CANBERRA - Geoscience Australia early on Monday recorded a small earthquake off the north-west coast of Western Australia on Monday.

Geoscience Australia said the 5.3 magnitude quake was recorded at 2.41 am (WST) and was located about 270 kilometers off Exmouth, Western Australia.

According to Geoscience Australia's seismologist Jonathan Bathgate, the Western Australia quake was shallow and was not widely felt onshore.

He said quakes in the area are common.

"The plates are always moving but these sorts of events in Australia are not particularly uncommon," he told ABC News on Monday.

He said Western Australia experienced similar strength quakes in 2000 and in 1970.

No injury was reported following the quake.

Monday morning's quake follows Saturday's 5.2 magnitude earthquake 60 kilometers west of Bowen in Queensland.