Michael Phillips operates the seismic sensor and said the event occurred around 6.15am. The earthquake measured 2.4 on the richter scale, with the epicentre located near Cessnock.

The estimated depth of the quake was about 1km and it's likely that some residents nearby would have felt the small tremor, with Mr Phillips likening it to a "short, sharp, china-cabinet-rattler". 

Mr Phillips runs the Edward Pigot Seismic Observatory and forwarded the technical details from Friday's event to Kevin McCue, Director of the Australian Seismological Centre, who placed the earthquake just south of Cessnock. 

Geoscience Australia have yet to verify the seismic activity, but are expected to do so in the coming days. 

For more information on Friday's tremor, click here.  

Newcastle Herald