by Kevin McCue
Introduction
The decade of the 1930s showed significant fluctuations in annual numbers of earthquakes identified, located and assigned a magnitude, varying between 0 in 1938 and 17 in 1939 with a mean of 5.5. There were 8 earthquakes in 1939 excluding aftershocks of the damaging Nilpena earthquake near Parachilna on 26 March 1939, the largest earthquake, magnitude 5.5, in the decade in South Australia. The depression and start of World War II in 1938 did not seem to dampen the public enthusiasm for reporting earthquakes to the media or Adelaide Observatory.
One contributing factor to the fluctuating number of annual earthquakes in South Australia may have been the occurrence of great, magnitude M≥8, earthquakes on the plate boundary north of Australia in 1935 and 1938.
The on-line newspaper search tool, Trove, at the Australian National Library has again been utilised to scan and correct, where necessary, stories about South Australian earthquakes.
This report of earthquakes in the state for 1930 to 1939 has yielded 55 earthquakes compared with 32 found by Dix (2013) but the 55 includes aftershocks of the Parachilna earthquake in 1939. The Milne-Shaw seismograph replaced the Milne recorder in 1927 but was not much better for recording local earthquakes.
Figure 1 Histogram of earthquakes observed and located in South Australia in the decade of the 1930s (yes, none in 1938).
Where useful, we have drawn maps of felt areas to demonstrate the extent of reports and the intensity or strength of shaking, whether damaging or not, frightening or not, and the cause; earthquake, meteorite or man-made events such as mining induced, sonic booms, navy or army exercises, quarry blasts or other explosions.
Bon mots from the newspapers of the decade
Relevant newspaper stories in the period throw light on the society’s understanding of earthquakes and what they were dealing with, every 3 months on average another story of buildings shaken, populations stirred. A few of the stories are repeated here; the downplaying of risk, the hope for understanding, relationship with faulting and even the possibility of imminent prediction.
She’ll be right
Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931), Tuesday 7 April 1931, page 6
ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE
It may be true that, as Sir John Herschell said, “the earthquake is always at work,” but the past 12 months has been distinguished above most similar periods as a year of cosmic disturbance. …….Sir Edgeworth David’s view has authoritative support. Happily, earthquakes of any magnitude are not to be expected in Australia. Our terrain has been tolerably stable for a thousand years or more. We have had, even in Adelaide, slight disturbances, and more often in other parts of the State; but these movements are proceeding everywhere on the globe, and will do so, probably, as long as the earth lasts. Australians, in going to bed, need have no fear of being swallowed up before morning.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 7 February 1934, page 18
EARTH TREMORS
South Australia’s Shaky Spots
The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) said yesterday that South Australia’s shock spots were to be found along the line of the Flinders Ranges, particularly in the northern prolongation of the mountains. They were, however, neither very frequent nor severe. … they were minor adjustments or alterations of the geological foundations—a settling down or a rising up, which would give the surface a slight tremor. In the area he mentioned the earth was geologically faulty, the outward signs being big cracks running deep into the ground. From time to time a settlement of the earth in such places would occur, resulting in a minor earth shock.
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 27 September 1935, page 2
Progress at Tennant’s Creek
SHOPS AND HOUSES BEING ERECTED
Travellers from Tennant’s Creek inform us that the township is forging ahead and that many shops and houses are being erected on the field. The country is upsetting the preconceived ideas of geologists. Where they say it is useless to look for gold, the prospector comes along and proves them wrong. Prof. Woolnough, we believe, has changed his opinion in regard to the nature of this country, but others will not, and it will take more than an earthquake to shift them. Good quantities of gold are being won, but the principal draw-back to the field is lack of water. The extra train to Alice Springs is well patronised and is paying handsomely, in fact the Central Australian line is a far better proposition than the East-West section.
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 22 May 1936, page 3
EARLY DAYS OF EYRE PENINSULA
Exploration of North-West of State
(by J. D. SOMERVILLE.)
Surely it must have been sister fairies of those at ‘ Wingilpin,’ that some distance beyond had charge of the underground water supply, who in their beneficent good nature locked up the spring water during the day time, releasing it at night, so that the water would not be wasted on the hot scorched sand or evaporated by the fierce rays of the summer’s sun, while the mischievous fairies underground kept up a continuous growl all day long causing earthquakes and earth tremors, releasing loose stones which rolled down the hill sides and cliffs with a continual flatter. If Dean Swift had been fortunate enough to have heard that word and the fables connected with it, he would have had some ground for locating his Lilliputians in that country.
Magnitude
Magnitude is computed as per Richter’s (1958) suggestion that magnitude scales with felt area using McCue’s (1980) equation derived from Australian earthquakes in the range 3≤ML/Ms≤6.8
M= 1.01ln(Rp) +0.13
where M is the Richter magnitude derived from the radius of perceptibility Rp (the radius of a circle equivalent to the area in km2 enclosed by the MM3 contour).
Figure 2 Recurrence relation for the decade of earthquakes in South Australia 1930-1939 (orange), excluding aftershocks, compared with that for the instrumental period 1965 – 2020 (black).
The recurrence relation for earthquakes in the decade-long study period 1930-1939 is shown in the graph. The line of best fit is:
LogNc = 2.14 – 0.59M
where Nc is the cumulative number of earthquakes above magnitude M. This equation predicts a once-per-year earthquake of about magnitude 3.6 and a one-in-10yr event of magnitude 5.3. The slope of the line or ‘b’ value is 0.6 which is quite low compared with the value of 1.0 for the instrumental period 1965-2020 suggesting not all the small historical earthquakes were being reported and located.
On Time
A certain amount of care and judgment has to be made in corroborating the reported time of an observation with a particular earthquake, the reported times can vary an hour or even more, or may be expressed as ‘sometime between 11 and 12 pm’. Dates can be out by a week or two (last weeks earthquake ……). Occasionally an earthquake may be reported at similar times at localities hundreds of kilometres apart, with no reports from towns in-between, or reported by a single person from a suburb in Adelaide but nowhere else.
The Earthquakes
The earthquake of the decade for most people was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake on 24 July 1931 at 10:28 am local time. The centre of the felt area puts the epicentre between Adelaide and Port Adelaide. It was felt throughout the city and suburbs of Adelaide but did no apparent damage. The largest earthquake though was a magnitude 5.5 earthquake at Nilpena and Motpena stations near Parachilna in the mid-north, east of Lake Torrens and nearly 500km north of Adelaide, that caused damage over a remarkably wide area. The main shock occurred on 9 March 1939 and spurred a vigorous aftershock sequence, two of which were about magnitude 5. The frequency of earthquakes in the decade is illustrated in the recurrence relation discussed above, which showed it to be quite an active decade, earthquake-wise.
Unusual were the two Nullabor earthquakes of February 1930, felt over a large area of the West Coast, and that of May 1936 across the border in Western Australia but not reported in South Australia, both about magnitude 5.
Earthquakes felt in Adelaide in 1930-1939
Two earthquakes were felt in Adelaide in the period 1930 to 1939, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake slightly west of the city on 24 July 1931 which shook everyone in the city and Port Adelaide but did no damage.
The second was a smaller earthquake on 17 May 1936, magnitude 3.6, centred in the Hills to the east of Adelaide but was felt mildly only in Adelaide’s southeast suburbs.
Aftershocks and swarms
An energetic aftershock sequence was spawned by the Nilpena main shock of March 1939, 2 of the aftershocks about magnitude 5. Seventeen felt aftershocks had been noted in the first 4 days after the mainshock.
An earthquake swarm near Loxton in early/mid June 1932 is mentioned in the following section.
Primary and secondary effects of earthquakes
There were no reports of faulting or liquefaction but large landslides may have corresponded with reports of earthquakes in the Loxton area in June 1932. Earthquake damage to buildings seems to have been restricted to the largest earthquake, near Parachilna in March 1939. At Maree the post-office clock stopped at 1:32 pm. At Nilpena an old masonry wall collapsed and the homesteads at both Nilpena and Motpena were badly cracked. However even at Port Augusta 175km away, the shaking was strong and the town hall was rent by 3 large cracks that required urgent repair.
Aftershocks were still being felt at Nilpena in June and possibly as late as August.
References
Dix, Katherine. 2013. South Australian Historical Earthquakes in the Pre-Instrumental Period 1873-1963: A Comprehensive Chronicle and Analysis of Available Intensity Date. A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy, The University of Adelaide, September 2013.
McCue, K.F. 1980. Magnitudes of some early earthquakes in South-eastern Australia. Search 11(3),78-80.
Richter, C. F. 1958. Elementary Seismology. Freeman.
1930
Only two earthquakes could be positively identified and located during the year, one of them in the Nullabor, a surprising location for a near magnitude 5 earthquake. But on 4 May 1936 an even larger earthquake occurred west of this one, its epicentre in Western Australia.
1930 02 04 at 13:45 UTC, Ceduna
Western Mail (Ceduna, SA : 1928 – 1930), Friday 7 February 1930, page 1
AN EARTH TREMOR.
At 11-15 on Tuesday night a distinct earth tremor was felt in Ceduna. The disturbance lasted about five seconds, during which time there was active vibration. It seemed to travel from North-West to South-West.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Monday 10 February 1930, page 16
EARTH TREMOR
SENSATION AT OOLDEA HOUSES SHAKEN
Residents of Ooldea on the East-West railway were startled on Tuesday night by what was regarded as an earth tremor.
It was stated that about 25 minutes to 11 o’clock at night (February 4), the residents were awakened by a loud rushing noise coming from a north-easterly direction. It was accompanied by an earth tremor and the houses were shaken. The furniture rocked about as if on board ship during a storm. The noise sounded like a locomotive engine tearing past at full speed. There was hardly any breeze at the time, and the sensational sound gradually died away as if travelling in a south-westerly direction. From the time it was first heard until it had died away only about two minutes elapsed.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Tuesday 11 February 1930, page 17
WEST COAST EARTH TREMORS
The earth tremors felt about 10.35 p.m. on February 4 at Ooldea were not strong enough to be recorded at the Observatory, stated the Government Astronomer (Mr. G. Dodwell) yesterday. He said the tremors seemed to be the same as occurred at Koonibba, near Denial Bay. 150 miles south-east of Ooldea, and seemed to have travelled over a fairly wide area. The previous earth tremor felt on the West Coast was one near Port Lincoln on October 3.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 13 February 1930, page 42
EARTHQUAKE AT COORABIE
Coorabie, February 5.
A slight earthquake was felt by a number of residents at 11.45 last night. The waves appeared to be travelling in a southerly direction.
Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 1929 – 1931), Thursday 6 February 1930, page 3
Earth Tremors On West Coast
Koonibba, West Coast, yesterday reported that sustained earth tremors and rumblings had occurred. The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said the earthquake could not have been very severe, and was more or less confined to the locality. It had not affected the Adelaide seismograph. “The last earthquake,” Mr. Dodwell said, “was also on the West Coast, at Port Lincoln, on October 3. It was very mild, and was not recorded in Adelaide.”
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Friday 14 February 1930, page 24
COUNTRY REPORTS
PENONG — An earth tremor was distinctly heard and felt by the residents of the district.
West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay, SA : 1912 – 1954), Friday 4 April 1930, page 9
CORRESPONDENCE.
Dear Aunt Jane—Just a few lines. I hope you and the club members are well. Did you feel the earth tremor on Tuesday night about half past 11. Mum and father did, I never. It is raining now….. I must close now, with love from MARY BURFORD, Glen Boree (Ed. Bookabie).—No, we did not notice the earth tremor. It seems a pity to miss those things, don’t you think?
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 12 September 1930, page 3
On Sunday night a thunder-storm occurred followed by rain and about 3 a.m. a slight earth tremor was felt by those who sleep lightly.
Ed- this sounds more like thunder!
Figure 3 Felt area of the 4 February 1930 earthquake in the Nullabor. The area is sparsely populated but there are enough reports to attempt to draw a felt-area map, the magnitude about 5.0.
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 – 1942), Friday 28 November 1930, page 4
NETHERLEIGH
Netherleigh, November 18.
An Earthquake
Weather has been changeable. We have had some wind and dust and there was an earthquake about 11 o’clock on Saturday night. On Sunday night a little rain fell end this will help to keep the rust going.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1930 02 04 | 13:05 | -31.3 | 132.8 | 4.9 | Nullabor | This paper |
| 1930 11 15 | 13:30 | -34.5 | 139.8 | 2.5 | Netherleigh | This paper |
1931
Adelaide had its strongest shaking between 1902 and 1954 on 24 July 1931. The magnitude 4.7 earthquake west of Adelaide surprisingly did no damage.
1931 03 31 at 16:30 UTC and 04 05 at 18:30 UTC, Belalie North
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 10 April 1931, page 1
BELALIE NORTH.
Slight earth shocks were felt here at 2 a.m. on Thursday and at 4 a.m. Monday.
1931 04 03 at 00:27 UTC, Adelaide – doubtful, only felt by one person.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Tuesday 7 April 1931, page 4
KNOCKED GLASS OVER Earth Tremor Felt at Halton Gardens (now Burnside) An earth tremor was felt at the home of Mr. W. Langdon Parsons, in Orange grove, Halton Gardens, last Friday morning. A tumbler was knocked over, and the weatherboard laundry was rattled. Mr. Parsons communicated with Adelaide Observatory, which, however, did not have an instrument to record local earthquakes as they are so infrequent. Of few seconds duration, the earthquake occurred between 9:57 and 9.58 o’clock. The observatory is eager to obtain further information with regard to any rumbling noise heard, and the direction from which it came.
