Not much was in Redesdale almost five years ago when Joyce Hopwood-Knights and Elizabeth Carr moved to into town.
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"Nobody was here. The pub wasn't open and there was nothing," Ms Hopwood-Knights said.
"There was a service station, which was not very well run. That changed hands six months ago and is coming along."
Now the town is slowly growing with the service station, a cafe, the Redesdale Hotel, a large CFA brigade and an art gallery.
Ms Hopwood-Knights bought the block of buildings that now house the Rural Cafe, The House Gallery and two former shops have been converted to accommodation.
"When (my husband and) I bought the building, it was in a derelict state," Ms Hopwood-Knights said.
"Ray and I were artists. When we bought building it was four shops that had been empty quite a few years.
We have got several committees (that) do a hell of a lot of work. They work and work and work to improve things for the area.
- Elizabeth Carr, Rural Cafe manager
"We had a home in Kyneton, but Ray had stroke couldn't manage the stairs. So we downsized the house and out of it all, this is what I bought.
"We just opened and have slowly done things to it."
The Rural Cafe, which is run by Ms Carr, is a popular haunt for locals and visitors.
Ms Carr moved from Melbourne as a tree change.
"I sold my house on Wednesday and got the cafe on Sunday," she said.
"It is what I have always wanted. There is a great community of people here and the cafe gives me a lot of opportunities to meet new people from different walks of life. We're a hub people come to. We're somewhere to have a coffee but also place to meet up and get together. It's nice."
Ms Carr said she has seen Redesdale grow in recent years and puts it down to the hardworking volunteers who run the town's various committees.
"We have got several committees, RADA (the Redesdale and District Association) and the hall committee do a hell of a lot of work," she said.
"Some of the older ladies that are involved have been here at least 20 years or never left Redesdale.
"They work and work and work to improve things for the area. All the community puts in a lot."
Even with the pub closed down, Ms Carr said locals still found a way (and a place) to socialise.
"They would have a thing at the reserve every Friday night where a few locals put on a sausage sizzle. The community was still very together," she said. "What we've got here is very good."
While the town has begun to thrive, resident and Redesdale Precinct Project detailed design working group co-ordinator John Beurle said there was still more work to do in making sure all of the towns community groups are collaborating.
"There is some history and fractious relationships but there are positive things for community," he said.
"There have been some difficult times but as the community grows with an inclusive approach more can happen. There is a positive outlook and the mural is a great stepping stone."
Redesdale unveiled a mural commemorating the 10th anniversary of Black Saturday on a water tank at the Agnes Mudford Reserve last week.
"The mural was one of the first projects where all the committees came together and were all there," Mr Beurle said.
"The more inclusive collaborative activities we do, the more I get a sense the ice is breaking (between some groups) a bit.
"A gradual strategy is forming that brings the community together step by step. You can't do it overnight but if you include everyone in process, (it can be) positive."
Ms Hopwood-Knights said she was now very content in Redesdale.
"I'm happy, I hope to stay here rest of my life, as short as it might be," she said.
"We did it very low key and are happy. Elizabeth and I are both in the retired part of our life, so we're doing it for the lifestyle, not to pay the mortgage."
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