYS AT LEIGH’S CREEK.
Our Leigh’s Creek correspondent writes: — The earthquake reported recently turned out to be a brilliant meteor. The school teacher (Mr. Buddrian) described it as a beautiful sight. There were two loud reports as it burst. People who were sleeping out were awakened by the noise.1926
1926 06 18 at 14:30 UTC, Birdwood
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 22 June 1926, page 8.
EARTH TREMOR AT BIRDWOOD. Our Birdwood correspondent writes:— On Friday evening, at about midnight, a number of residents of the district, who happened to be awake at the time, observed a slight earth tremor. A low, rumbling noise was heard, and continued for some time, and, in a number of instances, buildings shook, and crockery and other loose articles in the homes rattled in an alarming manner.
1926 07 07 at 13:45 UTC, probably not an earthquake
South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 – 1954), Friday 9 July 1926, page 2.
At 11 o’clock on Wednesday evening mild thunderstorm passed over Millicent. Several blinding flashes of lightning were followed by loud peals of thunder. At 11.15 p.m. a weird, rumbling noise was heard. The reverberation lasted on an even key for about ten seconds, and ceased quickly as it had commenced. A slight tremor that accompanied the noise led many residents to the conclusion that an earth shock had occurred, and opinions are about evenly divided as to whether the disturbance was of atmospheric or seismic origin.
1926 10 09 at 05:00 UTC, Jamestown
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Saturday 9 October 1926, page 1.
EARTH TREMOR Reported Shake at Jamestown
HOUSES RATTLED Advice by telephone from Dr. Brian (?) Hamilton, at Jamestown, indicated that there was a slight earth tremor at the northern town about 2.30 this afternoon. Dr. Hamilton stated that although the tremor was not severe it caused pieces of plaster to fall from walls and made doors and windows of houses rattle. It was accompanied by a slight muffled sound and lasted for a few seconds. He thought that the tremor was travelling from east to west.
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 15 October 1926, page 3.
Georgetown News.
October 13 th.
Many people were alarmed shortly after 2 p.m. on Saturday by the occurrence of a slight earth tremor. Windows shook and crockery rattled on the shelves and the tremor underfoot was distinctly felt.
1927
On 23 April 1927 both the Milne and replacement Milne-Shaw seismograph were on test at Adelaide Observatory and recorded an earthquake in the Philippines.
On 19 May 1927, the first local earthquakes were recorded on the replacement seismograph at the Observatory, a Milne-Shaw, a properly damped, more sensitive seismograph than the original Milne recorder installed in 1909.
1927 04 08 at 10:00 UTC, Truro
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Saturday 9 April 1927, page 14.
EARTH TREMOR AT TANUNDA.
An earth tremor occurred at Tanunda at 7.30 p.m. on Friday. It was travelling in an easterly direction. Its duration was about 5 seconds. No reports of damage were made. When passing through Mount Pleasant a little earlier the tremor was very slight, and many residents were unaware that it had occurred.
Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 – 1954), Thursday 14 April 1927, page 3.
EARTH TREMOR FELT AT GREENOCK.
A very sharp earthquake shock was felt here at 7.30 p.m., on Friday last, writes our Greenock correspondent. The first shock was sharp, but did not last long. A minor tremor, however, prevailed for several seconds and caused a creepy unnatural feeling to pervade one’s anatomy. The atmosphere was very calm at the time.
Figure 9 Map of the felt area of the small earthquake near Truro on 8 April 1927.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 12 April 1927, page 11.
COUNTRY NEWS.
TRURO, April 11.—A severe earth tremor was felt by the residents of Truro about 7.30 p.m. Friday. The approach was distinctly heard for a few seconds before the actual earth tremors were felt. Tanks, roofs, and walls rattled and trembled, and dwellers made stampedes for the open. Many residents heard the noise of the approach, but mistook it for a motor lorry. It was travelling in a northerly direction, and the rumble could be heard passing through the hills to the north of the town. The tremor lasted about 30 seconds.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 16 April 1927, page 46
SEVERE EARTHSHOCK.
