Heavy rainfall has drenched three states and left thousands flooded, including the Anglers Tavern in Melbourne’s west, fighting water to its second level but vowing to return.
Swathes of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania copped heavy rain late last week, forcing many Victorians to flee their homes and many more kept on high alert.
Areas experienced their highest recorded water levels after two days’ torrent, bringing more than 100mm in one 24-hour period, and up to 60mm in six hours on Thursday night in Melbourne.
By Friday afternoon there were close to 100 flood emergency warnings, and the Maribyrnong River at Maribyrnong, just eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, had well and truly burst its banks.
Anglers Tavern holds 160 metres of frontage to the River, on low-lying ground. Early Friday the beer garden and ground floor became inundated, and floodwaters continued to rise until the lower half of the building was submerged.
Nearby residents joined those ordered to leave their homes, as surging, swollen rivers threatened people and property. The Victorian SES warned flooding above floor level would likely affect up to 60 houses in Maribyrnong.
Some of the hardest hit were in Victoria’s north-east. An evacuation order was issued early Friday morning to residents in low-lying areas of Benalla and Baddaginnie, but those who had not evacuated were later urged to shelter at the highest location possible, and the orders were upgraded to ‘too late to leave’.
Australian Venue Co took control of the Anglers operation earlier this year. Locals were provided a couple of days’ notice on the pending floodwaters, allowing AVC’s venue manager Anthony Cook to prepare sandbags.
But the pub was enveloped on all sides, almost to the upper floor, and Cook told Sky News they packed up what they could and “were lucky to get out”.
AVC CEO Paul Waterson told PubTIC the popular local will reopen “bigger and better” – although it may take six months.
“The Anglers Tavern has suffered extensive damage.
“It will take some time to rebuild, but we are overwhelmed with the support of the local community who have also suffered untold losses of property.
“Our thoughts are with other publicans throughout Victoria who are in a similar situation.”