1931 06 20 at 13:58 UTC, Berri and Loxton meteorite
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 25 June 1931, page 40
ANOTHER METEORITE
BURSTS NEAR BERRI AND LOXTON EARTH TREMOR FELT
Shortly before midnight on Saturday a meteorite burst in the sky and appeared to fall near Berri and Loxton. It threw out shafts of brilliant bluish green and red light, and was followed by a noise like a sharp clap of thunder.
The houses in both townships were shaken by an earth tremor severe enough to make the windows rattle for nearly a minute. The bursting of the fire-ball was preceded by a vivid pale blue light, which was seen in townships more than 100 miles from either Berri or Loxton. In Adelaide, and at Balaklava and Karoonda, the sky looked like a huge blue-lighted sheet. Those who saw the phenomenon at Loxton say that it came from the south-west, and when it burst it sent out rays of light which made it easy to distinguish houses and trees, and seemed to flash over the whole of the sky. There was a lapse of about two minutes before the rumbling noise and the earth tremor. Professor Kerr Grant last night explained this interval between the time of the flash and the noise by stating that the noise was only heard when the meteorite entered the lower air. It might have burst many miles from the earth. Houses Shaken The houses appear to have been shaken more severely at Loxton where several residents, particularly those living on the River Murray bank, were much alarmed, until they reassured themselves by putting the window rattling down to the effects of the wind. Most were in bed at the time, but there very few who were not awakened. The tremor was felt also at Meribah. At Renmark only a slight earth tremor was felt, but the flash was very bright. It was at Karoonda that a party of University students found the last meteorite which fell in this State. Pro-fessor Kerr Grant said there was nothing peculiar in the fact that two had fallen in the same district. It was just a coincidence. There was no doubt that Saturday night’s phenomenon had been a meteorite which, apparently, had burst. Unless some pre-cise information could be secured it would not be worth while looking for it, as it was unlikely that any large pieces would be found. The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) had no doubt about the character of the phenomenon. The earth tremor, he said, would be felt only within a radius of ebout 50 miles of where the meteorite fell. Outside of that, the light would be seen, but no noises would be heard.
1931 07 17 at 21:20 UTC, Whyalla
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 24 July 1931, page 8
EARTH TREMOR
WHYALLA PEOPLE AWAKENED
An earth tremor was felt at Whyalla at 6.50 a.m. on Saturday, and it appeared to last for several seconds. Many people were awakened by it, the crockery on the shelves in houses rattling noisily. No damage to property has been reported.
One resident, who was out of doors, stated that he saw a dark cloud a little to the south of the town. It seemed to burst, and almost immediately afterwards the earth trembled. He could see the movement of the ground, as well as feel it.
1931 07 24 at 00:58 UTC, Adelaide
Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931), Saturday 25 July 1931, page 15
ADELAIDE SHAKEN
Worst Earth Tremor for 29 Years Many Reports
At 10.28 yesterday morning Adelaide and suburbs, and certain districts as far north as Kapunda and Owen, experienced the most severe earth tremor for 29 years.
Buildings shook, windows and crockery rattled, and vases and ornaments rocked: but, as far as was known last night, no damage was done. The tremor lasted from nine seconds after 10.28 until within 10 seconds of 10.30, but it was felt for about only two seconds at the maximum of its intensity. The exact centre of the disturbance has not been determined yet, but the Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) thinks that it was 30 to 35 miles due north of Adelaide. He deduced this from the fact that all the reports that have reached him so far have been from Adelaide, and from many places north of Adelaide, as far as 50 and 55 miles away. No reports have been received from townships south of Adelaide. This leads him to believe that the tremor originated about midway between Adelaide and Kapunda.
Effect in City
Very few people appear to have realised immediately that it was an earth tremor they had felt. In nearly every case the first impression was that a very heavy truck or tram-car had passed the building. All those who actually felt the tremor agreed that it lasted for about two seconds, during which period the floor vibrated rapidly several times. Many persons, however, felt no shock, but merely heard windows rattling vigorously.
Seismograph Record
Immediately after the shock, the telephone at the Observatory was kept ringing continuously with reports from observers, and Mr. Dodwell went straight to the seismograph room. The sensitive photographic plate was developed, but an examination revealed no remarkable activity, at first. There was, however, a 10 seconds break in the line produced on the graph by the seismograph, and then a faint tremor lasting for about a minute. Mr. A. L. Dawson, who is in charge of the seismograph, explained that, in spite of the apparent inactivity of the instrument, a fairly severe local tremor had been recorded.
The two seismographs at the Adelaide Observatory were not designed to record local disturbances, but only those occurring some distance away. The waves produced by earthquakes at a considerable distance were of a slow and regular nature by the time they reached here, and caused the boom of the seismograph to swing steadily in a large arc, which varied in size according to the intensity of the waves. Waves from local tremors, however, reached the instrument in a very rapid and irregular sequence. The first of these would cause the boom to swing so sharply and suddenly that the motion would not be recorded on the graph, and before it had time to settle down to a steady swing the following waves would upset it. This was what happened during yesterday’s disturbance, and as a result the graph there is not particularly useful for determining the location or intensity of the shock. Walls and Floor Shaken
Mr. C. T. Madigan, lecturer on geology at the Adelaide University, reported to Mr. Dodwell yesterday that, in his room on the second floor at the University, he had felt the floor vibrate rapidly 10 or 12 times within a space of 10 seconds. The walls appeared to shake, windows rattled vigorously, and pictures on the walls slipped sideways. Mr. Dodwell is anxious to obtain as many reports as possible of this nature from both the city and country, so that he can determine the approximate origin and direction of the tremor. An article on the susceptibility of South Australia to earthquakes, and the possibility of a severe ‘quake occurring appears on Page 5 of the magazine section today.
Felt at Port Adelaide
Occupants of offices in Lipson and Divett-streets and along North-parade, Port Adelaide, hurried into the open immediately the tremor was felt at the seaport. There was a terrific rumbling sound. In several hotels, bottles were shaken to the ground. The ceiling of one office gave way, and books from shelves fell to the floor in other offices. No serious damage was reported.
Photo The Adelaide Milne-Shaw seismograph record of the local earthquake on Friday 24 July 1931 (News page 1) – a blank line. This was the largest Adelaide earthquake between 1902 and 1954.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S EARTHQUAKES
Damage by 1897 and 1902 Disturbances
Within the last half century, South Australia has been affected by severe earthquakes, the most severe being that on Friday, September 19, 1902. About 16 separate shocks were felt. The lantern lenses at Troubridge lighthouse were cracked, which necessitated the fixing of a temporary light. At Warooka only one building in the township escaped damage. A woman at Eastwood who had been under treatment for heart trouble, received such a shock that she died almost immediately. Child Crushed
The south-east, which suffered severely from the 1897 earthquake, escaped on this occasion. The 1897 disturbance was severe and far-reaching, and it caused considerable damage to buildings along the coast in the south-east. A child was badly crushed in the ruins of a house near Kingston. “In Adelaide the convulsion was sufficiently alarming to send people flying out of houses and offices in dread of walls and chimneys tumbling about their ears,” says a contemporary report. The worst damage was done at Beachport. The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell), in a paper read in 1910, reported that in connection with the 1897 earthquake tremors in the vicinity of Kingston continued at intervals for some months and all appeared to focus in the ocean somewhere west-ward of that neighborhood.
Narracoorte Herald (SA : 1875 – 1954), Tuesday 28 July 1931, page 2
Adelaide Shaken by an Earthquake.
SEVEREST SHOCKS FOR 29 YEARS.
At 10.28 on Friday morning last Adelaide and suburbs, and certain districts as far north as Kapunda and Owen, experienced the most severe earth tremor for twenty-nine years. Buildings shook, windows and crockery rattled, and vases and ornaments rocked, but so far as was known on Friday night no damage was done. Mr. Dodwell (the Government Astronomer) thinks that the centre of the disturbance was 30 to 35 miles due north of Adelaide, between Adelaide and Kapunda.
Reports of shocks were received in places as far north 55 miles from Adelaide, but no reports were received from townships south of Adelaide.
The last severe shock felt in Adelaide was on September 19, 1902, when they were felt as far away as Yorke’s Peninsula, the buildings at Warooka having been much damaged. The other severe earthquake felt in the metropolis occurred on the 10th of May, 1897, which was felt very severely in the South-East, and did a good deal of damage in various town-ships, including Narracoorte, where much damage was done to the Institute and Presbyterian Church buildings.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 31 July 1931, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
The earth tremor experienced in Adelaide on Friday morning was stated to be the most severe for a great number of years. It was distinctly felt, though perhaps to a less degree, in the Hills. Several residents of Mount Barker were startled by the unpleasant experience.
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Saturday 25 July 1931, page 1
FELT IN ADELAIDE.
Pictures Shaken From Walls.
ADELAIDE, Friday.
Adelaide had its worst earth tremor for 29 years at 10.27 a.m. today. It did no damage, but the tremor was distinctly felt in business houses in the city, and reports of it came to the Observatory from various country towns.
At Walkerville the tremor shook some pictures down from walls, and sent residents terror-stricken out to the streets. It lasted only a few seconds. Pictures and crockery were displaced in other homes, and walls were shaken.
Within a few seconds of the tremor the Observatory telephone was rushed, and the officials were deluged with reports of it from widely separated parts of the metropolitan area, suburbs, and the country. It was felt as far away as Kapunda. Rumbling noises accompanied the tremor.
The disturbance today was much smaller in intensity than the big tremor of 1902, which centred on Yorke’s Peninsula.
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Saturday 25 July 1931, page 2
RUMBLINGS AT KADINA.
The earth tremor was distinctly felt at Kadina at a few seconds subsequent to the time it was noted in Adelaide. Doors and windows rattled, and there was a distinct pause between the two shocks. The impression was as of the moving of heavy furniture, with a rumble like the passing of a ponderous vehicle. It was over so soon (each tremor lasted for only 4 or 5 seconds) that few people paid any attention to the occurrence.
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 – 1942), Friday 31 July 1931, page 3
ALAWOONA
Alawoona, July 29. EARTH TREMOR
On Friday morning about 10 a.m. a very slight earth tremor was felt accompanied by a very distinct, rumbling west by south.
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 31 July 1931, page 3
TWEEDVALE.
A rather severe, but very brief in duration, earth tremor was experienced here on Friday morning at about 10.20 o’clock. The vibration was not much felt, but the rattling of windows and other movable objects and the rumbling noise, was plainly noticeable.
Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931), Tuesday 28 July 1931, page 10
— The earth tremors experienced in Adelaide were felt slightly at Moonta.
Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931), Monday 27 July 1931, page 5
MALLALA An earth shock occurred here, which lasted for about five seconds, and appeared to travel from north to south. The sound was like very heavy traffic, and then there was a distinct shaking of buildings. No damage was reported.
Figure 4 The Adelaide earthquake of 24 July 1931 at 00:58 UTC, magnitude 4.7. It was felt strongly in Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Isolated reports from Moonta, and Kadina to the northwest and Alawoona 180km to the east of Adelaide seem to be genuine.
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Saturday 25 July 1931, page 2
ADELAIDE EARTH TREMOR. WORST FOR OVER QUARTER CENTURY.
QUAKE FELT IN THE COUNTRY.
Adelaide, Friday.
Adelaide had it worst earth tremor for 29 years at 10.27 this morning. It did no damage, but the tremor was distinctly felt in business houses in the city, and reports of it came to the observatory from various country towns. The front door of the Payneham police station was rattled and walls shaken, while floors distinctly moved. The upstairs rooms felt the shock more than the ground apartments.
Farther on, at Walkerville, the tremor shook some pictures down from the walls and sent the residents terror-stricken out to the streets.
Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), Friday 24 July 1931, page 11
EARTH TREMOR SHAKES ADELAIDE
Worst For 29 Years
ADELAIDE, Friday.— Adelaide recorded its most severe earth tremor since 1902 at 10.30 a.m. today. The shock was felt as far north as Kapunda, 50 miles from the city. No damage was done. The tremor was accompanied by a fairly loud noise, the origin of which is not known.
AN EARTH TREMOR?
Did anyone else experience an earth tremor on Monday night? Mr. Stan Kay (manager of the Berri branch of the State Bank), reports one and definitely states the time of its commencement at 10.16 p.m., and its duration as one minute. Fairly extensive enquiries have failed to elicit corroborative information and Mr. Kay has been able to establish a satisfactory alibi to the various suggestions that have been put forward as possibly accounting for his experience. He states that there was a distinctly audible rumble which travelled roughly from north to south and that the shake was of sufficient force to cause a rattle of windows and doors. Mrs. Kay also experienced the phenomenon.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Friday 24 July 1931, page 1
EARTH TREMOR State’s Worst for 29 Years
WALLS SHAKE
ADELAIDE had its worst earth tremor for 29 years at 10.27 this morning. It did no damage, but the tremor was distinctly felt in business houses in the city, and reports of it came to the Observatory from various country towns. The front door of the Payneham Police Station was rattled and the walls shaken, while floors distinctly moved. Upstairs rooms felt the shock more than the ground apartments. Farther on at Walkerville the tremor shook some pictures down from walls, and sent residents terror-stricken out to the streets. At Port Adelaide at 10.28 the ominous rumblings began, and walls and buildings vibrated. It was all over in a few seconds.
