A minor earthquake that rattled a small Snowy Mountains town on Sunday morning was felt as far north as Weston Creek in Canberra, a senior seismologist says.
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The 3.6 magnitude quake stuck west of Bredbo, between Canberra and Cooma, about 4.40am according to Geoscience Australia.
But while Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Daniel Jaksa said it was the largest earthquake to be recorded in that region since the 1980s, it was not large enough to cause any damage.
"It was felt certainly as far as the coast off to the east, as far as Merimbula and as far southern Canberra, Weston Creek even," he said.
He said it was the second largest earthquake to be recorded in that region.
"It's not a nothing earthquake, it's fairly sizeable. This is not the smallest in that region, there was a magnitude 4 back in July 1980 pretty much in the same location and this one is a slightly smaller one but the second largest earthquake in that region," he said.
"It's not a very active part of Australia. It's not completely weird, earthquakes are not a frequent occurrence but certainly do happen and have happened in the past."
Bredbo Inn manager Elaine Robertson said she was woken by what sounded like a truck passing by.
"The whole building shook. It lasted all of a few seconds before it passed through. It sounded like a truck," she said.
She said the whole town felt it and other towns were shaken.
"Someone coming through from Bombala said they felt it there," she said.
Mr Jaksa said they have received reports of some "fairly good shakes" around that region.
"Nothing damaging but it certainly gave a shock to some of the locals," he said.
"That time of day it is fairly quiet generally [so people are more likely to feel it] although being woken up by it is an odd activity.
Did you feel the earthquake in Canberra? Let us know katie.burgess@fairfaxmedia.com.au
