Magnitude 4.4 quake rattles Queensland coast

"A lot of people felt this earthquake," Geoscience Australia seismologist Phil Cummins said.

"It was relatively shallow."

He said there were reports of the quake being felt 300km north of Townsville and 300km south of the city along the Queensland coast.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no risk of a tsunami to the Australian mainland or surrounding islands or territories from the earthquake.