Observatory Record
INSTEAD OF REGISTERING the earthquake the Milne-Shaw seismograph boom, owing to the sudden movement, oscillated and left a blank space where there should have been a black line showing the amplitude. The instrument is a long-distance seismograph.
“I was sitting at my desk typewriting when suddenly the chairs started dancing round,” said Rev. B. E. C. Tuck, of Payneham road, St. Peters. “The furniture rattled, and two other members of the household ran in and asked whether there had been an earthquake. It was 10.29 o’clock. I looked outside, but everything was quiet. There were no tramcars in sight. “The chair on which I was sitting seemed to lift about an inch during the tremors. There were about a dozen vibrations, and they lasted several seconds. I tried to ring the observatory, but evidently other people were doing the same.”
LAST WAS IN 1902 “The last tremor to produce such noticeable motion was in September, 1902,” said Mr. Dodwell. “That year the shock was much more severe. It was centred near Warooka on, Yorke’s Peninsula, where it damaged buildings. “Since then several minor tremors have been reported. Earlier in the year three people at Glen Osmond, Knightsbridge, and Prospect stated that they had felt the earth tremble slightly. “This tremor showed a very small amplitude. The period of oscillation was too short to cause a continuous swing of the seismograph boom, so that the wave times and the phases cannot be distinguished. That is the usual experience when the shock occurs closely to the recording instrument. “It appears that the origin of the tremor was within 30 or 40 miles of Adelaide.” The Observatory is eager to obtain further reports of the tremor, in order, if possible, to locate the seat of the disturbance.
MANY REPORTS Within a few seconds of the tremor to-day the Observatory telephone was rushed. Officials were deluged with reports of it from widely separated parts of the metro-politan area, suburbs, and country. The farthest point from which an early report came was from Anlaby, near Kapunda. Mr. H. H. Dutton told Mr. G. F. Dodwell (Government Astronomer) that he felt the tremor, saw buildings vibrate, and heard rumbling noises. Messages came also from Dry Creek, Virginia, and Alberton. The disturbance today was of much smaller intensity than the tremor of 1902, according to Mr. Dodwell. He estimated the intensity at between one-fifth and one-quarter of that of the previous tremor.
WEATHER BUREAU RECORD The barograph at the Weather Bureau serves a two-fold purpose—a self-recording aneroid and seismograph. Although only built to measure barometrical readings, the instrument registered the earth tremor this morning, the record being a black line nearly an eighth of an inch each side of the line. The barograph is fixed to the wall, and has a heavy weight attached to a spring. It is very sensitive. Even motor lorries passing outside cause it to vibrate. Dr. C. Fenner (Superintendent of Technical Education) said today:—”My researches into the structure of the earth in this region show that a number of earth fractures exist, but the movements have taken place over a vast period of time. “A recent visit to the eastern parts of Yorke’s Peninsula and the western face of Mount Lofty Ranges suggests to me that these movements have been continuous since the beginning of the Pleistocene age, about 1,000,000 years ago. “The movements, however, are composed only of many minor tremors, rather than the dangerous cataclysmic type. “The whole of the gulf regions of South Australia are subject to slight movement, which acts as a sort of preventive to the more acute upheavals.”
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Saturday 25 July 1931, page 2
RUMBLINGS AT KADINA.
The earth tremor was distinctly felt at Kadina at a few seconds subsequent to the time it was noted in Adelaide. Doors and windows rattled, and there was a distinct pause between the two shocks. The impression was as of the moving of heavy furniture, with a rumble like the passing of a ponderous vehicle. It was over so soon (each tremor lasted for only 4 or 5 seconds) that few people paid any attention to the occurrence.
Pioneer (Yorketown, SA : 1898 – 1954), Friday 7 August 1931, page 1
Earthquakes on Yorke Peninsula
Looking through the records of the Bureau of Meteorology up to the year 1918, we find earthquakes in South Australia are more frequent than we imagined. In the 40’s two are recorded, and both in the afternoon at 4 o’clock. In the 50’s seven are recorded, three in the 60’s, ten in the 70’s, 31 in the 80’s, 23 in the 90’s, and still more numerous in the beginning of the new century. According to the chart, Maitland, Port Victoria, and Warooka have been most frequently visited, the most severe being at Warooka. The one on April 7th, 1887, at Maitland, 7.40 a.m., is recorded as severe, “windows, doors, and crockery rattled.” On same date at Corney Point Lighthouse at 7.30 a.m., “slight.” On May 10th, 1S97, there was a very severe and extensive shock throughout the South and South-east, severe at Maitland and Warooka. This was at 2.26 in the afternoon. At Warooka we are told, “buildings shook and walls cracked, strong sulphur odour preprevailed.” In 1902, on the 19th September, at 8.5 p.m., we had the most severe and general earthquake ever experienced in the State. At Edithburgh the shock passed about 8.7p.m., shaking the houses greatly and causing the Troubridge Lighthouse to take fire, the whole of the reflectors and machinery being destroyed. At Yorketown, Maitland, and Warooka it was very severe, particularly at Warooka, where walls of buildings cracked and several chimneys fell. In 1911, on February 19th, at Maitland, at 11.12, doors, windows and roofs, rattled, with a similar experience the following year on October 26th (?) and a slight one in 1915. We have no records since 1917.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1931 03 31 | 18:30 | -33.1 | 138.8 | 2.5 | Belalie North | This paper |
| 1931 04 08 | 16:30 | -33.1 | 138.8 | 2.5 | Belalie North | This paper |
| 1931 07 17 | 21:20 | -33.0 | 137.5 | 3.0 | Whyalla | This paper |
| 1931 07 24 | 00:58 | -34.88 | 138.51 | 4.7 | Adelaide | This paper |
1932
1932 01 03 at 07:30 UTC, Belalie North
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 8 January 1932, page 4
BELALIE NORTH.
On Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock a sharp earth tremor was felt; as usual it appeared to travel from North to South. It can be claimed that Belalie North, is the most prolific producer of earth tremors in this State and if they could only be developed to turn out a good, live active volcano what a wonderful asset it would be to the district.
Date/time unknown, Redhill
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 7 January 1932, page 14
REDHILL— An earth tremor was experienced here. The sound appeared to be travelling from east to west. It was of short duration.
1932 01 23 at 03:30 UTC, Belalie North
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 29 January 1932, page 4
BELALIE NORTH.
Another distinct earth tremor occurred here last Saturday about 1 p.m., but local residents are so accustomed to them that very little notice is taken unless some crockery is smashed; this is regarded as a nuisance. Some time ago there was a good deal of discussion at Belalie North as the effects of these constant earth tremors on the hatching of hens eggs. Quite a number of people maintained that they had the same effect as thunder and killed the chicks in the shell. The argument died down without the matter being satisfactorily solved.
1932 04 06 at 08:55 UTC, Adelaide Hills
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 7 April 1932, page 9
EARTH TREMOR FELT IN HILLS
“Geological Readjustment”
Accompanied by rumbling and rattling of windows, an earth tremor caused momentary alarm in the hills between Fifth Creek and Mount Pleasant last night. At Gumeracha the shock, which was felt about 6.25, lasted three or four seconds. It was accompanied by a noise resembling that of a heavy lorry being driven along the road, and a succession of bumps.
Figure 5 Approximate felt area of the Adelaide Hills earthquake south of Gumeracha on 6 April 1932.
It was followed by a second slighter tremor, sufficient to set windows rattling. At Mount Pleasant the shock was felt even more. At Fifth Creek Tea Rooms Mrs. E. Bishop was alarmed about the same time by a sudden rattling accompanied by rumbling. Her son, who had been in the hills about a mile away, said he noticed similar phenomena. The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said last night that the tremor indicated a geological readjustment in the area. There was no fear of any serious disturbance.
The undated report from Williamstown (below), on the edge of this felt area, could refer to this earthquake. Its inclusion would not substantially moving the epicentre or making it bigger. On the other hand, the Belair report seems unlikely. This is yet another small near-Adelaide earthquake, near Gumeracha judging by the description and an aftershock and it is closer to the centre of the felt area than the other two reports. Magnitude about 3.2.
1932 04 No date or time, Belair
(Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 9 April 1932, page 21
BELAIR—An earth tremor, which lasted for about two seconds, was felt here recently.
1932 04 No date or time, Williamstown
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 21 April 1932, page 14
WILLIAMSTOWN — An earth tremor was recently experienced In the district. It lasted four or five seconds.
1932 05 Date and time?, Cleve
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 19 May 1932, page 16
CLEVE— Many residents claim that a slight earth tremor was experienced here recently, when windows danced and buildings were shaken
1932 05 20 at 11:15 UTC, Burra
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 26 May 1932, page 62
Earth Shock Shakes Burra Buildings
Burra, May 22.
A severe earth shock was felt here at 8.45 p.m. on Friday, accompanied by a loud rumble. The vibration shook buildings, and windows, glassware, and crockery rattled. The shock was also felt at Leighton.
A severe tremor was felt at Ketchowla, 43 miles north-east of Burra. and also at Mr. John Barker’s Baldana station. News of a severe shock has been received from Mount Bryan.
1932 06 16 at 15:15 UTC, Bright
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 18 June 1932, page 17
Earth Tremor At Point Pass
What appeared to be a strong earth tremor lasting about five seconds, occurred at Point Pass at 1 a.m. yesterday. Several people were awakened, and there was considerable rattling of crockery. It was accompanied by a strange blue light.
Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954), Saturday 18 June 1932, page 4
EARTH TREMOR LIGHT STILL MYSTERY
POINT PASS, Saturday.—”My brother saw a blue flash through the window, which he took for lightning,” said Mr. E. K. Leditschke of Point Pass, this afternoon. He was referring to the strange light which accompanied the earth tremor at Point Pass yesterday. Local residents can give no explanation of the light. “About a minute after the flash my brother heard a rumbling noise,” said Mr. Leditschke. “A few minutes later the tremor seemed to pass right under his house.” “Objects in the house shook, but as far as I know, no damage was done. The tremor was felt only momentarily.” Mr. Leditschke says few residents felt the tremor. He thinks it was confined to a comparatively small area in and around Point Pass. [The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said today that if the light was close to the ground it may have been an escape of marsh gas. If it was in the sky, it was probably caused by a meteorite.]
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 23 June 1932, page 15
BELALIE NORTH During the past fortnight the district has had four earth tremors.
Figure 6 Felt area and reports for the Bright earthquake on 16 June 1932. The alternative mirror-image location to the southwest would have been more widely felt. The magnitude was about 4.0. The report in the Bunyip of major cliff collapses along the Murray River near Loxton were more likely the cause of the tremors felt than landslides triggered by the earthquake.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 24 June 1932, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
A severe earth tremor was felt in Kapunda at about 12.45 a.m. on Friday last. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling, and many residents were awakened by the shock and noise.
Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 – 1954), Friday 24 June 1932, page 10
Earth tremors have been felt along the Murray areas, between Pintie Cliffs and Loxton, during the past few weeks. In some cases the shocks were very distinct, doors and windows rattling loudly. In places along the river huge portions of the cliff walls have fallen into the stream. At Pintie, the cliff rises sheer for 100 feet.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 22 June 1932, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
Mr. N. H. Pearse, “The Gums,” reports a very severe earth tremor at a little after 1 a.m. on Friday morning last. This disturbance we believe was more severe than that experienced a few weeks ago.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 22 June 1932, page 4
HANSON
Earth Tremor.
A very distinct earth tremor passed over here at about 12.30 a.m. on the 17th inst. The crockery on tables was in some cases rattled. Some residents who did not realise that there might be an earth tremor, thought that a railway bus was going through.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Monday 27 June 1932, page 19
ROBERTSTOWN— A severe earth tremor has been reported from several parts of the district. The shock appeared to travel in a north-easterly direction and was sufficiently strong to cause buildings and articles of furniture to vibrate.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 24 June 1932, page 17
EUDUNDA. The earth tremor which Point Pass recently reported was also felt at Eudunda and Morgan. It appeared to travel in an easterly direction.
This earthquake was larger than at first thought, felt from near Burra to Morgan and Eudunda, equivalent to magnitude 4.0. The earlier earthquake reported at ‘The Gums’ may well have been that on 20 May reported from Burra.
1932 12 31 at 22:30 UTC, Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 6 January 1933, page 6
Earth Tremor Felt
An earth tremor was felt at Port Lincoln shortly after 8 a.m. last Sunday. In some parts of the town-the tremor was but slight, whereas in others it was sufficiently strong to cause windows to rattle and doors to slam. No news of the quake has been received from other centres.
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 6 January 1933, page 1
Earth Tremor Felt
CUMMINS-YEELANNA REPORT CUMMINS, January 2.
On New Year’s day Cummins and Yeelanna experienced an earth tremor about 8.25 a.m. A long low rumble, apparently from the east, followed by a ratting of doors and windows, awoke the happy dreamers, but the shock was observed only by a few comparatively.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 7 January 1933, page 11
Earth Shock At Port Lincoln Causes Speculation
PORT LINCOLN, January 6.
Mystery surrounds an earth tremor which was felt at Port Lincoln about 8.20 a.m. last Sunday, for, with the exception of reports from Cummins and Yelanna, respectively 42 and 50 miles from here, no news has been received of the shock having been experienced at other centres. In some parts of Port Lincoln the tremor was but slight, and many people attributed the strange rumble to a passing motor lorry or an approaching thunderstorm. However, in other cases the shock was sufficiently pronounced to awaken slumberers by the rattling of windows and doors. Cummins and Yeelanna experienced the quake about 8.25 a.m., five minutes after Port Lincoln. Doors and windows of houses in the two inland towns rattled, but the shock was observed by comparatively a few persons.
