The Tamworth area, western Melbourne and the Gold Coast were among hotspots for natural hazard insurance claims last financial year, according to major personal lines insurer AAMI.

The Suncorp-owned insurer has analysed almost 20,000 claims in Victoria, about 18,500 in NSW and nearly 16,500 in Queensland from the year to June 30.

In NSW, South Tamworth and Tamworth topped the claims list, followed by the mid-north-coast areas of Boambee East and Port Macquarie.

Rounding out the state’s top 10 were Hillvue, Toormina, Sawtell, Winmalee, Byron Bay and the Sydney suburb of Mosman.

In Queensland, Gold Coast suburbs were hardest hit, with Helensvale and Hope Island leading the list.

Upper Coomera, Oxenford, Elanora and Coomera in the Gold Coast hinterland and Munruben near Brisbane were in the top 10. Maroochydore and Buderim, on the Sunshine Coast, were also among state hotspots, along with the Toowoomba suburb of Rangeville.

In Victoria, AAMI’s data shows Hoppers Crossing had the most natural hazard insurance claims, followed by Altona Meadows and Point Cook, all in Melbourne’s west.

The suburbs of Reservoir, Bentleigh East, Werribee, Berwick, Rowville, Altona and Coburg completed the top 10.

“While these were the top spots for [Victorian] damage last year, we know storms and other natural hazards can be unpredictable and many parts of the state have copped it in recent years,” AAMI spokesman Reuben Aitchison said.

The insurer urges people to protect their homes before the summer storm season.

Hazard claims in the data include damage from storms, floods, hail and bushfire.