While Mount Gambier and Mount Schank are considered volcanically active, but are unlikely to erupt again.

What would happen if Mount Gambier erupted?

Dr van Otterloo said a similar eruption in the region would cause closure of the major airspace of eastern Australia, health risks from fine ash composed of glass fragments, destruction of crops and impacts on livestock up to 100 kilometres from the erupting site and disruption to local infrastructure.

When did Mt Gambier last erupt?

So Macquarie researchers are studying the volcanic rocks from these volcanoes to understand how much warning time we might have before an eruption and develop an emergency response plan similar to New Zealand. Mount Gambier, South Australia, was the last Australian volcano to erupt around 5,000 years ago.