Reports of a very severe earth tremor were received from country centres on April 8:—
SPRINGTON.—At about 7.35 p.m. a severe earthshock was felt, accompanied by a noise and vibration as if a 10-ton lorry were passing. Crockery and windows were shaken, and fowls jumped off their perches. The shock lasted about five seconds.
KAPUNDA.—A very severe earthshock, accompanied by loud rumbling, occurred here at 7.32 p.m., and lasted about 10 seconds. It appeared to travel from south-east to north-west. Windows and crockery were shaken. The shock was the most severe one felt for many years.
EUDUNDA.—A severe earth tremor was felt here about 7.30 this evening, accompanied by very loud rumbling. Windows and doors were shaken.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Saturday 9 April 1927, page 13.
SEVERE EARTHSHOCK.
SPRINGTON.— At about 7.35 p.m. a severe earthshock was felt, accompanied by a noise and vibration as if a 10 ton lorry were passing. Crockery and windows were shaken, and fowls jumped off their perches. The shock lasted about five seconds.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 12 April 1927, page 11
TRURO, April 11.—A severe earth tremor was felt by the residents of Truro about 7.30 p.m. Friday. The approach was distinctly heard for a few seconds before the actual earth tremors were felt. Tanks, roofs, and walls rattled and trembled, and dwellers made stampedes for the open. Many residents heard the noise of the approach, but mistook it for a motor lorry. It was travelling in a northerly direction, and the rumble could be heard passing through the hills to the north of the town. The tremor lasted about 30 seconds.
1927 04 27 at 21:00 UTC, Whyalla
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Friday 29 April 1927, page 1.
EARTH TREMOR.
Felt Over Gulf.
WHYALLA, Thursday.
A slight earth tremor was felt here this morning at about 6.30 o’clock. It appeared to he travelling from north to south.
Milne-Shaw seismograph under test – April 1927
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Saturday 23 April 1927, page 16
THE MANILA EARTHQUAKE. The earthquake reported from Manila was recorded on the Milne and Milne-Shaw seismographs of the Adelaide Observatory early on Wednesday morning. The movement of the boom was small on both seismographs. Times of the phases are:— Primary waves, 3h. 8m 18s. a.m. on April 20 secondary waves, 3h. 16m. 28s.; long waves, 3h. 23m. 30s.: maximum wave 3h. 29m 45s. The maximum amplitude of the long waves as recorded on the Milne-Shaw instrument was 2.1 millimetres.
1927 05 19 at 16:10 UTC, Penneshaw
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 4 June 1927, page 8.
KlNGSCOTE May 21.—On Friday last at 1.40 a.m. at Penneshaw, there was an earthquake shock felt for a few seconds only. The local tremor lasting about one and a half seconds, came first. It passed at incredible speed in a north-westerly direction, booming and vibrating as though in a vast subterranean cavern.
1927 05 19 at 16:55 & 23:46 UTC and 05 20 at 00:44 UTC, Eudunda
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Saturday 21 May 1927, page 2
THE UNSTABLE EARTH.
EUDUNDA RESIDENTS ALARMED.
Adelaide, Friday.
Officials at the Adelaide Observatory report that several sharp earth tremors were recorded, the first at 2.25, the second at 9.16, and the third at 10.14 this morning.
Telegrams received today, report that a sharp tremor was experienced at Robertstown at 2.30 a.m. and that Eudunda residents report that they felt sharp earth tremors which were accompanied by much rumbling.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Friday 20 May 1927, page 1
EARTH TREMORS
Three Recorded In Country
MUCH RUMBLING
Several sharp earth tremors were experienced in the country early this morning. Officials at the Observatory state that three slight tremors of short duration had been recorded. The first one occurred at 2.25 a.m. the second at 9.16, and the third at 10.14. Telegrams have been received by Mr. L. H. Griffiths (Acting Deputy Post-master-General) that a sharp tremor had been experienced at Robertstown at 2.30 a.m., and that residents of Eudunda reported that they had also felt distinct earth tremors. The tremors were accompanied by much rumbling.
Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 – 1954), Thursday 26 May 1927, page 2
GREENOCK.
Our Greenock correspondent states that ….. Very early on Friday morning a fairly sharp earth tremor was experienced, very similar to the one felt several weeks ago.
