How mates, music and murals helped town make a comeback
In a river town where diggers return from war, couples marry, football teams win and lose and floods occur, the walls of a grand old country pub have stood tall for generations.
When publicans Kate and Travis Lee reopened the doors of their hotel in Rochester, central Victoria, in March, they wanted to honor those 155 years of rich rural history.
The couple took over The Local 3561, originally known as the Commercial Hotel, honoring the unique character of their community after the town of 3,000 was flooded in October 2022.
Like many other locals, the Lees spent almost two years living in a trailer while their home was repaired.
This made them determined to stay in their hometown to start a new chapter for their beloved “Rochy”.
“That was the biggest thing,” Ms Lee told AAP. “What happens to our town when you sell or when people leave?
“We really wanted to invest in our community and leave a footprint.”
Rochester, a postcard-perfect town on the Campaspe River, has made great progress thanks to community collaboration, sports, music, arts and culture.
Shortly after the flood, the local Rotary Club organized Songs in the Silos, a performance in front of the town’s tall grain silos, utilizing the talents of a local opera singer.
“Music just soothes the soul,” Rotarian Heather Watson said of the 2025 and 2026 events.
“A lot of people were still out of their homes at the time or were just returning home.
“(Some) were out of town, some were coming back, some were never coming back, but it was a good chance for people to get together and renew friendships.”
The community also hosts the Rochester Mural Festival, where artists paint murals based on a new theme each year, and the Sips and Sounds food and music event.
Cultural and community events are key to both disaster recovery and preparedness, according to national research supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
The study examined the impact of concerts, exhibitions and caucuses in the wake of droughts, fires and hurricanes in different states, finding that local events were an antidote to disempowerment.
“Creative recovery is a powerful environment that supports lasting social capital and connection, revitalization and placemaking, acceptance and growth, and feelings of identity and belonging,” the 2023 report said.
Rochester’s cultural fabric has helped it earn a finalist spot in state tourism awards while also driving home prices to record levels.
Local estate agent Stuart Wilson said more residents had visited in the past year and some had decided to stay permanently.
“People are escaping the hustle and bustle and cost of living pressures in the city where they can sell their home, buy in a regional area and get some money from the bank,” Mr Wilson said.
“There is life and people want to live it.”
This is a population shift observed around Australia, with regional migration peaking in the March quarter.
The Lees hope for a new dawn to come from behind the bar at their new bar.
“There’s a huge desire from people, not just because of the flood, but since the flood, for something to happen again in Rochy,” Mr Lee said.
