Kerrie Nichols said the lightning strike hit a silky oak in her family's backyard shortly after 4.40am last Thursday morning.

The force of the strike sent pieces of wood hurtling in all directions - some of them landing several hundred metres away.

Large chunks of wood were blown against the back of the Nichols' home and timber 'daggers' pierced their back lawn.

Mrs Nicholls said the lightning strike had travelled underground, blowing a motor on the electronic gate at the front of their North Street property and causing significant damage inside the newly renovated home.

The family's television, fax machine, telephone and a water pump attached to a 10,000-litre tank were all destroyed.

The force of the strike was even enough to stop a battery-operated clock inside the home.

Mrs Nichols said she had been listening to the lightening for quite a while before last Thursday morning's strike.

"We knew it was close but not that close," she said.

She said it shook the house "like an earthquake" forcing the family - including husband Warren and daughters Kelsi, 16 and Tara, 13 to scamper from their beds.

"It was quite an experience," she told the Times.

Mrs Nichols described the lightning strike as "loud and bright" and said she initially thought it had hit the front of the home.

The contents of the home were covered by insurance.