A GIS-based earthquake damage scenario and the 28 December 1989 earthquake of Newcastle, Australia

During the 5.6 M_L Newcastle earthquake of 1989, the greatest damage was inflicted on unreinforced masonry (brick) commercial properties in the city centre and suburbs. A G.I.S. building-vulnerability map for the central area of Newcastle is presented as a model for rapid audits of building stock vulnerability. The local Intensity estimate for the centre raises the published maximum intensity. Explanations include pre-event susceptibility acquired from earlier historical earthquakes and, particularly, mining damage.