Quake in southwest Sydney felt 38km away - Ninemsn

An early-morning tremor that shook Sydney's southwest was felt as far away as Wollongong, but there have been no reports of damage.

The 3.5 magnitude earthquake was felt at 7.15am (AEDT) on Tuesday, prompting about a dozen reports to Geoscience Australia.

Most came from Campbelltown residents, but a few were from as far away as outer Wollongong.

Senior seismologist Jonathan Bathgate said the quake was "in the ball park" range for the area's typical seismic activity.

With an epicentre 50km south-west of Sydney, about halfway between Campbelltown and Appin, it's estimated the tremor would have been felt up to 38km away.

It would have had the force to knock things off shelves and cause minor cracks, but was unlikely to cause any serious damage, Professor Kevin McCue of the Australian Seismological Centre said.

He said the shudder was not unusual as the southern highlands had experienced earthquakes up to magnitude 5.5 over the past few years.

The area has recorded about 50 quakes in the past 50 years.

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