There were few observations but from them, it is clear that this was a small to moderate earthquake on Eyre Peninsula.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1932 01 03 | 07:30 | -33.15 | 138.70 | Belalie North | This paper | |
| 1932 01 23 | 03:30 | -33.15 | 138.70 | Belalie North | This paper | |
| 1932 04 06 | 08:55 | -34.9 | 138.9 | 3.2 | Gumeracha | This paper |
| 1932 05 20 | 11:15 | -33.5 | 139.1 | 3.7 | Burra | Dix/This paper |
| 1932 06 16 | 15:15 | -33.9 | 139.2 | 4.0 | Bright | Dix/This paper |
| 1932 12 31 | 22:50 | -34.6 | 135.7 | 4.1 | Port Lincoln | This paper |
Table Earthquakes in South Australia, 1932
1933
It was not a remarkable year for earthquakes in South Australia, sex small ones, except the claim by Canada’s Frank Adams that earthquake prediction would be possible in the not-far-distant future. –Still waiting!
1933 01 ?? at 14:30 and 16:50 UTC, Robertstown
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 25 January 1933, page 6
ROBERTSTOWN — Two earth shocks have been reported in the district. Travelling in an easterly direction, the tremors caused houses to vibrate, house-hold effects to rattle, and plaster to be dislodged from ceilings. The first shock occurred about midnight, and the second at 2.20 a.m.
1933 03 18 at 10:00 UTC, Clare
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 22 March 1933, page 19
REPORTS FROM RURAL CENTRES
AUBURN— About 7.25 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, an earthquake shock occurred, rattling the buildings. Opinions differ as to its direction. It was accompanied by a loud rumble. No damage was reported.
Figure 7 Felt reports and felt area of the small earthquake on 18 March 1933, magnitude 3.2
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Tuesday 21 March 1933, page 9
Earth Tremor At Hart
HART, March 20.
An earth tremor was noticed by several residents soon after 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. There was a distinct shake, accompanied by rumbling, which seemed to be travelling west. Windows and crockery rattled. The disturbance lasted six or seven seconds.
Blyth Agriculturist (SA : 1908 – 1954), Friday 24 March 1933, page 2
AN EARTHQUAKE.
On Saturday evening last at about 7.30 p.m., an earthquake shock was felt in Clare. The shock was not very severe, but lasted for a few seconds. It was also felt at Auburn, Hart, and several other places in this district.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 24 March 1933, page 3
DISTRICT NEWS
AUBURN, March 22.
On Saturday evening, at about 7.25, an earthquake shock occurred. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise and the shaking of buildings.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 30 March 1933, page 13
STANLEY FLAT An earth shock was felt here recently. The rumbling accompanying it was noticeable for more than a minute.
We will predict earthquakes soon!
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 1 June 1933, page 10
Earthquake Forecasts Said To Be Possible
VICTORIA (British Columbia). May 30.
“The time is not far distant when it will be possible to predict earthquakes as the weather is now forecast, said Dr. Frank D. Adams, Dean of Applied Science at McGill University, who is here to attend a Science Conference. “By measuring the increasing tension, of the Earth’s crust, it may be possible to determine just when breaking-point is reached,” Dr. Adams said. “Thus, thousands of threatened lives would be saved.”
1933 06 23 at 20:30 UTC, Lyndoch — meteorite or earthquake?
Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 – 1954), Friday 30 June 1933, page 9
WAS IT A METEORITE?
EXPLOSION AT LYNDOCH.
The residents of Lyndoch were startled by a very loud explosion which occurred on Saturday morning at about six o’clock. People were awakened by a noise, others who were about, felt quite scared, the feeling being eerie. First a rumble, and then a tremendous bang, like a bomb being dropped from an aeroplane. Nothing was seen from above or below by anyone. The explosion was also heard at Rosedale and at Williamstown by several residents at about the same time. No explanation has been forthcoming to date to explain the uncanny noise, and the general opinion is that it was a meteorite, as neither blasting operations, thunderstorm, nor earthquake could have been so loud and shattering.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Saturday 1 July 1933, page 4
ALTHOUGH it is some days since Lyndoch was astonished, between 5 and 6 in the morning, by a loud explosion which some people thought might have been a meteorite, a Lyndoch correspondent tells me that so far there has been no explanation of the mystery.
1933 07 ?? at 14:30 UTC, Wirrabara Forest
Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier (SA : 1917 – 1948), Friday 7 July 1933, page 4
Wirrabara Forest.
A severe earthquake shock occurred on a recent morning between 12 and 1 a.m., so loud was the detonation that many residents were awakened, believing the noise to be thunder, houses were shaken. The ‘quake appeared to be travelling in a north easterly direction. The night was cold and cloudless.
1933 09 04 at 10:30 UTC, Naracoorte
South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 – 1954), Tuesday 19 September 1933, page 2
Was It a Falling Meteorite?—Several residents of the district, more particularly about Naracoorte and Hynam, state that on Monday evening, September 4, about 8 o’clock, they heard a peculiar noise like an explosion (reports the Naracoorte “Herald”). It was very distinct to those who heard it in their homes, but on going out to see if they could find any sign of the cause of the unusual noise, nothing could be seen to enable them to arrive at a definite conclusion. Some think that it might have been a falling meteorite, of which, during recent months, one or two have been observed coming to earth, and occasioning a loud explosion on coming in contact with the ground. The incident has aroused an amount of curiosity and concern in the minds of those who were startled by the force of the sudden and somewhat uncanny sound.
1933 10 27 at 18:25 UTV, Ulooloo – sonic boom from meteorite?
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Thursday 2 November 1933, page 14
ULOOLOO REPORT ON METEORITE
House Vibrates After Thud Nearby
Part of the meteorite which was seen in various parts of South Australia on Saturday is believed to have fallen in the UIooloo district, causing a house to vibrate. The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said today that he had received a report from Mr. J. Loudon, who lives near Ulooloo. The writer said that at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday he heard a thud like something heavy striking the earth. It caused his house to vibrate, and it was followed by a rumble like thunder. Mr. Dodwell said that as other observers had reported the bursting of the meteorite towards the end of its flight, it was probable that a portion fell near UIooloo while the main body was continuing its course northward. He was still awaiting further particulars. One of the most northerly reports received was from Oodlawirra, where a porter on duty said that a noise like thunder was followed by a tremor which shook the railway station (Ed – He was inside and did not see the meteorite fall). Loud reports were heard at Peterborough and Nackara, and the meteorite was seen near Yacka, Cobdogla, on the Murray, and at Tanunda. Several people near Adelaide noted its flight. It is believed that the meteorite weighed nearly 2 cwt. The last one recovered in this State fell near Karoonda and was a little less than a cwt.
1933 11 11 at 18:30 UTC, Leighton
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 15 November 1933, page 3
LE1GHTON
Earth Shock. A slight earthshock was felt by a number of residents early on Sunday morning.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 17 November 1933, page 30
IRONMINE — A slight earth tremor was felt about 4.30 a.m. on Sunday.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 29 November 1933, page 3
LEIGHTON
A sharp earth tremor followed about a minute later by a slight one was felt about 3.30 a.m. on Sunday.
Figure 8 Milne-Shaw Seismograph, The Adelaide Observatory, for recording distant Earthquakes.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 8 June 1933, page 37
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1933 01 00 | 14:30 | -34.0 | 139.1 | 3.0 | Robertstown | This paper |
| 1933 01 00 | 16:50 | -34.0 | 139.1 | 3.0 | Robertstown | This paper |
| 1933 03 18 | 09:55 | -33.9 | 138.6 | 3.2 | Clare | This paper |
| 1933 06 23 | 20:15 | -34.6 | 138.9 | 3.0 | Lyndoch | This paper |
| 1933 09 04 | 10:30 | -37.0 | 140.7 | 3.0 | Naracoorte | This paper |
| 1933 11 11 | 18:00 | -33.7 | 138.7 | 2.5 | Iron Mine/Leighton | This paper |
1934
1934 01 19 at 12:20 UTC, Belalie North
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 25 January 1934, page 10
REPORTS FROM RURAL CENTRES
BELALIE NORTH On Friday night, January 19, an earth tremor was felt here at 10 minutes to 10.
1934 03 12 at 19:30 UTC, Eudunda
Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 – 1954), Thursday 15 March 1934, page 2
SLIGHT EARTH TREMOR
A slight earth tremor at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday was reported from several parts of the district, and was noticed by quite a number at Greenock.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 16 March 1934, page 3
DISTRICT NEWS
AUBURN, March 14.
On Tuesday morning, at about 5.10, there was an earthquake, which was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 16 March 1934, page 17
REPORTS FROM RURAL CENTRES
AUBURN
An earthquake shock occurred on Tuesday about 5.10 a.m. The ‘quake was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise. Beds were shaken, and the early morning slumber of residents was disturbed.
Figure 9 The small magnitude 3 earthquake NE of Adelaide on 12 March 1934 was located near Eudunda.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 14 March 1934, page 17
Earth Tremor At Riverton Shakes Buildings
RIVERTON March 13.
A few minutes after 5 a.m. today, an earth tremor was experienced here. The tremor was accompanied by a rumbling noise, which appeared to travel from a south-easterly to a north-westerly direction. Buildings and contents were shaken by the tremor which lasted between two and three seconds.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 5 April 1934, page 13
Patchy thunderstorms at Robertstown replenished household water supplies, which were getting low. — A slight earth tremor was noticed here about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13. A deep rumble was heard and buildings were shaken. No damage resulted.
Note: The Robertstown event is probably an observation of the Eudunda earthquake, the time incorrectly reported as 5pm not 5am.
1934 05 30 at 15:45 and 17:35 UTC, Kooringa
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Thursday 31 May 1934, page 1
Two Earth Shocks KOORINGA, Thursday.—Two sharp earth shocks were experienced at Kooringa at 1.15 a.m. and 3.5 a.m. today, when a loud rumbling noise was heard, accompanied by a violent shaking of windows.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 6 June 1934, page 3
FARRELL’S FLAT
Quite a severe earth tremor passed over the town about 1.15 a.m. on Thursday morning. The shock was accompanied by a loud rumble and appeared to be travelling from south east to north west.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Tuesday 5 June 1934, page 4
IRONMINE —An earth tremor was distinctly felt at about 1.30 a.m. on Thursday morning. The rumble came suddenly and roofs and crockery rattled, then the sound gradually died away. The tremor appeared to come from the south-east, and was felt by a number of residents who were awakened by it.
1934 08 04 at 11:45 UTC, Spencer Gulf
Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 – 1950), Thursday 9 August 1934, page 2
EARTHQUAKE.
Reports from various parts of the district indicate that an earth tremor of a rather severe nature was felt on Saturday night at about 9.30. The shock was accompanied by a rumbling noise which appeared to be travelling from South to North.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 9 August 1934, page 10
EARTH SHOCK FELT IN KADINA DISTRICT
A distinct earth shock or tremor, lasting a few seconds, was felt in the Kadina district at 9.15 pm. on Saturday. The tremor came without any definite warning, although, according to some reports, a low rumble was heard immediately before the shock. Reports show that the shock was felt over a wide area. At Newtown, the shock was considerable, and ornaments were rocked from mantle-shelves and broken. North-west of the Wallaroo mines, pictures swayed in the rooms. At Lipson avenue the shock was more severe, and furniture moved and windows rattled. As nearly as could be judged, the movement of the tremor was from south to north-west, and the phenomenon created momentary alarm.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 15 August 1934, page 7
ELBOW HILL—An earth tremor was felt in the district on the evening of August 4. Windows and roofs rattled, but no damage was done.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 23 August 1934, page 12
An earth tremor was felt in the Elbow Hill district on the evening of August 4. Windows and roofs rattled but no damage was done.
About 9.15 p.m. on August 4 an earth tremor was experienced at Miltalie. The rumble, which was very loud, lasted about 15 seconds, and the tremor appeared to be travelling from east to west.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 13 September 1934, page 56
I read in one of the letters in our pages that on the night of August 4 a rumble was heard at Kimba by ‘Old St. Paul’s,’ which she believed was an earth tremor. I did not hear or feel anything at the time, although I was told afterwards that different people in Tumby Bay noticed it.
Figure 10 Spencer Gulf earthquake 4 August 1934.
The various reports of the occurrence that have come to hand, demonstrate the wide area over which the shock was felt. At Newtown, the shock was considerable, and ornaments were rocked from mantle shelves and broken. North-west of Wallaroo Mines pictures swayed in the rooms, and the shock was most distinct. At Lipson avenue the shock was felt more like a tremor, and furniture moved and windows rattled. The tremor was noted definitely at Kadina East in several instances, and altogether it was recorded by about 20 independent witnesses. As near as could be judged, the movement of the tremor was from south to north-west, and the phenomenon created some alarm for the moment.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1934 01 19 | 12:20 | -33.1 | 138.7 | 3.0 | Belalie North | This paper |
| 1934 03 12 | 19:40 | -34.2 | 138.9 | 3.0 | Eudunda | This paper |
| 1934 05 30 | 15:45 | -33.74 | 138.84 | 3.0 | Kooringa | This paper |
| 1934 05 30 | 17:35 | -33.74 | 138.84 | 3.0 | Kooringa | This paper |
| 1934 08 04 | 11:45 | -34 | 137 | 4.5 | Spencer Gulf | This paper |
Table Earthquakes in South Australia, 1934
1935
1935 05 04:25 UTC, Williamstown
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 23 May 1935, page 16
Earth Tremor.—A slight earth tremor was felt at Williamstown on Tuesday at 1.55 p.m. Although only slight it was felt by a few people and was strong enough to shake the windows of some houses. It was travelling from east to west.
