A magnitude-4 earthquake has rattled parts of the NSW South West Slopes, with one couple close to the epicentre saying it was "like a plane had dropped out of the sky".
The shallow quake struck north-east of Boorowa at 9:45am on Saturday, at a depth of 3 kilometres.
Geoscience Australia seismologist Hugh Glanville said it was a larger earthquake than was usually felt in the region.
"This earthquake was felt more than 100 kilometres away with strong shaking that travelled further afield," he said.
Like thunder 'under the ground'
Melissa Graham and Brad Delforce's house at Frogmore, near the epicentre, shook when the earthquake struck.
"We heard what sounded like 20 gas bottles exploding at once and then the ground and house started to shake," Ms Graham said.
"It lasted about 10 to 15 seconds and we literally thought a plane had dropped out of the sky right next to the house.
"It sounded like a loud clap of thunder during a thunderstorm with the rolling thunder afterwards ... it was like that but under the ground."
Ms Graham said they hadn't noticed any damage.
She said while they had felt earthquakes before, it had never been close to what they felt today.
"We've had little earthquakes over the years, but today's has left my heart racing," she said.
Mr Glanville said more than 50 people in surrounding areas, including Canberra, reported to Geoscience Australia they felt the quake.
"While people close to the epicentre may get minor plaster cracks we wouldn't expect much minor damage," he said.
"It's not uncommon to get earthquakes in this part of NSW, with more than 200 quakes recorded in the past 10 years."
