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Volcanoes of Australia (13)

Atherton Volcanic Province | Bundaberg-Boyne Province | Chudleigh Volcanic Province | Fox | Heard | Maer Volcanic Province | McBride Volcanic Province | McDonald Islands | Mclean Volcanic Province | Newer Volcanics Province | Nulla Volcanic Province | Piebald Volcanic Province | Sturgeon Volcanic Province
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Significant volcanic eruptions: Australia

In historic times, at least 2 volcanoes have been active in Australia, including Heard and McDonald Islands volcanoes. A total of 15 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since 1910.
The table below lists volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Australia during geologically recent times.
DateVolcanoVEIRegionDeathsDamage
2012 Sep 5 ±4 d. - ongoingHeard
Mawson Peak
0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
2006 Mar 11 - 2008 Mar 3Heard
Mawson Peak
0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
2005 Jul 12 or beforeMcDonald Islands0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
2003 Jun 9 - 2004 Jun 14Heard
Mawson Peak
0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
2001 May 3 ±150 d.McDonald Islands1?Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
2000 Mar 7 ? - 2001 Feb 16 ±15 d.Heard
Mawson Peak and upper south flank
2Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1996 Dec 16 ±15 d. - 1997 Feb 10 ±30 d.McDonald Islands
Northern part of McDonald Island
1?Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1993 Jan 2 ±15 d.Heard
Mawson Peak
2?Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1992 Dec 16 ±15 d.McDonald Islands
Submarine vent near McDonald Islands
0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1992 May 29 ?Heard
Mawson Peak
0Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1985 Jan 14 - 1987 Jan 16 ±15 d.Heard
Mawson Peak
2?Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1954 Apr 13 ? - Jun 13 ?Heard
Mawson Peak
2Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1953 Aug 20 - Nov 18Heard
Mawson Peak
2Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1950 Jan 24 - 1952 Mar 12 ?Heard
Mawson Peak
2Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
1910 Mar - AprHeard
Mawson Peak
2Australia, Southern Indian Ocean
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Australia FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Australia?

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Australia?

+How often do volcanoes in Australia erupt?

+How active are the volcanoes in Australia?

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Australia?

Latest earthquakes: Australia

In the past 7 days, Australia was shaken by 1 quake of magnitude 6.8, 1 quake of magnitude , 1 quake of magnitude , and 8 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 4 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.
A Magnitude 1.5 earthquake occurred in Mount Remarkable, South Australia .
Date and TimeMag / DepthNearest Volcano / Location
2025-04-30 20:06
2.6

10 km
818 km (508 mi) NW ofFlinders Ranges, SA  I FELT IT Info
Apr 30, 04:52 pm (GMT +9:30)
3.6

10 km
1247 km (775 mi) S of94 km southeast of Kalkarindji, Victoria Daly, Northern Territory, AustraliaI FELT IT Info
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 30, 04:56 am (GMT +10)
5.0

10 km
1397 km (868 mi) N ofMacquarie Island Region  I FELT IT Info
Apr 30, 12:53 am (GMT +10)
6.8

10 km
1404 km (872 mi) N ofSouth Pacific Ocean, 221 km west of Macquarie Island, Tasmania, AustraliaI FELT IT - 3 reportsInfo
Monday, April 28, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 28, 06:34 pm (GMT +8)
2.9

10 km
1682 km (1045 mi) S ofIndian Ocean, 40 km southwest of Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Western Australia, AustraliaI FELT IT Info
Sunday, April 27, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
2025-04-28 02:44
2.7

5 km
667 km (414 mi) NE ofBoorowa, NSW  I FELT IT - 3 reportsInfo

Significant Earthquakes in Australia since 1900


The deadliest earthquake in Australia since 1900 was the magnitude 5.4 earthquake in  Australia, Australian Capital Territory on Dec, 27, 1989. It resulted in 12 fatalities and 100 injured people. This was the most disastrous quake in Australia ever recorded. This was also the most damaging earthquake that occurred in this time: total economic losses were estimated to the equivalent of $1 billion US Dollars. An unknown number houses and other buildings were destroyed and an unknown number damaged.

DateMagRegionDeathsDamage
2021 Sep 215.9 Melbourne0
moderate
Info
2014 Feb 264.5 Kalgoorlie0
light
Info
2010 Apr 205.2 Kalgoorlie0
light
Info
2009 Sep 223.1 Mornington0
light
Info
1989 Dec 275.4 Newcastle12
catastrophic
Info
1989 May 238.2Macquarie Island: Macquarie Station; New Zealand0
light
Info
1988 Jan 226.7 Tennant Creek0
moderate
Info
1988 Jan 226.3 Tennant Creek0
moderate
Info
1979 Jun 26.1 Western0
light
Info
1973 Mar 95.5 Wollongong, Sydney0
probably none
Info
1968 Oct 146.9 Meckering, Northam, Cunderdin, York0
light
Info
1954 Feb 285.4 Adelaide S0
moderate
Info
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

Map

Oldest quakes (until 1960) are shown in yellow, most recent (from 2000) in red.
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Significant Earthquakes in Australia FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Australia since 1900?

+How many people were killed by earthquakes in Australia since 1900?

+How much damage did earthquakes cause in Australia since 1900?

Volcano List

Atherton Volcanic Province

(volcanic field (shields, cinder cones, maars) 1160 m / 3806 ft )
Along with the Newer Volcanics Province, Atherton Volcanic Province is one of two known potentially still active volcanic provinces in Australia.
Located in northeastern Queensland, this volcanic field covers an area of 1800 km2 and contains 52 eruptive centers, including ... [more info]

Bundaberg-Boyne Province

(Pyroclastic cone(s) 330 m / 1083 ft)
[more info]

Chudleigh Volcanic Province

(Shield(s) 1000 m / 3281 ft)
[more info]

Fox

(Pyroclastic cone 840 m / 2756 ft)
[more info]

Heard

(Stratovolcano 2745 m / 9,006 ft)
NASA Earth Observatory image of Hear Island taken on 13 Oct 2012 by Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data from the NASA EO-1 team and USGS Global Visualization Viewer (NASA earth observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=79484)
NASA Earth Observatory image of Hear Island taken on 13 Oct 2012 by Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data from the NASA EO-1 team and USGS Global Visualization Viewer (NASA earth observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=79484)
Heard Island is the top of an active stratovolcano on the Kerguelen Plateau in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4000 km southwest of Western Australia. Part of Australian territory, along with McDonald Island to the west, Heard is one of Australia's two currently active volcanoes... [more info]

Maer Volcanic Province

(Pyroclastic cone(s) 171 m / 561 ft)
[more info]

McBride Volcanic Province

(Shield(s) 1020 m / 3346 ft)
[more info]

McDonald Islands

(Complex volcano 230 m / 755 ft)
[more info]

Mclean Volcanic Province

(Pyroclastic cone(s) 610 m / 2001 ft)
[more info]

Newer Volcanics Province

(Shield volcanoes 1011 m / 3,317 ft)
[more info]

Nulla Volcanic Province

(Shield(s) 840 m / 2756 ft)
[more info]

Piebald Volcanic Province

(Shield(s) 420 m / 1378 ft)
[more info]

Sturgeon Volcanic Province

(Shield(s) unknown)
[more info]
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