1935 08 05 at 18:30 UTC, Leighton
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Tuesday 13 August 1935, page 3
LEIGHTON
A slight earth tremor was felt here at about 4 a.m. last Tuesday. The tremor which was preceded and followed by a prolonged rumbling appeared to be travelling in a north-easterly direction and lasted for quite a while though it was not at all severe.
1935 09 15 at 07:30 UTC, Redcliff
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Monday 16 September 1935, page 17
An earth tremor was reported from Redcliff where windows in the houses rattled.
Burra Record (SA : 1878 – 1954), Tuesday 17 September 1935, page 2
Earthshock. Mr. T. McBride of Redcliff stn., reports a sharp earth tremor on Sunday last at 5 p.m. Travelling north-east to south-west, while it lasted there was a loud rumble and doors and windows shook violently. We believe the rumble was felt by some folk in Burra who attributed it to thunder.
1935 10 26 at 12:30 UTC, Laura
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Monday 28 October 1935, page 20
EARTH TREMOR AT LAURA
Several Windows Smashed
The Assistant Divisional Meteorologist (Mr. Newman) said yesterday that he had received a report from Mr. D. J. Menhennett, garage proprietor, of Laura, that an earth tremor had been felt at Laura at 10 p.m. on. Saturday. Several plate glass windows had been smashed. The Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said last night that none of his instruments had recorded any tremor. The incident had been entirely local, and was a natural readjustment of geological formation in the hilly district. There was no danger attached to such tremors. The meteorological instruments had also failed to record any tremor.
1935 12 23 at 00:17 UTC, Spalding
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Tuesday 24 December 1935, page 15
EARTH TREMORS AT SPALDING
Buildings Shaken SPALDING. December 23.
Two fairly severe earth tremors, each lasting several seconds, were felt here about 9.47 a.m. today. Some residents ran outside when buildings shook and windows rattled, but, apart from a slight crack in the wall of the post office residence, no damage was caused. A tremor was also felt at Hilltown, but none was reported at Clare, 25 miles south of Spalding. Several earth tremors have occurred in the Spalding district within the last few years, but those today were more severe than those previously experienced. Dr. C. T. Madigan of the Adelaide University, commenting on the tremors, said that both the St. Vincent and Spencer Gulfs were regarded as areas of gradual subsidence. This process might give rise to tremors, where there was any weakness in the earth’s crust.
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 10 January 1936, page 1
GEORGETOWN.
December 24.
Yesterday two distinct earth shocks were felt here before mid-day and caused buildings to shake sharply.
Since Spalding and Georgetown are only 35km apart we have assumed that these two reports are from the same earthquake despite the time difference.
Figure 11 Severely felt, causing a slight crack in the Post Office wall, this small earthquake rated magnitude 3.5.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1935 05 21 | 04:25 | -34.7 | 138.9 | 2.5 | Williamstown | Dix/This paper |
| 1935 08 05 | 18:30 | -33.7 | 138.8 | 3.0 | Leighton | This paper |
| 1935 09 15 | 07:30 | -34.4 | 136.1 | 2.5 | Redcliff | This paper |
| 1935 10 26 | 12:30 | -33.2 | 138.3 | 3.0 | Laura | This paper |
| 1935 12 23 | 00:17 | -33.5 | 138.5 | 3.5 | Spalding | Dix/This paper |
1936
1936 02 22 at 12:20 UTC, Wirrabara Forest
Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier (SA : 1917 – 1948), Friday 28 February 1936, page 32
Wirrabara Forest.
On Saturday evening about 9.50 two earth tremors were felt. Houses were severely shaken and a loud rumbling noise accompanied the quake. This is the second severe earthquake experienced in four months.
1936 05 04 at 10:20 and 11:20 UTC, Nullabor WA
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Tuesday 5 May 1936, page 1
EARTH SHOCK IN NULLARBOR PLAIN Solid Building At Eucla Shaken Tuesday. ISOLATED stations hundreds of miles apart far out on the Nullarbor plain felt a severe earth shock lasting 60 seconds at 7.50 p.m. yesterday. At Eucla station, 340 miles west of Ceduna, Mr. Phil Simon, the owner, told “The News” representative by telephone early this morning, the shock was severe enough to rattle windows all over his large stone house. Judging by the way the vibrations appeared to travel across the big home-stead property said Mr. Simon, the tremors passed from east to west, but at Mundrabilla (62 miles further out) the station people gained the impression that it travelled in the opposite direction. There was a difference of two minutes in the time of the quake at the two stations. It was also reported to Mr. Simon from Belladonnia station, 327 miles further westward. All station owners and managers have radios and later today clocks are to be checked and times compared in an effort accurately to time the earth shock and its direction of travel. The Euclas homestead building is an eight-roomed stone building of very solid construction, and any disturbance to shake it as described by Mr. Simon must have been very severe. No shock was felt here nor has any report been received from places east of Eucla. No disturbance was recorded on the seismograph at the observatory in Adelaide.
West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay, SA : 1912 – 1954), Friday 8 May 1936, page 4
EARTH TREMORS ON THE NULLABOR.
Two distinct earthquakes were experienced on the Nullarbor Plain at about eight o’clock on Monday evening. Mr. Phil Simon, of Eucla Station says the first shock was rather severe, lasting about 30 seconds and shaking the substantial homestead which, at one time was the old repeating station at Eucla. The building shook, cups and crockery rattled and there was that peculiar stillness in the air which generally accompanies these visitations. There was a second but milder, disturbance about an hour after the first.
The shock was felt more severely at Eyre and at Balladonia, 40 miles from Eucla where there was a disturbance. The shocks peculiarly enough, were con-fined to the limestone country, older formations escaping.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 21 May 1936, page 13
LIKELY CAUSE OF EARTH TREMOR
Government Geologist On E.P. Disturbance EARTH FAULT LINE
Possible explanations of the earth tremor on May 5 at Eucla and elsewhere on the southern side of the Nullarbor plain were mentioned in an interview by the Director of Mines (Dr. L. Keith Ward). ‘Some slight movement along portion of an earth fault, extending westwards for 127 miles from the head of the Great Australian Bight to the boundary of the State at Wilson’s Bluff might have been responsible for the tremor,’ said Dr. Ward, ‘if the published reports of the quake, including a disturbance at sea, were substantially correct.
‘This earth fault line is one of the main fractures which have determined the outline of the Australian continent. For almost the whole of this distance of 127 miles the sea breaks at the foot of precipitous cliffs from 200 to 300 ft. in height. The line of cliffs is broken only at one place, quite close to Wilson’s Bluff, where a sandy area known as Merdayerrah Sandpatch occupies the narrow space between the limestone plateau and the ocean. At this place the fault line, which is approximately straight throughout its length on the South Australian coast, makes a small bend, but the coastline continues without deviation, sand be-ing deposited in the low-lying area between the fault and the sea. Line Of Fault ‘The fault continues but leaves the coast at the border between South Australia and Western Australia, a few miles to the east of Eucla. The limestone plateau, called by Professor Ralph Tate the Bunda Plateau, lies on the northern side of the fault. Portion of this plateau is known as the Nullarbor Plain from its treeless character, but the southern part of the plateau is by no means devoid of trees. ‘On the southern side of the fault the country is lower, and is submerged beneath the ocean for the whole distance between the head of the Bight and Wilson’s Bluff, with the exception of Merdayerrah Sandpatch. To the westward of Wilson’s Bluff, however, there is a low-lying area, covered with saltbush vegetation and known as Roe Plain, extending between the fault scarp and the sandhills on the sea shore. Eucla is situated on the southern margin of this plain, and on the land side of the sand dunes which have obliterated some of the buildings and the tramway to the jetty. Comparatively Recent Fracturing ‘Those who have visited Eucla will remember the track cut on a steep grade down the fault scarp to give access between the plateau north of the fault and the plain on its southern side. Visitors who are familiar with the physiographical features of fault scarps are struck by the appearance of relative youth at this place. It would appear probable that the period of fracturing is comparatively recent, since there has been very little dissection by the agencies of erosion since the faulting took place. ‘The question then arises whether the dislocation of the rocks along the line of faulting has relieved the earth stresses completely, or whether, on the other hand, this area is still subject to crustal movement. If earth stresses accumulate until they produce further movements along fault planes, earthquakes result from the sudden yielding. Many of the regions of the world in which earthquakes recur exhibit this feature of repeated small adjustments along known fracture planes. There are periods of quiescence during which the stresses in the crust grow gradually until there is a sudden yielding along a fault. The sharp movement produces an earthquake, the severity of which depends on the local conditions and the amount of displacement of the rocks. In some cases, relief is afforded by a single movement, while in others there are many minor slip-pings extending over a considerable time. Cave Collapse Discounted ‘Earthquakes may result from other causes, and it has been suggested that the recent disturbance in the Eucla district may have been due to the fall of a great mass of limestone into one of the many caverns which are known to exist on the Bunda Plateau. The collapse of the roof of one of these great caves would certainly cause a tremor through a wide area, but it is highly improbable that an earthquake wave in the sea would have been created in that way. ‘It is known that the western part of the fault scarp mentioned recedes from the sea until it is about 25 miles inland at Madura, which lies 115 miles to the west of Eucla, and from that point it trends to the west-south-west until it reaches the sea again at Twilight Cove. Thence there are high cliffs, like those to the east of Wilson’s Bluff, extending as far as Point Culver, 94 miles from Twilight Cove. The appearance of the scarp from the Roe Plain has suggested the existence of a range of hills with crests reaching a common level, and at an early date the name of Hampton Range, which still appears on some maps, was given to this higher country. The apparent range is, however, merely the margin of the Bunda Plateau. ‘Since disturbances of the sea were noted at the time of the recent earthquake, both at Eyre in Western Australia and perhaps at Smoky Bay in South Australia, it seems quite possible that there was a slight movement at some place or places on this long fault line, and that a marine wave was propelled outwards in addition to the earth waves which gave the sensations of an earthquake.’
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Tuesday 5 May 1936, page 1
EARTH SHOCK IN NULLARBOR PLAIN Solid Building At Eucla Shaken
CEDUNA Tuesday.
ISOLATED stations hundreds of miles apart far out on the Nullarbor plain felt a severe earth shock lasting 60 seconds at 7.50 p.m. yesterday. At Eucla station, 340 miles west of Ceduna, Mr. Phil Simon. the owner, told “The News” representative by telephone early this morning, the shock was severe enough to rattle windows all over his large stone house. Judging by the way the vibrations appeared to travel across the big homestead property said Mr. Simon, the tremors passed from east to west, but at Mundrabilla (62 miles further out) the station people gained the impression that it travelled in the opposite direction. There was a difference of two minutes in the time of the quake at the two stations. It was also reported to Mr. Simon from Belladonnia station, 327 miles further westward. All station owners and managers have radios and later today clocks are to be checked and times compared in an effort accurately to time the earth shock and its direction of travel. The Euclas homestead building is an eight-roomed stone building of very solid construction, and any disturbance to shake it as described by Mr. Simon must have been very severe. No shock was felt here nor has any report been received from places east of Eucla. No disturbance was recorded on the seismograph at the observatory in Adelaide.
1936 05 17 at 13:00 UTC Mount Barker
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Thursday 21 May 1936, page 1
EARTH TREMOR FELT
A distinct earth tremor was felt by residents of Mount Barker at about 10.30 p.m. on Sunday evening. Those who were indoors were made aware of the tremor by an ominous rumbling sound as if a heavy motor vehicle were passing. It appeared to be travelling in an easterly direction. Other parts of the hills also reported the occurrence.
On Sunday evening at 10.40 p.m., the earth tremor was plainly experienced at Bridgewater, and it seemed to be travelling from east to west.
Hahndorf residents also report a distinct rumble and tremor.
Figure 12 Earthquake in the Adelaide Hills, 17 May 1936. Felt in outer suburbs of Adelaide.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Tuesday 19 May 1936, page 16
HILLS AREAS SHAKEN BY EARTH TREMOR
First Definite Movement Since 1902
Houses were shaken and many people alarmed on Sunday night by an earth tremor which was felt throughout the hills districts and in several of the outer suburbs.
The tremor, which was the first experienced in the hills area for several years, lasted for 20 seconds, but beyond dislodging bricks in a few instances, no serious damage has been reported. The disturbance occurred at 10.41 p.m. Although it was distinctly felt in the hills, the seismograph at the Adelaide Observatory recorded only a slight movement. The tremor on Sunday night was the first definite earth movement since September 19, 1902, but a few minor tremors have been recorded since then. At one time there was a recognised line of earth weakness running through the Adelaide hills, with a number of subsidiary faults, any of which was capable of causing earth tremors more serious than that recorded on Sunday: but, as the Government Geologist (Dr. L. Keith Ward) explained yesterday, most of those faults were now so old that they had ceased to be a source of worry. Almost without exception, he said, they had passed the active stage. Without fuller data, he was unable to suggest the actual cause of the movement on Sunday. The Government Astronomer (Mr. G. F. Dodwell) said last night that the earthquake in 1902 had its centre on Yorke Peninsula, but its effects were strongly felt in the Adelaide hills. The tremor on Sunday was almost, certainly caused by a settling movement of the earth, and its effect was restricted to a comparatively small area. South Australia was fortunate in being situated in a zone which was not greatly affected by earth movements.
