In 2001 Kalgoorlie, was rattled by the biggest earthquake in 50 years.

Three earthquakes hit near Norseman, including a magnitude 5.2 tremor reportedly felt as far away as Perth.

The first was a 4.9 magnitude quake about six kilometres under the surface hitting about 11.30pm AWST, then the 5.2 was about an hour later and the last was a 3.2 magnitude tremor about 1.44am on Sunday.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Dan Jaksa said it was the largest event in WA since the magnitude 5 earthquake in Kalgoorlie in April 2010, which left several buildings badly damaged.

He said the quakes were caused by tectonic stress due to Australia’s continental plate moving about seven centimetres a year and the one that hit shortly after midnight was the equivalent to an atomic bomb going off.

“When we see a nuclear test occur, they’re generally a magnitude 5,” Mr Jaska said.

Geoscience Australia asks the public to fill out surveys on their website whenever they feel tremors.

Mr Jaska said so far about 100 surveys had been filled since midnight, including reports of the quakes being felt in Perth and Esperance, hundreds of kilometres away.

Goldfields tremors May 28-29

11.30pm — 4.9 magnitude, 6km depth: 12.38am — 5.2 magnitude, 15km depth: 1.44am — 3.2 magnitude, 10km depth

Norseman was the estimated centre of all three quakes.

The first was a 4.9 magnitude about six kilometres under the surface hitting about 11.30pm AWST, then the 5.2 about an hour later and the last was a 3.2 magnitude tremor about 1.44am on Sunday.

AAP