Visitors returning to fire-ravaged Victorian towns

MELBOURNE – Life is returning to Victoria’s bushfire-ravaged regions – and the visitors are not far behind.

Towns that were only last month facing extensive financial loss are picking up business again.

The former gold mining town of Beechworth is one of those areas back on the visitors’ map.

Beechworth township was unharmed as the fire remained several kilometres away but visitors, fearing the worst, stayed away.

“After the fires our occupancy dropped from 80 percent to 10 percent,” said Robert Ransom, proprietor of the Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn.

“Now the fires have ended, tourists are returning and finding the town’s beauty still intact.

“Our bookings for April and May are looking good with most weekends in April already booked out.”

The towns of Warragul and Drouin are experiencing the same positive increase. “We are running at about 76 percent occupancy,” says Peter Van Kaathoven, owner of Best Western Warragul Motel and Best Western Drouin Motor Inn.

“People are discovering there is more to Gippsland, including fabulous cheeses, wines and a new $2.5 million bicycle track that is concrete from start to finish and runs just at the back of the motel.”

While Australians generously donated money and clothing to bushfire-affected areas, they are now being urged to help Victorian towns in the long term by supporting local industries, such as tourism.