1927 11 19 at 23:15 ITC, Williamstown
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 26 November 1927, page 48
EARTH TREMOR.
Williamstown, November 21.
An earth tremor occurred here on Sunday, at 8.45 a.m. Windows shook, ceilings creaked, and crockery rattled. It appeared to be travelling from east to west.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Wednesday 23 November 1927, page 9
AN EARTH TREMOR.
KAPUNDA, November 22.— Referring to the earth shock reported by the Chain of Ponds correspondent as having been felt there on Sunday morning at 8.30, a slight tremor was noticed here at 08.40, so apparently it was travelling from south to north. It was of only a few seconds duration, and was accompanied by low rumbling.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 25 November 1927, page 2
AN EARTH TREMOR.
A slight earth tremor was felt in Kapunda on Sunday morning at 8.40, and appeared to be travelling from South to North. It lasted only a few seconds, and was accompanied by a low rumbling noise.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 15 November 1927, page 14
ADELAIDE’S GEOLOGY.
Under the conduct of Dr. Charles Fenner, a party of field naturalists spent a profitable time on Saturday in examining the rocks near the Glen Osmond quarry. The first point of interest was found in some huge boulders — 10 ft. in length, and many tons in weight— lying out on the alluvial plain in Ridge Park, as much as a mile from the face of the ranges. These boulders had been described by Professor Howchin some years ago. They were probably carried out of the Glen Osmond gully in an exceptional flood, so-called “cloud-burst.” The members had their attention drawn to the difference between the bedding of the layers and the joint planes. The former had been originally laid down horizontally in shallow water, and subjected to intense pressure and earth tremors. The layers were consequently often twisted and contorted or uplifted at a greater or smaller angle. The ceaseless, though gradual, movements also had the effect of splitting the layers in great blocks by fissures in three directions. These fissures often cut the strata transversely. The percolation of water charged with gases and other mineral salts disintegrated the solid rocks. In the quarry this process could be traced to several feet from the surface. The soil above overlay a long tongue of red-coloured clay, and crossing the layers obliquely and beneath were seen layers in various stages of decay. It was in this way soil was prepared for the more lowly forms of plant life, and these, by their decay, formed the humus for the more highly specialized creatures. The presence of the joint ‘planes’ was of great importance to the quarryman and the stonecutter as it was along these fissures that the stone most readily split. In some of the rubble at the bottom were observed, the curious fern-like traceries, technically known as ‘dendrites,’ explained as due to the presence of manganese in the percolating water. Veins of quartz in some of the shales, had penetrated when in a solution, and when the layers had been twisted at great depths those veins had been ruptured, a phenomenon plainly visible in some of the stones lying about. A specimen of quartz and iron pyrites (in which gold is often found) was picked up. The party ascended to the well-known white chimney. The line of the great “fault,” or “rift,” that had upraised the Mount Lofty Range and its continuations in Port Pirie, while another part of the original tableland had sunk beneath the water could be readily marked from this vantage ground. The detritus brought down from the once mighty mountains by rains and streams had built up the fertile Adelaide plains.
1928
1928 04 07 at 21:25 UTC, Hawker
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 21 April 1928, page 8.
HAWKER, April 8.—An earth tremor was felt here at 6.55 a.m. this morning, the windows and doors shook and rattled.
1928 04 11 at 15:00 UTC, Kadina
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Monday 16 April 1928, page 13.
EARTH SHOCKS AT KADINA
About 12.30 a.m. on April 12, three distinct earth shocks were noted at Kadina, particularly in the vicinity of Wallaroo Mines and Lipson-avenue, Kadina South. The second shock was especially severe, and the buildings gave a distinct tremor. It is stated as the cause, that several of the drives and cross-cuts in the nearby mines are caving in, and that this subsidence is responsible for the shocks that have been experienced from time to time.
1928 05 31 at 11:42 UTC, Edillilie
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Saturday 16 June 1928, page 19.
AN EARTH TREMOR.
Felt on Eyre’s Peninsula.
EDILLILIE, June 5.—A slight earth tremor was felt by a number of residents on May 31 between 9.10 and 9.15 p.m. The disturbance lasted several minutes.