1936 05 19 at 22:45 UTC, Lipson
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 30 May 1936, page 34
LIPSON Residents were startled on Wednesday morning at 8.15 by a sharp earth shock. No serious damage resulted.
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 29 May 1936, page 1
Earth Tremor at Lipson
LIPSON, May 22. — Residents were startled on Wednesday morning at 8.15 by a sharp earthshock. Fortunately the vibration was less severe than the report, or serious damage would have resulted.
Figure 13 Felt area of the St Kitts earthquake of 16 September 1936.
1936 09 16 at 23:20 UTC, St Kitts
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 18 September 1936, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
A distinct earth tremor was felt in Kapunda at 8.50 on Thursday morning. It was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise.
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 25 September 1936, page 3
ST. KITTS.
A slight earth tremor was felt in the district. Buildings were shaken, and windows rattled, but no damage resulted.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 18 September 1936, page 26
Earth Tremor Reported.—A severe earth tremor was experienced at Sutherlands. It travelled from south to north and lasted for half a minute.
1936 12 Date/time?, Yandiah
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 16 December 1936, page 17
YANDIAH
A distinct earthquake shock was registered here recently.
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1936 02 22 | 12:20 | -33.0 | 138.3 | 3.0 | Wirrabara Forest | This paper |
| 1936 05 17 | 13:11 | -35.05 | 138.80 | 3.0 | Adelaide Hills | Dix/This paper |
| 1936 05 19 | 22:45 | -34.3 | 136.1 | 2.5 | Lipson | This paper |
| 1936 09 16 | 23:20 | -34.3 | 139.1 | 3.3 | St Kitts/Kapunda | Dix/This paper |
| 1936 12 16 | – | -33.0 | 138.3 | 2.5 | Yandiah | This paper |
1937
1937 01 10 at 05:30 UTC, Kangaroo Island
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 14 January 1937, page 14
On Sunday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, the people of American River were startled by two earthshocks, one following instantly after the other. Buildings trembled for about three minutes, and even boats at sea reported having felt the disturbance. People sitting on
the sand felt the earth rise under them. This shock seems to have been felt in a more or less degree all over the island.
Memorium
Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 – 1954), Tuesday 11 May 1937, page 3 Forty Years Ago.
Residents of Mount Gambier were startled at 2.30 p.m. on May 10, 1897, just forty years ago, when Mount Gambier was rocked by the severest earth shock ever experienced in its settled history. The duration of the shock was given out at 33 seconds. Slight damage was done to several properties in the town. The severest shocks were felt in the Robe and Kingston districts, and the major quake was followed by several minor ones. The earthquake was also felt in Adelaide. Ships at sea off Cape Northumberland also felt the shock.
Puzzling event
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 12 February 1937, page 2
WAS IT AN EARTH TREMOR?— Residents in Chapel Street, Flinders Terrace and Jervois Street, on Thursday evening, were surprised to see what might have been an earth tremor. Without any warning or any apparent reason, the electric light and telephone wire at the intersection of Gibson and Chapel Streets commenced dancing a jig and the poles swayed as if caught in a heavy gale. The night, however, was quite calm. The disturbance lasted for about five minutes, during which time lights flickered from wire to wire, and was witnessed by several citizens, before it disappeared as suddenly as it arose. Normality was restored and when the street lights were switched on, everything was in order. Was it an earth tremor?
Underground collapse, possibly caused by earthquake
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Monday 19 April 1937, page 17
PORT PIRIE Captain Thomson, a Spencer Gulf pilot, who with Mr. H. Langsford of Solomontown recently visited the caves on the Nullabor Plain, gave an address to members of the Triangle Club at the Y.M.C.A. hall. His description of the caves the expedition had visited was illustrated with lantern slides. Among those which the expedition visited were the Talla, Graveyard, Murriwidgine, Weebabbie, and Abrakarrie caves. The pictures shown included those of openings 300 ft. across and 80 feet deep, passages leading to large chambers, bottle-necked openings which expanded in the depths below, stalactites and stalagmites. Many illustrations were also shown of blowholes through which the rush of air was so rapid that a whistling sound was caused and conversation in the vicinity could not be carried on owing to the noise. Over some of these it was possible to suspend fairly heavy objects. The native ‘red hand’ markings were pictured, and these, it was believed, supplied a warning to keep out. It was found that since the previous visit many hundreds of tons of rock had fallen from the roofs of some of the caves owing to earth tremors. (Ed. May 1936?)
1937 05 07 ?time, St Kitts
Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 – 1954), Thursday 13 May 1937, page 3
Earth Tremor Felt at St. Kitts on Friday
A slight earth tremor was felt in this district on Friday morning.
1937 06 08 at 12:25 UTC, Kapunda
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Friday 11 June 1937, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
An earth tremor, accompanied by a rumbling noise, was felt in Kapunda on Tuesday night, just before 10 o’clock. It appeared to be travelling from north-west to south-east.
1937 08 11 at 20:00 UTC, Hundred of Paringa
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 – 1942), Thursday 26 August 1937, page 1
Earth Tremor Felt on Gordon Road
FARMERS TELL OF EARLY MORNING EXPERIENCE
Of Brief Duration and in Limited Area
On Thursday, August 12, according to some persons living along the Gordon road in the Hundred of Paringa, an earth tremor was felt at 5.30 a.m. It only lasted a few moments, but was quite distinct. From what could be gathered by a representative of this paper, the tremor was preceeded by a noise like thunder muffled by distance.
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Sauer live on the Gordon road some three miles from the Bugle Hut turn off in the Hundred of Paringa. When this farm was visited, Mr. Sauer was away, but his wife was able to give the following story of what happened last Thursday. She said that at 5.30 a.m. she and her husband had just got out of bed and were dressing when they heard a noise which seemed to be some distance away. This grew in intensity but was never very loud. “Then”, she said, “a current appeared to pass right through the house. I said to my husband, ‘what was that noise and what is that current going through the house? It is thunder or like thunder’. My husband said it was an earth tremor, or some thing very like it.” Mrs. Sauer added that the shake or tremble was not severe. It lasted only a short time and appeared to come from the north and go south.
Cr. A. E. Kernich said that he had lived in the district for eleven years and his farm was seven miles from Bookpurnong. He said, “I have made no mistake about the shake which occurred. I might say that I have had some little experience of such things. As a child I was in Eudunda when a bad shake occurred in that town, and I experienced a shake over this farm some years ago. If anything that tremble was a worse one than the one occurring this time. I was just getting up when I heard a knock or a clap and then a rumble like thunder. I at first thought it was a heavy engine of a pump being started over on Barmera or somewhere. The sound came, I think from the north west, and lasted several seconds. It resembled the movement of some heavy vehicle and passed, I should say towards the southeast. I noticed that two pieces of my furniture slightly trembled as what appeared to be a current passed through my room.” Mr. Kernich, after a while, went across to the farm occupied by Mr. Sauer and was surprised to be greeted with, “Did you notice the earth tremble this morning?” from Mr. Sauer. Victor Obst is sure that another slight shock occurred on Saturday in the early hours or the morning. He lives some distance away from Mr. Kernich with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Obst. Victor said Mr. Kernich came to his place on Saturday morning to compare notes. Victor said he got up early and was going to feed the horses when he heard a heavy rumble which appeared to him like a vehicle passing. It travelled towards the south east. It is reported that south of the Gordon road other settlers have experienced a slight tremor on the Thursday morning.
From what could be gathered the tremor may not have been widespread and may have possibly died out before it reached down the Gordon road towards Mr. Fielke’s farm.
1937 08 08 at 10:30 UTC, Lipson
Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1954), Friday 13 August 1937, page 1
EARTH SHOCK AT LIPSON
About 8 p.m. on Sunday an earth tremor was felt in Lipson. Doors and windows rattled, accompanied by a rumbling noise.
1937 10 14 at 21:53 UTC, Port Pirie
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 16 October 1937, page 27
Earth Tremor At Port Pirie
PORT PIRIE. October 15.
There was a decided earth tremor about 7.23 a.m. today. It came with a rumble, and though of brief duration, lasted long enough to set articles of furniture vibrating and crockery rattling.
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Saturday 16 October 1937, page 1
EARTH TREMOR FELT IN PIRIE
Houses Shake, Windows Rattle, And Beds Move
PRECEDED BY RUMBLE LIKE THUNDER
PRECEDED by a rumble like that of thunder, an earth tremor shook Pirie a few minutes before 7.30 yesterday morning. The disturbance lasted only a few seconds.
So far as is known the tremor, which was only slight, caused no damage, although houses were shaken and people in bed were startled.
According to advice received by “The Recorder” by telephone from Adelaide later in the day the phenomenon was not recorded by the seismograph at the Observatory.
The seismal disturbance was a popular topic of conversation in the town yesterday, for it had been noticed by residents in various localities. Many persons were not awakened by the phenomenon, and some others who had risen and begun their daily duties did not notice it. Consequently some were inclined to laugh when they were first told about it, but the story was confirmed by scores of others who had had similar experiences.
The general description given the phenomenon by persons who were in-doors when it occurred was that houses trembled as though a particularly heavy vehicle were travelling past.
Many who were still “between the sheets” at the time had the uncanny experience of feeling their beds moving under them. Houses shook, and windows, crockery, and furniture rattled. Italian fishermen said that boats on the river rolled, although the sea was not noticeably disturbed. Stone, as well as wood and iron buildings were affected by the shock.
MISTAKEN FOR THUNDER
Nelshaby, Wirrabara and Weeroona Island were included in the localities which were shaken.
Residents who were asleep were, in many instances, awakened by the rattling of windows in their homes. Some thought that the vibration had been caused by thunder.
Mr. P. J. Harrison’s daughter Claire was playing the piano at her parents’ home in Bensley street when the instrument shook and a statuette on it fell over. Mr. Harrison, who was in the garden, did not notice the disturbance, however, although when told of the incident in the house he recalled that he had heard a noise resembling thunder.
Mr. V. A. White, of Senate road, Pirie West, was dressing when the tremor occurred. He was puzzled to see a reading lamp fall from an apparently secure position on a wardrobe.
Awakened by the vibration. Mrs. H. Catchpole, of Third street, Pirie West, went to a window to see if a motor lorry were passing and was startled to find that there was no apparent reason for the house having been shaken.
Mrs. M. Cagney, a Senate road resident, was in bed when she felt her house tremble. “It seemed to come from the south-east, going right under the house,” she said. “The house swayed over and back again, and for a moment I thought the trellis would come away from the side.”
“HEARD IT COMING”
Mrs. G. A. Wilson, who resides almost opposite Mrs. Cagney, said that crockery on her kitchen dresser rattled. “My husband and I could hear it coming, like thunder. It did not last more than three or four seconds,” she added.
At Nelshaby Park Mrs. A. Gerard was startled to feel her home swaying and to see chairs rock. The tremor was also noticed by Mrs. A. H. Nolan (lessee of Weeroona Island).
Mr. J. H. Harvey said that the vibration went right through his home in Three Chain road.
Parts on linotype machines in “The Recorder” office were noticed to vibrate.
1937 10 28 at 09:34:43 UTC, Simpson Desert
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 30 October 1937, page 24
Earth Tremor Reported
The Adelaide Observatory announced yesterday that an examination of the seismograph had revealed that an earth tremor had been recorded on Thursday.
The preliminary phase occurred at 7.6.56 p.m., the secondary phase at 7.8.36 p.m., and the long waves took place at 7.9.15 p.m, with the maximum at 7.9.50 p.m. It was computed that the tremor occurred about 700 miles from Adelaide, possibly in New South Wales. The maximum movement recorded was nine millimetres.
1937 12 20 at 22:35:02 UTC, Simpson Desert
This earthquake in the Simpson Desert does not seem to have been reported on in newspapers but was recorded on sufficient seismographs to be located by various agencies (see Table below).
A ‘large swarm’ of earthquakes up to M6.5 occurred near the eastern NT/SA border between 1937 and 1942 and surely produced surface faulting though that has not been found, probably obscured by active sand dunes. There are no newspaper reports that these two events in the Simpson Desert in 1937 were felt anywhere but at least the October event was recorded at ADE and was mentioned in the press. Magnitude were from Denham (Mw) and Dix (ML).
Table Earthquakes in South Australia, 1937. Macroseismic above, instrumental below.
1938
Not a single reference has been found in Australian newspapers to any earthquake felt in South Australia in 1938.
One large earthquake of the Simpson Desert sequence occurred on 17 April 1938, its epicentre on the SA/NT border within the uncertainty of the location. Bolt (1959) assigned it a magnitude of 6.3 and mention of it was found in Queensland newspapers: felt at Birdsville, some 230km east of Bolt’s epicentre. So it must have been strongly felt in South Australia, perhaps the relevant newspapers are still awaiting scanning.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947), Tuesday 19 April 1938, page 14
Earth Tremors Shake Buildings At Birdsville
BOULIA, April 19.
