Aboriginal mythology is incredibly old and an Awabakal Dreaming Story reveals that (the landmark) Nobbys is a site of unrest.
A banished Kangaroo hides at Nobbys and when he gets upset and restless the rocks fall and the ground trembles. "The Awabakal people believe this is what causes an earthquake."
A series of Dreaming stories has been recorded about Muloobinba, the place of the sea ferns, now called Newcastle and are published in print and on CD by Aborigianl Multimedia Productions 2001.