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 8 June 1928, page 8
Earthquake at Wanilla
At 9.30 o’clock last Thursday night, an earth tremor was felt at Wanilla. It was strong enough to shake the ornaments in some of the homes in the district.
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 8 June 1928, page 2
EARTHQUAKE IN CUMMINS DISTRICT
Cummins, June 2.
About 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, a slight earthquake occurred just north of Cummins. Several farmers report having felt a slight earth tremor, and the noise was heard distinctly at Cummins and Koppio.
1928 09 05 at 11:32 UTC, Kadina
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Saturday 8 September 1928, page 2
EARTH SHOCK AT KADINA.
Residents at Kadina were alarmed at a few minutes after eleven o’clock on Wednesday night, when a severe earth shock was experienced in the town and vicinity. The shock was unheralded by any rumble or tremor and was the severest felt here for a long time. A distinct swaying motion was noted; doors swung outwards, crockery clattered on shelves and windows rattled loudly in Kadina South, while alarm was occasioned at the Ideal Picture Theatre, and in various private houses over a radius of miles. At a residence near Matta Flat, chairs were displaced and pictures swung out of alignment and the inhabitants were fearful of a real earthquake. It is conjectured in some quarters that a subsidence of certain strata took place accounting for the shock, while others are of the opinion that the workings of the copper mines are caving in as the result of accumulations of water and gases. As some of the drives and shafts are over 2,000 ft. down this explanation is not accepted by a large number of people, although it is a fact that a large area subsided in the neighborhood of one of the main shafts two years ago.
1928 09 18 at 21:50 UTC, Kapunda
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 21 September 1928, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
As earth tremor was felt in Kapunda on Wednesday morning at about 7.20. It was only of short duration, and was accompanied by a low rumbling noise.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Tuesday 25 September 1928, page 12
AN EARTH TREMOR. Our Greenock correspondent reports that at 7.20 a.m. on Wednesday last a distinct earth tremor was experienced throughout that district. The shock, ac companied with a loud rumbling noise, lasted for three or four seconds. Doors shook and windows and crockery rattled. The direction appeared to be from S.W. to N.E.
Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954), Saturday 10 November 1928, page 11
DEATH FROM WITHIN AUSTRALIA DEEMED SAFE
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
‘The lava flow is a volcano’s safety valve. Without it there might be immense danger to human life. Earthquake and volcanic activity go hand in hand, and this is a period of more than usual anxiety for residents in earthquake regions,’ said Sir Douglas Mawson (Professor of Geology at Adelaide University). Sir Douglas says that the crust of Australia is ‘very stable.’
‘Although the Mount Etna calamity is extremely serious,’ said Sir Douglas, ‘it should be remembered that when volcanoes are actually gushing lava the greatest danger is eliminated. The most destructive volcanic eruptions have always been those of sudden violence from a state of quiescence. The lava flow is the safety valve for the pent-up forces underground. If there had been no extravasations of lava, or gases, at Etna, but merely preliminary earthquakes and rumblings, the danger to human life in the neighboring region might have been immense, for, sooner or later, under those conditions, the subterranean forces would become so powerful, the gas pressure so great, that the entire top of the mountain would probably be blown off.’
‘Is that not what happened to Mount Gambier in our own State?’ Sir Douglas was asked.
‘Yes. Mount Gambier eruption was doubtless one great violent burst, piling stones conelike, and scattering them, and ashes, mostly the latter. Scientific theories have been advanced in an endeavor to prove that the aboriginal existed here at the time, but there is no clear evidence. It is generally accepted that the eruption occurred before human habitation. ‘Before the great eruption of Mont Pelee, on the Island of Martinique, in the West Indies, in 1902, the town of St. Pierre, nestling a few miles away on the seaboard, was warned by premonitory rumblings for several weeks. There was no flow of lava, but suddenly and without, warning the top of the mountain was blown to dust. It descended as hot cinders, associated with poisonous gases, upon St. Pierre, and its 30,000 inhabitants lost their lives within a few minutes. No such catastrophe is likely to happen at Etna, because its safety valve is open, but there will, of course, be immense dam-age to property and resultant suffering. ‘It is acknowledged today that earthquakes are slippages of portions of the earth’s cruet, solid bodies moving on others, causing vibration. Australia is very stable in this regard. We are not seriously troubled with earthquakes or volcanoes, but occasionally earth tremors are felt. As we descend into the earth’s crust it gets hot. Mines and bores show that. At a depth of 20 miles or so ordinary rock becomes liquid. From 20 to 40 miles below the crust is liquid, or potentially so. From there to the centre it is hotter, and even more liquid, and when cracks form in the earth’s crust this is forced out as lava. Under ordinary circumstances, if that liquid were merely rock matter it would flow at the surface with out even sputtering, but it is the large quantities of gaseous matter, compressed when beneath the crust, that cause the great noise the moment they reach the surface of the earth.
