‘Scary’: Victoria’s south-west rattled by 5.0 magnitude earthquake

Aftershocks are expected for months after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake rocked Victoria's south-west in the early hours of this morning.

Starting in Colac, 150km south-west of Melbourne, the tremor was felt from the capital city and all the way to Tasmania.

It woke thousands in the middle of the night and did cause some minor damage.

Stock at the Apollo Bay Foodworks fell to the floor and bottles smashed in the liquor aisle.

Shop manager Ofelia Danger said it was scary.

"I was thinking it was the end of the world," she said.

At the Otway Ranges close to the epicentre the force was so strong a water tank blew out at the Beechy Hotel.

"It looked like it had exploded outwards, sent pieces of it flying in every direction," Gwynneth Cowley said.

"A friend unfortunately has lost part of their house. The tiled roof has collapsed, windows blown out."

The official Geoscience Australia stats says the earthquake struck at 2.11am about 7km below Colac.

A 3.6-magnitude aftershock was recorded in Apollo Bay at 5.44am, and another just before 2.30pm.

Seismologist Adam Pascale said Victorians can expect more.

"Given the magnitude of this earthquake, you'd expect the earthquakes to the aftershocks to continue for some months," Pascale said.

More than 8000 people formally logged feeling the earthquake, many around Geelong and Melbourne.

Some felt the tremors as far north as Cobram at the border and even Tasmania.

Across Melbourne the damage was limited.

Some residents said they're still on edge and ready for any more aftershocks.

Emergency services said there was little to no damage and no injuries were reported.

An advice warning was issued to urge residents living near Colac to be wary of falling trees.