In the fire-ravaged Victorian town of Harcourt, scenes of stark contrast define the landscape. Where neighbours' homes once stood, only solitary brick chimneys now rise from the ashes, surrounded by twisted sheets of corrugated iron.
A Miraculous Survival Amidst Widespread Loss
For local Country Fire Authority volunteers Jess and John Bell, surveying the damage brings profoundly mixed emotions. Their Victorian weatherboard house, a renovation project they were about to begin, survived what they describe as a "miracle." This occurred while numerous other properties on their street in Harcourt, located roughly 130 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, were completely destroyed.
"You'll see one house burnt and one standing strong, basically untouched. It's just bizarre," Jess Bell remarked. "We were very close to losing our house. We should have lost it. It is just a tinderbox."
The bushfire, which ignited on 7th January during a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40C, swept through the area on Friday. The combined communities of Harcourt and nearby Ravenswood suffered devastating losses, with 54 homes and several businesses destroyed. The region is among the worst hit by the blazes that have scorched over 400,000 hectares across Victoria and levelled more than 700 structures.
A Community Takes Stock and Begins Recovery
By Tuesday, Harcourt was a quiet town in shock. Residents, who had been told to evacuate as the fire spread south from Ravenswood, were allowed back sporadically to assess the damage. Many found almost nothing remaining. The evidence of the fire's erratic and indiscriminate path is etched into the land in dark channels of burnt trees, resembling rivers of flame.
At one property, socks left hanging on a washing line above the rubble poignantly illustrated the speed of the forced evacuation. The random nature of the destruction is deeply felt. Just two doors down from the Bells' saved home on Coolstore Road, the brick veneer house belonging to veteran CFA members was reduced to rubble.
"They raised their kids in that house and [it's] rubble," John Bell said. "I was expecting my place to be on the ground, but ours is fully standing and the guy sitting next to me, his house is on the ground."
Local Spirit Fuels Relief Efforts
As the scale of the loss becomes clear, a massive community-led recovery operation has mobilised across the Castlemaine area. In Harcourt, the local miniature railway has been transformed into a vital relief centre.
"It started out just as a small barbecue for people to gather and it's turned into quite an incredible operation," explained Harcourt resident Remy Sowman. "It's been the community coming together, first and foremost; giving each other hugs and connecting and sharing stories, and then a place for resources to come in."
The Sowmans' own business, the Coolstore cafe which they opened just 15 months ago, was completely destroyed, though their house a street away was spared. Standing outside the ashen remains, Bonnie Sowman said it still didn't feel real. Despite the loss, the couple, who have lived in Harcourt for four years, are resolved to rebuild, inspired by the community's generosity.
The economic impact is severe. The crucial cool store cooperative on Coolstore Road, which provided storage for about 85 local producers, was warped and destroyed. Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns, co-owner of Shedshaker Brewing Company in Castlemaine, lost 90% of her stock and fears many local brewers, winemakers, and fruit growers may not recover.
In response, the community has rallied. A swiftly organised fundraiser at Castlemaine's Boomtown bar raised over $130,000, with local businesses donating vouchers, art, and even hundreds of ice cream scoops.
Veteran Firefighter Confronts Unprecedented Blaze
Harcourt CFA Captain Andrew Wilson, a volunteer firefighter for 44 years, was among the first to respond when the fire started on Foggarty's Gap Road. Having lived in Harcourt his entire life, he believes this fire "ran harder" than the catastrophic Black Saturday fires.
"It's pretty hard. We've had three members of ours who've lost their houses," Captain Wilson stated. "Another guy's lost his business. Everyone knows someone."
As of Wednesday, twelve major fires continued to burn across Victoria, including the Harcourt fire at Mount Alexander. For the residents now facing a monumental recovery, the path forward is fraught with challenge, but underpinned by a resilient community spirit determined to rebuild from the ashes.