Author – we have learned a lot in the 100 years since this interview.
1929
Dr Pigot, a well-loved popular figure, Jesuit, scientist, teacher, musician, observer, died on 22 May 1929 but is long remembered for his work at Riverview Observatory.
Four small South Australian earthquakes were reported in local newspapers in 1929 but they represent all three of the known seismic zones of South Australia. It is clear that newspaper digitisation is not complete for the year.
Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 – 1954), Thursday 30 May 1929, page 2
Death of the Rev. Dr. Pigot
By the death on the 22nd instant (writes ‘The Argus’) of the Rev. Dr Edward Francis Pigot, S.J. of St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney, is lost one of the most brilliant and versatile scientists who have worked in Australia. Dr Pigot earned international reputation as a seismologist, and the observatory which he established and developed at Riverview was generally acknowledged to be the most complete in the Southern Hemisphere and amongst the most elaborate in the world. Before entering the Jesuit order, Father Pigot, who at his death was 71 years, had obtained the degree of doctor of medicine and bachelor of arts at Trinity College, Dublin, and had done much work in chemistry and physics. Later he had turned his attention to seismology, and when he was ordained in 1891 the Jesuit order, as is its practice, gave him opportunities of continuing the work for which he showed a decided bent.
1929 02 06 at 01:00 UTC, Bordertown
Border Chronicle (Bordertown, SA : 1908 – 1950), Friday 8 February 1929, page 2
AN EARTH TREMOR.—A modified earthquake or “earth tremor” was felt in different parts of the Tatiara on Wednesday last, February 6. The shake took place about 10.30 a.m. and was felt in Bordertown and reported at the same time from different parts of the district. The quake was not very severe, but was sufficiently brisk to shake and rattle crockery and glassware stacked on shelves. At the time of the shake the sky was slightly overcast as if a change were brewing up, but no weather change followed.
1929 03 15 at 03:40 UTC, Oodlawirra
Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 1929 – 1931), Friday 22 March 1929, page 27.
OODLAWIRRA.— At 1.10 p.m. on Friday an earth tremor was felt.
1929 10 02 at 21:15 UTC, Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 4 October 1929, page 1
EARTH TREMORS
A slight earthquake was felt in Port Lincoln about 6.45 a.m. on Thursday. The tremors lasted about half-a-minute, and were accompanied by a rumbling noise.
West Coast Recorder (Port Lincoln, SA : 1909 – 1942), Thursday 3 October 1929, p. 1
Earthquake.
EARLY MORNING VISITOR.
Coming from the South-West and travelling North-East, towards Boston Island, an earthquake passed through Port Lincoln at about 5.40 a.m. this morning (Thursday). Many of the residents were alarmed at the rumbling sound, which lasted only about eight seconds, but seemed longer; others thought it was thunder until the buildings began to vibrate with rattling doors and windows. Others attributed the rumbling sounds to some heavily laden lorry passing their premises, and expressed astonishment when told it was an earthquake.
1929 11 30 at 03:30 UTC, Belalie North
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 6 December 1929, page 1
BELALIE NORTH.
December 2.
A terrific dust storm visited here on Sunday and lamps had to be lit to see indoors, and on Friday about 1 p.m. a severe earth tremor was felt.
Acknowledgments
Katherine Dix (previously Malpas) and her family did a very thorough job trowelling through the old South Australian newspapers, a thankless but useful task. Before her Alison McArdle and Bierbaum also spent considerable time on this historical project. David Love was always supportive of this long-lasting project. Cartographer Gayle Young, at a moments notice, generated Figure 2.