The Victorian town of Harcourt, one of the worst hit by recent bushfires, has lost 54 homes and several businesses. Residents have been allowed back sporadically to assess the damage, with some finding nothing left. The fires, which started on 7 January during a heatwave, have burned more than 400,000 hectares across Victoria and destroyed over 700 structures.
Among the survivors are Jess and John Bell, both Country Fire Authority volunteers, whose weatherboard house was spared while neighbours' homes were destroyed. “You’ll see one house burnt and one standing strong, basically untouched. It’s just bizarre,” Jess said. The couple described their survival as a “miracle” and noted the erratic nature of the fire made it difficult to fight.
Many business owners have been severely affected. Remy Sowman, who owned the Coolstore cafe with his wife Bonnie, lost the cafe but their home nearby is safe. He plans to rebuild. The cool store cooperative on Coolstore Road, providing storage for about 85 customers, was completely destroyed. Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns, co-owner of Shedshaker Brewing Company, lost 90% of her stock and said some winemakers may not recover.
A community-led recovery effort is under way, with the miniature railway in Harcourt turned into a relief centre. A fundraiser at Boomtown bar in Castlemaine raised over $130,000. Locals have rallied to support affected businesses and residents.