At 7 p.m. on Sunday earth tremors were felt at Birdsville and in the surrounding districts though it is not on the ISC database. Two distinct rumbles, lasting approximately ten seconds each, at half minute intervals, shook stone buildings severely, and pictures, crockery, windows and doors, vibrated violently. A bell hanging on the rear wall of the police station rang freely. Local residents consider the tremors more pronounced than any previously experienced in this locality. On July 24 last a meteor fell near Birdsville, causing considerable alarm.
| Date | Time UTC | Lat | Long | Ms | Place |
| 1938 04 17 | 08:56:22 | -25.5 | 137.2 | 6.3 | Simpson Desert NT |
1939
The most remarkable earthquake in the decade was that near Nilpena and Motpena in the far North, shaking was felt strongly in Port August and Port Pirie. Despite the isolated location there was damage to Motpena Homestead, ground cracks if not surface faulting and a strong aftershock sequence. The magnitude inferred from the felt area is about 5.5 (Corkery; in McCue, 1996). This earthquake was clearly recorded on the Adelaide Milne-Shaw Seismograph, 360km away. The high epicentral intensity, ground cracking and vigorous aftershock sequence suggest a very shallow focus. A significant earthquake in the Simpson Desert sequence ccurred
1939 01 31 at 07:05 UTC, Clare
Blyth Agriculturist (SA : 1908 – 1954), Friday 3 February 1939, page 1
Earth Tremor.—At 4.35 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon last the most severe shock of earthquake was experienced that has ever been felt in Clare. The wave appeared to travel north and South, and was accompanied by a rumbling sound similar to that of thunder. The tremor lasted about 10 seconds, and many people were so startled that they ran out of their houses which they thought were going to topple over. The E.S. & A.C. Bank, a lofty two-story building, appeared to rock, and bottles, glasses, &c., in hotels and houses became animated for the time, clashing together in confusion. After the shock had passed a peculiar sound could be heard passing onward.
1939 02 08 at 16:33 UTC, Saddleworth
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Friday 10 February 1939, page 5
Earth Tremor At Saddleworth An earth tremor which awakened practically every resident in the town shook Saddleworth early yesterday morning. Windows, doors, and crockery rattled in every home. People rushed into the streets. many fearing more serious tremors. Riverton was also in the line of the tremor, which appeared to travel from north to south, and there was a similar occurrence there.
Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 – 1954), Friday 10 February 1939, page 3
EARTH TREMOR.
Mr. W. G. Eyre informs us that on Thursday morning at 2.3 a.m. he heard an earthquake, his home shaking for a few seconds. Mr. A. L. Stacy heard the same. Mr. E. H. Tilbrook heard a similar tremor on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, which shook his verandah, where he was sleeping, and continuing for about 25 seconds, awakening him from sleep, and appeared to travel from North East to South West. Several others report that they noticed slight earth movements at 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday.
National Emergencies Services Organisation Proposed
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Saturday 18 February 1939, page 5
ORGANISATION READY FOR EMERGENCIES
To Fight Flood Or Fire Plans for a permanent organisation to deal with emergencies such as fires, floods, railway disasters, earthquakes, and epidemics were announced today by the National Safety Council. Based on suggestions previously submitted to the Government and Commissioner of Police (Brig.-Gen. Leane) they were discussed this week at a meeting of the civil emergency section of the council.
1939 03 26 at 03:58 UTC, Nilpena
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Monday 27 March 1939, page 1
Pirie and North-West Feel Earth Tremor
HOUSES AFFECTED IN PIRIE WEST
PATIENTS IN LOCAL HOSPITAL FEEL BEDS SHAKE
BUILDINGS ROCKED ALARMINGLY AT PORT AUGUSTA
Felt in Pirie about 1.30 p.m. yesterday, an earthquake shock was experienced from Kadina to Marree. Damage was done to crockery and plaster in some places and citizens of Port Augusta left their houses.
About 1.30 p.m. yesterday residents of Pirie felt a slight earth tremor, lasting a few seconds. Most folk were seated at dinner at the time. Several persons spoken to later said that the vibration caused was similar to that which accompanies a heavily laden vehicle passing. There was not enough in the movement to cause any alarm. At Pirie Hospital several of the patients felt their beds shake slightly at the time of the tremor. It had the effect of surprising them until they learned that others had a similar experience.
Figure 14 ADE seismogram of the 26 March 1939 Nilpena earthquake with Bolt’s annotation.
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), Monday 27 March 1939, page 7
WHY EARTH TREMBLED Rock Movement SHIFTING of the rock structure of the Flinders Ranges caused the earth tremor which was felt in northern towns yesterday afternoon, the Government Astronomer (Mr. Dodwell) said today. “Geological adjustments in that area are more frequent than in any other part of South Australia,” Mr. Dodwell said. “There are weaknesses in the crust of the earth, the district being in a rift valley or region of subsidence with mountains on the sides of the area which dropped in past ages.” An examination of the Adelaide Ob-servatory’s seismograph today showed that the preliminary wave of the tremor was recorded at 29 minutes and six seconds past 1 p.m. The secondary phase occurred 45 seconds later, and the maximum wave at 30 minutes and 21 seconds past 1 p.m. Including the dying stages, the tremor lasted 45 minutes. From the recording it was estimated that the shock took place in the vicinity of Nilpena, 275 miles from Adelaide.
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 – 1954), Wednesday 29 March 1939, page 2
EARTHOUAKE KADINA.
CENTRE OF DISTURBANCE AT NILPENA.
Some alarm was occasioned at Kadina on Sunday March 26, when a distinct earth tremor was noted, the seismic disturbance was announced by a faint rumbling, at 1.29 p.m., and almost immediately windows began to vibrate and rattle, crockery did likewise, and persons seated or in bed felt a decided tremor. This continued for fully 15 seconds, though various local accounts give the time of duration as from 12 to 20 seconds. When the disturbance had subsided, it was recollected that years ago the tremor or quake had been repeated some time afterwards, but in the present instance no further tremor was noted.
Figure 15 Isoseismal map of the 1939 Nilpena earthquake by Corkery under supervision of McCue and with data from McArdle.
Fortunately, the tremor was not severe, but sufficiently distinct to be noted in various parts of Kadina, from Wallaroo Mines to Kadina South, also in the vicinity of the town and at Tickera. Nothing was observed at Alford and it appears as if the tremor was confined to the coastal areas, as it was recorded at Port Augusta, where the tremor lasted from 30 seconds to 60 seconds, and buildings rocked in an alarming manner. It was stated to have been the severest earthquake for many years experienced by the port. At Marree the earthquake was violent, though it lasted for only 20 seconds, and buildings here also rocked to the dismay of the inhabitants. At Quorn the tremor lasted about a minute, but was more severe at Hawker.
At Wallaroo, the tremor was felt in several quarters of the town, and windows rattled and the earth vibrated distinctly, though here also no damage was done. Moonta appears to have escaped the visitation, as none appears to have noted or felt the tremor. The Meteorological Department recorded the tremor in Adelaide, and estimates that the centre of the disturbance was at Nilpena, 341½ miles north of Adelaide. Earthquakes of real severity were experienced in South Australia in 1897 (in the form of an earthwave) and 1902 (on a Friday night, the earthquake being repeated on the following night at the same hour).
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 31 March 1939, page 3
GEORGETOWN.
Wednesday, March 29.
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 31 March 1939, page 3
There was a pronounced earth tremor here on Sunday last at 1.27 p.m. that shook buildings and contents very noticeably.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 30 March 1939, page 16
EARTH TREMOR IN NORTH
Buildings Rocked — Crockery Shaken
Rocking buildings, causing windows and iron roofs to vibrate, and breaking crockery and glassware, an earth tremor occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in several northern towns. Centres from which the shock was reported were Kadina, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Hawker and Marree. There was no serious damage. Residents of Marree were at lunch when they were startled by the trembling of the earth. The disturbance lasted about 20 seconds. The sky was clear and the wind slight. A rumbling was followed by a violent shaking of all buildings. The Great Northern Hotel, a two-storey building, rocked ominously, and residents rushed into the open. People in the first storey had the unpleasant experience of seeing the walls rock. The post office clock stopped at 1.32 p.m. The shock was the most severe experienced at Port Augusta for many years. It was heralded by a noise similar to the approach of a very strong wind. It appeared to come from the north-west and was felt in all parts of the town. Large two-storey buildings, constructed of steel and concrete, such as the railway station and hotels, rocked in an alarming manner. Residents ran from their houses in all parts of the town to see the sheets of iron on roofs vibrating severely. Many families were having lunch, and crockery on the tables bounced about, while windows rattled. Apart from broken crockery and glassware, no damage was reported. The tremor lasted from 30 seconds to a minute. Residents said that had it lasted much longer many of the buildings would have been in danger of falling, so severe was the shaking. The shock lasted about a minute at Quorn, where no damage was done. The tremor was felt severely at Hawker, where buildings swayed, but again no damage occurred. Kadina felt the shock for from 10 to 15 seconds. Windows vibrated and crockery rattled. It. was thought that some of the workings of the mines had collapsed, until it was found that the tremor had been felt also in nearby districts. Travelling from north to south, a tremor occurred at Appin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. There was no damage.
Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 – 1950), Thursday 30 March 1939, p2
EARTH TREMOR
The earth shock that was so severely felt in the north on Sunday was also felt in Cowell. Many residents report that at 1 30 p.m they noticed something uncanny occur and afterwards realised that it was an earthquake but evidently it was not so pronounced here as in the northern towns.
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Wednesday 29 March 1939, page 1
CHIMNEY CRASHES
EARTH SHOCK AT MOTPENA
TREMORS FOR THREE DAYS
Figure 16 Cartoon from The News, Monday 27 March 1939, p6
ADELAIDE, Tuesday.
IN three days seven earth tremors, one of them causing walls to crack and a chimney to crash, have so alarmed residents of Motpena Station, near Parachilna, that they are sleeping in the open.
Every wall in the seven-roomed homestead was cracked, and a chimney in a nearby building crashed in the first shake experienced on Sunday afternoon. Two other tremors occurred that day, two yesterday, and two more about 4 a.m. today.
The first shock, which was the most severe, was the only one recorded by Adelaide Observatory’s seismograph. The chimney which collapsed at Motpena Station in this tremor was part of an old building a few yards from the homestead. It was used as a meal place for the men.
Mrs. Hilda Pondi (the cook), her three-year-old daughter Mae, and two working men were inside the building at the time, and they quickly escaped. A second shake was felt half an hour later at Motpena, but no further damage resulted.
The third tremor was experienced at 8 p.m., the fourth at 6 a.m. on Monday, and in the fifth—an hour later—dust was shaken from the ceilings in the homestead. Two more tremors about 4 a.m. today shook the building.
Miss Margaret Crawford, a daughter of the owner of the station said that the experience had been unnerving. “We have been expecting more shakes every minute,” Miss Crawford said. “The doors of the house are being kept wide open so that we can escape quickly. We are sleeping in the open, but the men employed here are still living in their iron building.”
A five-week-old baby is among those living at Motpena. The station is eight miles due west of Parachilna, and is within 20 miles of the Flinders Ranges.
Officials of the Observatory looked through the files as far back as 1897 today to find an equal of the series of tremors which have shaken Motpena. But even in the ‘quake of 1897 and of 1902 there are no records of any damage.
Damage from the earthquake series at Port Augusta
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 12 May 1939, page 5
TOWN HALL BUILDING SCHEME
COST TO BE OVER £1,000.
In introducing the Town Hall building scheme to the meeting of the Town Council on Monday night, the Mayor (Mr. Riches, M.P.), …….. stated that as the result of the recent earth tremors large cracks have appeared in the wall of the building, which Mr. Carter, an officer of the State Bank, is of the opinion require immediate attention to prevent further damage. The cracks would have to be repaired and he thought that while this work was being undertaken, the time was opportune for other renovations to be carried out.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 31 March 1939, page 9
MORE TREMORS IN NORTH
Settlers Camp In Rain
Earth tremors were still being felt in the north of South Australia last night, and the owner of Motpena station at Parachilna (Mr. W. Crawford), speaking by telephone, said that the homestead had just withstood the 17th tremor since Sunday. It occurred at 9.20 p.m.
Those on the station were afraid to sleep inside, and were camped under tarpaulins, said Mr. Crawford. Rain had been falling since 4.30 p.m. yesterday, making things even more uncomfortable. A boundary rider, with his wife and baby, came into the station from their hut seven miles away, having walked all the way. Their home had rattled repeatedly. Mr. Crawford said that there was an eerie stillness in the atmosphere preceding a tremor, and they almost knew when one was coming. Birds which had settled around the station homestead where feed was plentiful had now almost completely disappeared. “Yesterday a severe shock shook the house so much that you could see the walls trembling as if they would fall.” he said. “Windows were smashed and more cracks appeared in the walls. Cattle bolted after the earth had trembled under them. Water from the sheep troughs shot out, landing nine or ten feet away. The tremor was felt at Blinman, about 25 miles away, and at other places nearer.
Quorn Mercury (SA : 1895 – 1954), Friday 31 March 1939, page 3
An earth tremor occurred at Quorn at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. A second tremor followed at 4 a.m. on Monday.
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 31 March 1939, page 2
EARTH TREMOR.
Residents of Gladstone experienced an earthquake at about 1.30 p.m. on Sunday last, when houses were shaken and crockery, etc. were rattled. Its duration was about 10 secs.
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Tuesday 28 March 1939, page 4
NORTHERN EARTH TREMOR
CAUSE WAS ROCK MOVEMENT
ADELAIDE, Monday.
Shifting of the rock structure of the Flinders Range caused the earth tremor which was felt in northern towns yesterday afternoon, Mr. G. F. Dodwell (Government Astronomer) said today.
