Julia Ridgers forced to run as wall of water descended on her business, Brookfield Shed

A WOMAN who lost her business in the Hobart floods has spoken of the terrifying moment a wall of water wiped her cafe and home off the map. SEE THE VIDEO

A WOMAN who lost her business in the Hobart floods has spoken of the terrifying moment a wall of water wiped her cafe and home off the map.

Brookfield Shed at Margate was hit by the full force of flash flooding on Thursday night with the building all but destroyed.

The cafe and live music venue has been operating for a decade and stocks locally made timber products.

The building was inundated within minutes when a wave of water submerged the ground floor.

All of a sudden we heard a huge noise and this wall of water came crashing through

Julia Ridgers surveys the significant damage to the dining room at Brookfield Shed. Pictures: MATHEW FARRELL

Owner Julia Ridgers described how inititally water began leaking inside about 10pm but it was nothing a mop and broom could not handle.

“Then there was a little bit more and it just kept coming so we called the landlord to help clear the water,” she said.

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Flood damage at Brookfield Shed cafe and function centre.

Miss Ridgers said they barely had time to get to higher ground after her landlord shouted to run.

“All of a sudden we heard a huge noise and this wall of water came crashing through,” she said

“It came from three directions. The bank behind the building broke first so we ran to the front, then water from the pipes on the street came in, then the river.”

Of the onslaught of water, Miss Ridges said: “It’s amazing in the dark watching this shining thing just rush towards you.”

The 1.8m-high water mark from the flooding.

Mss Ridgers says she has not only lost her business, but her home.

“It looks like a cyclone has been through it. We have been entirely wiped out,” she said.

“We will be permanently closed.”

Miss Ridgers has 128 Mother’s Day bookings and no way to contact them.

The business has been completely destroyed.

While there were no human losses during the flood, one of Miss Ridgers’ pet rabbits, Rosie, did not survive.

“The worst thing is my parents were visiting and they have lost their caravan and I’ve lost my car,” she said.

“I don’t even have a driver’s licence anymore.”

It is unclear what Miss Ridgers will do as the clean-up begins.

“I guess I’ll stay with family in the meantime. My parents are my main priority right now.”