Australia has experienced almost three times as many tsunamis as previously thought, according to a University of New South Wales study.

Up to 145 may have struck the coastline since prehistoric times, compared with 55 events identified in a 2007 review.

Tsunamis may have contributed to up to 11 deaths in Australia since 1883, compared with only one recorded death in New Zealand.

Researchers Catherine Chague-Goff, who also works at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, and James Goff studied scientific papers, newspapers, historical records and other tsunami databases to update the information.

Dr Chague-Goff says in Australia there is a tendency to overlook potential risks from tsunamis and focus more on events such as cyclones.

“People should not be complacent,” she told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We don’t want to scare people, but they should be aware that tsunamis can happen.”

The largest recorded event followed an earthquake off Java on July 17 2006, when a tsunami up to 7.9 metres above sea level hit Steep Point in WA, the mainland’s westernmost point.

Tsunami research has tended to focus on the western coastline, but the geographical spread of events and deaths in the database point towards a more significant east-coast risk.

“This probably reflects not only the greater number of tsunamigenic events in the Pacific region but also that an event will more likely be noted along the more densely populated coastline,” the research paper says.

NSW has experienced the most tsunamis in the database, with 57, followed by Tasmania with 40, Queensland with 26 and WA with 23.