A LONG-EMPTY colonial style village will soon be revived as an attraction for tourists visiting the region.
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The 15 acre site near Maldon has been purchased by an international businessman, who the property's agent says plans to revive its commercial side.
The wattle and daub village has stood empty for more than 10 years, but could soon be attracting visitors again.
Agent Edward Carthew said the business would bring trade to Maldon and area, while the new owner planned to employ locals.
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Mr Carthew said the property was only on his books for a month before being snapped up.
He said interest had been high in the property after national coverage of "one of the most unusual listings ... ever put out in Australia".
It even set the record with realestate.com for the number of views it clocked up.
Mr Carthew showed interested people ranging from artists, to yoga groups and nudists through the property.
Built in 1991 as a tourist attraction, the complex boasts 40 buildings, a restaurant and motel accommodation, as well as a manger's residence.
Mr Carthew said standing in the middle of the village, someone would swear they had gone back to the 1850s.
He said it boasted historical versions of everything from a printer, to a funeral director, a hotel, a school, even a Chinese medicine shop.
Mr Carthew said the opportunity to create a day trip type venue and preserve the original buildings had appealed to the new owner.
"He's really keen to get the whole complex up and running, so it benefits not only Maldon, but Castlemaine as well," he said.
"He intends to use all local labour for the renovation, and he certainty has the resources to be able to do that.
"Once we get some buses coming back ... they'll then look through the complex and wander up and down the streets of Maldon and spend some money."
Mr Carthew said the complex was in surprisingly good condition after having little maintenance for the past 10 years, just needing a bit of clean up and modernising.
He said after updates to the motel complex and restaurant the site would be equipped to attract day trippers from Melbourne.
Mr Carthew said the village used to be a very successful business in the past, bringing three busloads of tourists every day.
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