Southeast Australia has been shaken by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

It struck near the city of Melbourne on Wednesday morning, causing damage to buildings.

It was followed by two aftershocks of 4 and 3.1 in magnitude.

Madeline Morris, an ABC News journalist in Melbourne, said it was a rare event.

[Clip: Morris]
"These are apparently the biggest earthquakes that we have felt in Victoria since European settlement and it wasn't just felt here in Melbourne. It was felt as far away as Canberra, Adelaide and down in Tasmania as well."