Although generally of mild climate , the State endured several notable natural disasters around the turn of the century . In 1989 , an earthquake struck Newcastle . It was a Richter magnitude 5.6 earthquake and one of Australia 's most serious natural disasters , killing 13 people and injuring more than 160 . The damage bill has been estimated at A$ 4 billion ( including an insured loss of about $ 1 billion ) . The Newcastle earthquake was the first Australian earthquake in recorded history to claim human lives . The following , year , 1990 , saw major flooding in the state 's central west , with Nyngan suffering a devastating inundation . In 1993 – 94 , the state suffered a serious bushfire season , causing destruction even within urban areas of Sydney . Agricultural production was severely curtailed by prolonged drought during the late 1990s and early 2000s , particularly in the Murray-Darling basin . The drought was followed by severe flooding in 2010
an earthquake struck Newcastle
1989 Newcastle earthquake
History of New South Wales