Roller doors were left looking like a grinder had sliced through them after a shed was belted by wind gusts generated by Tropical Cyclone Trevor on its way through far north Queensland.
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Gales faster than 130km/h were recorded in Lockhart River on Tuesday as the then-category 3 system made landfall, which one resident said sounded "as though there was a war outside".
Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation manager Enoch Perazim said parts of the art centre's roof had been torn away by the winds on Tuesday night.
"The sound was so loud, it was as though there was a war going on outside," he said.
"It was non-stop. Every time I walked to the other end of the house, the wind seemed to change direction, it felt like the house was going to be lifted up.
"There was water coming through the window latches at one corner of the house and I had to contain it with rags in darkness."
The art centre's shed was shredded.
"Across the road at our red storage shed with artworks inside, it was like someone had got a grinder and cut down the centre of each of the four roller doors - they had been torn apart," Mr Perazim said.
"I was with one of our local senior artists and we drove around town and to the airport and he said he had never seen anything like this in his life at Lockhart River.
"He remembered a cyclone 15 years ago, but said its impact was nowhere near TC Trevor's.
"We have been seeing teams of SES in the community; it gives us a sense of assurance that help is at hand and it takes away the fear, stress and anxiety TC Trevor brought with it.
"We [Lockhart River] may be down, but we’re not out."
Despite the terrifying conditions, no lives were lost, but Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said the six hours of gale-force winds sounded "like a freight train".
According to Ergon Energy, fewer than 100 properties were still without power on Thursday in Lockhart River and another 184 in Aurukun, directly west.
An emergency alert message was issued by the Aurukun Shire Council just before 1pm to warn the town of the impact of Tropical Cyclone Trevor.
Residents were advised that heavy rain and strong winds would increase in the afternoon and they should warn others, seek shelter and stay inside until after the cyclone event.
Cyclone Trevor was heading for the Northern Territory across the Gulf of Carpentaria as a category 1 system on Thursday.
It was expected to intensify and emerge as dangerous category 4 upon crossing into the NT coast on Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
"Very destructive winds, with gusts to 260km/h, heavy rainfall and a very dangerous storm tide are expected near the cyclone centre as it approaches and crosses the coast," the bureau added.
