Road Trip part 5
The road took us to Meckering, which I learned was the site of an earthquake in 1968.
Besides the earthquake, the town has this photography museum.
Although the Meckering earthquake of October 1968 was not the largest in WA’s history, it was certainly the most significant in term of damage done and cultural upheaval. It caused ground rupturing nearly 40 km long, some of which is still to be seen today. The maximum heave was 2.4 m, max vertical displacement was 2.0 m, and the maximum strike slip movement (dextral) was 1.5 m. The maximum felt intensity on the Modified Mercalli scale was 9. The damage exceeded $5 million ( in 1968 dollars). Meckering’s population at the time was approximately 240.
The Snooke’s residence is one place where damage was very noticeable, and still stands in ruins today.
More of the house: At 10.59a.m., on 14th October, 1968, the small town of Meckering, about 130 km east of Perth, was destroyed by an earthquake. Twenty people were injured, but incredibly, no one was killed.
More of what is left of the house.
I thought it was special that the place of the baby’s cot was marked. Amazing the baby survived.
