WA records 209 quakes to top nation's seismic list

Western Australia has emerged as the nation's hotspot for earthquake activity, according to Geoscience Australia's 2010 report card.

Australian recorded 379 earthquakes last year, of which 209 were located in WA, 70 in NSW, 47 in South Australia, 24 in Victoria and the Northern Territory, three in Tasmania and one each in Queensland and the ACT.

The Australian Seismological Report 2010 also included an event summary of Australia's biggest onshore earthquakes - a magnitude 5 event that shook Kalgoorlie on April 20, 2010, causing damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure.

Two offshore earthquakes were also recorded at magnitude 5 - one west of Exmouth on June 8, 2010, and another off the south coast on April 5, 2010.

WA's strongest earthquakes were recorded at Meeberrie (7.3) in 1941, Meckering (6.9) in 1968, McKay (6.7) in 1970 and Broome (6.6) in 1979.