Effects of the 1960 Tsunami

This paper discusses the results of research undertaken by the NSW State Emergency Service to examine the history of the tsunami of the 23rd and 24th of May 1960 which impacted the New South Wales (NSW) Coast.

The observed characteristics of the tsunami varied widely based on location although in all instances the tsunami's greatest effects did not occur until many hours after it first arrived. Wave amplitudes of up to 0.85m were recorded and potentially reached much higher, up to 4.3m in isolated locations. Damage was limited primarily to vessel moorings, although the oyster industry did suffer some losses. There were two unconfirmed reports of minor injury and some reports of people having to flee beaches and tidal rock shelves indicating that the tsunami did create a risk to life along the coast of NSW.

The tsunami was caused by a 9.5Mw earthquake which occurred at 1911 UTC on the 22nd May (0511 on the 23rd of May AEST) off the coast of southern Chile. This was the largest earthquake that has been instrumentally recorded and was preceded by 4 earthquakes of magnitude 7Mw or greater and followed by many aftershocks. Over 1000km of fault line was ruptured by this series of earthquakes. These earthquakes occurred along the Peru-Chile Trench an active subduction zone with significant historical seismicity. In addition to the impacts in New South Wales the tsunami was also noted in other Australian locations including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Urangan, Brisbane and Coolangatta in Queensland, Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Hobart in Tasmania, Port Macdonnell in South Australia and Freemantle in Western Australia.

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