The earthquake was recorded as having a 2.5 magnitude on the Richter scale.

According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake struck 10 kilometres underground.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Jonathan Bathgate said the earthquate was "quite on the small scale" and was about 10 kilometres north north-west of Orange.

However, he said that could change slightly pending a review conducted during business hours on Monday.

"It was certainly felt throughout Orange, 150 reports came into the National Earthquake Alert Centre, pretty much from people in Orange," Dr Bathgate said.

"The reports are that it was a mild shake not lasting very long at all, it was noticed by people because of the time of the day when people are settling down to sleep."

"We get earthquakes of this size relatively frequently in Orange."

In addition to a 3.8 maginitude earthquake that originated about five kilometres from the heart of Newcrest Mining's Cadia Valley Operations gold and copper mine in July 2018, Dr Bathgate said there was another 2.7 magnitude earthquake south of Orange in 2018 and a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in 2017.

He said the earthquakes were caused by seismic activity.

"The Indo-Australia plate is moving north about seven centimetres every year," Dr Bathgate said.

He said when that tectonic plate crashes into other plates it resulted in a build up of compressive stress caused the magnitude 2 quakes when it was released.

"We get about 100 magnitude 3 across Australia every year year," Dr Bathgate said.

He said most of that activity was felt in areas such as Gippsland, south-west Western Australia and the Flinders Ranges.

Across social media, residents have been reporting their experiences with some saying the earthquake felt like thunder.

Others reported hearing a rumble and their windows rattle.

For other people living near the railway line it felt like a heavy freight train going past.