On 6 August 1994, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale occurred in the Hunter region of New South Wales. This was the  earthquake recorded in Australia in 1994. Homes, hotels and other buildings suffered serious damage. There were also infrastructure, commercial and industrial losses.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 1994 damage at $37.2 million, with the 2011 estimated normalised cost of $115 million.