The earthquake occurred at 10:58:52 local time, with a moment magnitude of 6.5 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).

The shallow fault was about 32 kilometres (20 mi) long around the western side of the town of Meckering.

[4] The earthquake affected structures in Perth,[6] the capital of Western Australia 130 km west of Meckering.

It occurred in mid-morning of a public holiday, the Queen's Birthday and theatres were packed with children.

[7] The Salisbury Homestead was built by Harry Sermon in 1904 using local stone with a timber and corrigated iron roof.