“Geological adjustments in that area are more frequent than in any other part of South Australia,” Mr. Dodwell said. “There are weaknesses in the crust of the earth, the district being in a rift valley or region of subsidence with mountains on the sides of the area which dropped in past ages.” An examination of the Adelaide Observatory’s seismograph today showed that the preliminary wave of the tremor was recorded at 29 minutes and six seconds past 1 p.m. The secondary phase occurred 45 seconds later, and the maximum wave at 30 minutes and 21 seconds past 1p.m. Including the dying stages, the tremor lasted 45 minutes. From the recording it was estimated that the shock occurred in the vicinity of Nilpena, 275 miles from Adelaide.
Quorn Mercury (SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 9 April 1953, page 1
Earth Tremor Felt at Bruce
A report in these columns recently stated that Prof K. E. Bullen, University of Sydney, was gathering information concerning an earthquake which was reported at Marree on March 26, 1939. Mr. F. T. Maloney, of Bruce, remembers it. He writes: I was taking an afternoon nap on the kitchen sofa of our home situated three miles north-east of Bruce when I was awakened by a terrific earthquake that nearly rolled me off the sofa. I jumped up in alarm and noticed the pictures on the wall rocking to and fro. My wife, who was on the back verandah, was in the act of opening the screen door to enter the kitchen when the shock occurred, but heard or saw nothing unusual and unsuccessfully tried to convince me that I had had a dream. Reports came in from stations many miles further north of a sev-ere earthquake that had splashed water over the top of underground tanks where the water level had been several feet below the surface. Our immediate neighbors, too, had noticed a very heavy earthquake. I cannot recall hearing any rumbling or noise of any description apart from the rolling of the earth. As far as I can remember, the rolling appeared to travel fast, from west to east and lasted two or three seconds, but I cannot be sure of this after so many years.
1939 04 16 at 19:45 UTC, Port Augusta (aftershock Motpena)
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 19 April 1939, page 21
Another Earth Tremor At Port Augusta
PORT AUGUSTA, April 18.
Residents reported an earth tremor at about 5 a.m. today. It was the fourth at Port Augusta this year. Although it was not as severe as the last one, windows rattled and the houses shook, waking many people. Several cracks have appeared in the walls of the Town Hall, but they are not dangerous, although demanding immediate attention.
Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA : 1910 – 1950), Thursday 20 April 1939, page 2
News and Notes
EARTH TREMOR
Another earth tremor was felt in Cowell at about 5 30 a,m. on Monday. A noise resembling thunder approached and gradually faded again. Whilst at its peak, houses shook and crockery etc, on
1939 05 01 at 02:58 UTC, Motpena aftershock
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 3 May 1939, page 22
More Earth Tremor In North
PORT AUGUSTA, May 2.
A severe earth tremor, the fifth this year, occurred at Port Augusta at 4.38 a.m. today. The tremor, which lasted only a few seconds was one of the most severe experienced, and many people were aroused by the rattling of windows, crockery, and furniture. A number of residents owning stone and brick houses state that cracks are appearing in the walls. There are three large cracks in the walls of the town hall. Cement tennis courts have also been affected, and in some instances have opened nearly an inch. This morning’s disturbance appeared to travel from east to west. Severe tremors were felt at Parachilna and Blinman at 4.40 a.m. today. Buildings were shaken, awakening residents. Further cracks have appeared in the walls of Motpena station.
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 5 May 1939, page 1
FIFTH EARTH TREMOR ON TUESDAY RESIDENTS AROUSED FROM THEIR SLEEP
A severe earth tremor, the fifth this year, occurred at Port Augusta at 4.38 on Tuesday morning. Some townspeople consider that the shock was one of the worst to pass over this town, although it lasted only a few seconds. People were aroused from their sleep by the rattling of windows, crockery etc.
Despite the fact that some of the five tremors have hardly been noticeable, a number of residents owning brick and stone houses are complaining about cracks appearing in the walls of their dwellings and three large cracks have also appeared in the walls of the town hall. Cement tennis courts have also been affected and in some instances the joins have opened considerably.
The tremor appeared to pass from east to west.
1939 06 05 at 12:20 UTC, Motpena aftershock
Quorn Mercury (SA : 1895 – 1954), Friday 9 June 1939, page 3
Hawker
June 7, 1939.
In common with other towns in the north, an earth tremor was experienced here on Monday night at 9.50, and it lasted for several seconds.
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 9 June 1939, page 1
EARTH TREMOR MONDAY NIGHT
PICTURES MOVE IN THE TOWN HALL
SHOCK FELT IN ALL PARTS OF THE TOWN
Port Augusta experienced another earth tremor at about 9.50 on Monday night. A meeting of the Town Council was in progress in the Council chamber at the Town Hall when the tremor could be heard approaching with a noise which sounded like a strong wind. Windows and doors in the building rattled loudly and the Councillors drew the attention of the Acting Mayor (Cr. G. E. Haddy) to the large photo of His Majesty the King, which was rocking to and fro above his head. This tremor, although very noticeable, was not as severe as the first shock experienced here on a Sunday afternoon. The shock only lasted a few seconds.
Councillors, after feeling the huge building shake, said they could easily understand now how the walls of the Town Hall cracked. The tremor, which was felt in all parts if the town, is the seventh to pass over Port Augusta this year.
Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954), Saturday 10 June 1939, page 10
PORT AUGUSTA, Saturday.
SEVENTH EARTH TREMOR The seventh earth tremor to be experienced here this year occurred at 9. 52 on Monday night. The shock was not as severe as the first tremor, but was worse than the others. Owners of stone dwellings are becoming concerned at the frequency of the shocks. Cracks are appearing in cement tennis courts and stone-and-brick houses. Cracks have appeared in the walls of the town hall, and the council, as a precautionary measure, has had the walls underpinned.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 9 June 1939, page 34
NORTHERN EARTH TREMORS
Nothing To Be Feared, Says Mr. Dodwell
There was nothing to worry about in the earth tremors which had taken place in recent months over the area between Port Augusta and Parachilna, said the Government Astronomer (Mr G. F. Dodwell) yesterday. The tremors which had taken place were in accordance with the history of earthquakes in South Australia, occurring alongside mountain ranges, as they had done since the first investigations made as far back as 1879 when there was a series of severe tremors in the South-East, he said. The younger beds of the territory between the Flinders Range and Lake Torrens were evidently taking on a slight movement, and, although the heavy rains in those areas could not be regarded as a real cause, they were, perhaps, the finishing touch to provide an earth movement. It was probable that, except for slight tremors, the end of the series had been reached, as they had followed in the ordinary sequence of all disturbances In South Australia. “South Australian earthquakes appear to illustrate very well the general laws enunciated by de Montessus de Ballore, who is regarded as one of the best authorities on seismic geography,” he said. “He laid it down that most earthquakes occur where the variations of topographic relief are greatest, and that the most unstable regions are the most pronounced general slopes, as can be found between Flinders Range and the country which has been affected. The third phase laid down by this authority was that the unstable regions are associated with the great lines of corrugation of the terrestrial crust; and they again are the conditions found In the area affected. The heavy rains were just the pulling of the trigger of the general tension conditions which probably existed.” South Australia was a most stable part of the earth’s crust, said Mr. Dodwell, and there was nothing serious to be feared in the tremors. Probably there might be some more slight ones as the earth’s crust adjusted itself. It was of interest that in every adjustment the Flinders Range rose just a little bit higher. The most serious phase of the tremors was at Montpena Station, owned by Mr. W. Crawford, and it was recalled yesterday that in the programme of a race meeting at Lyndhurst on Empire Day, it was represented that the Pastoral Board asked Mr. Crawford the reason for the earthquakes at Montpena, and he was supposed to have replied, “Ground rents.”
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 21 June 1939, page 27
REPORTS FROM RURAL CENTRES
BELTANA— The most severe earth tremor of the six that has taken place this year locally was experienced on June 5 at three minutes to 10 p.m. The tremor lasted 45 seconds.
1939 06 12 at 16:30 UTC, Nilpena aftershock
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Wednesday 14 June 1939, page 22
Another Earth Tremor In North
PARACHILNA, June 13
Reports of an earth tremor at about 2 a.m. today have been received from Motpena and Nilpena Stations. A loud roaring was heard during the tremor. It was felt slightly at Parachilna.
1939 07 19 at 04:55 UTC, Kapunda
Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 – 1951), Thursday 20 July 1939, page 2
Published Every Thursday Afternoon,
Kapunda: Thursday, July 20, 1939.
EARTH TREMOR.
An earth tremor was felt in Kapunda on Wednesday at about 2.25 p.m. Windows and doors rattled, and it was accompanied by a rumbling noise. It lasted some seconds.
1939 07 23 at 03:53 UTC, Booleroo Centre
Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier (SA : 1917 – 1948), Friday 28 July 1939, page 2
EARTH TREMOR. A severe earth tremor was experienced at Booleroo Centre at 1.23 p.m. on Sunday last. A loud rumble was heard. “Windows rattled and wall shook. Many people rushed outside for safety. The tremor was the most severe ever felt here, and appeared to be travelling in a northerly direction.
1939 08 12 nighttime, Port Augusts
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 – 1954), Friday 18 August 1939, page 1
SLIGHT EARTH TREMOR
SATURDAY NIGHT
FIRST TO BE REPORTED FOR SOME TIME
A number of residents reported this week that they felt a slight earth tremor some time during Saturday night. Although windows rattled and other objects moved, it is considered that the tremor was not nearly as severe as those experienced some time ago.
This is the eighth tremor to be reported in this town in the last year or so.
1939 08 16 at 20:00 UTC, Peterborough
Times and Northern Advertiser, Peterborough, South Australia (SA : 1919 – 1950), Friday 18 August 1939, page 2
Earthquake.
A heavy tremor was felt at Peterborough yesterday morning about 5.30 a.m. There was a distinct rumble heard and many people were awakened by the vibration and the rattling of the windows.
Areas’ Express (Booyoolee, SA : 1877 – 1948), Friday 18 August 1939, page 2
1939 08 21 at night, Port Augusta
Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 – 1954), Saturday 26 August 1939, page 4
Pt. Augusta Has Another Slight Quake
PORT Augusta this week experienced its eighth earth tremor during the past six months. Residents were awakened on Monday night by a disturbance which caused windows to rattle, doors to open, and objects in the rooms to move. The tremor lasted only a few seconds and was not considered to be as severe as some of the others. Many houses, tennis courts, and other structures bear obvious signs of the tremors. Cracks in tennis courts have opened, cracks have appeared in the walls of stone and brick houses, and even wood and iron dwellings have been affected so that the doors will not close properly. Perhaps the building to suffer most was the town hall, which has recently received attention to the foundations, walls, and ceilings.
Aboriginal beliefs about tremors
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Thursday 7 September 1939, page 21
Far North Earthshocks MEETING Mr. Bill Crawford of Motpena station, Parachilna in the city yesterday, I brought up the subject of the repetition of earth shocks in the Far North recently. Mr. Crawford told Mr. Maynard Stokes and me an interesting story about the extraordinary sounds heard up there. “The blacks won’t go into parts of the hills on Umberatana where booming is frequently heard.” he said. “Nor will they go near the edge of Lake Torrens. “Their belief is that there are two big snakes fighting underground.”
| Date | Time UTC | Latitude | Longitude | M | Place | Reference |
| 1939 01 31 | 07:05 | -33.8 | 138.6 | 3.0 | Clare | This paper |
| 1939 02 08 | 16:33 | -34.1 | 138.8 | 3.3 | Saddleworth | Dix/This paper |
| 1939 03 26 | 04:00 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 5.5 | Nilpena | McC1996/Dix |
| 1939 03 26 | 04:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 03 26 | 10:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 03 26 | 20:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 03 26 | 21:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 03 27 | 18:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 5.0 | Nilpena/Quorn | This paper |
| 1939 03 30 | 11:50 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3 | Nilpena | 17th a/shock, This paper/Dix |
| 1939 04 16 | 19:45 | -33.0 | 137.2 | 4.5 | Cowell/Pt Augusta | This paper |
| 1939 06 05 | 12:22 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 5.0 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 06 12 | 14:30 | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3.2 | Nilpena | This paper |
| 1939 07 19 | 04:55 | -34.3 | 138.9 | 3.0 | Kapunda | This paper |
| 1939 07 23 | 03:53 | -32.9 | 138.4 | 3.0 | Booleroo Centre | This paper |
| 1939 08 16 | 20:05 | -33.0 | 138.8 | 3.0 | Peterborough | This paper |
| 1939 08 12 | night | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3.0 | Nilpena/Pt Augusta | This paper |
| 1939 08 21 | night | -31.1 | 138.3 | 3.0 | Nilpena/Pt Augusta | This paper |
**Note: Great earthquakes occurred on the northern plate boundary in 1935 and 1938.
| Date | Time | Lat | Lon | MS/mb | Ref |
| 1937 12 20 | 22:35:01 | -25.8 | 137.0 | 5.5 Ms | ISS/PAS |
| 22:35:02 | -26.0 | 137.0 | 5.5 Ms | G&R | |
| 1941 05 04 | 22:07:32 | -25.8 | 137.0 | 5.6 Ms | ISS |
| 22:07:42 | -23.0 | 142.0 | CGS | ||
| 22:07:31 | -26.5 | 137.5 | GUTE | ||
| 1941 06 27 | 07:55:48 | -26.0 | 137.0 | 6.5 Ms | CGS/PAS |
| 07:55:48 | -26.2 | 135.5 | ISS | ||
| 07:55:49 | -26.5 | 137.5 | GUTE | ||
| 07:55:55.1 | -25.94 | 137.48 | 6.3 Ms | ISC |
Table Simpson Desert earthquakes, ISC Bulletins