Harcourt Progress Association
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On 9 January 2026, a catastrophic bushfire devastated Harcourt and surrounding areas in central Victoria. Homes, farms, and cherished community spaces were lost. For days, fires continued to burn, preventing families from returning home while emergency crews and volunteers worked around the clock.
The scale of loss is heartbreaking — lives disrupted, homes destroyed, and communities forever changed. Recovery will take time, strength, and support from all of us.
Please see below for supports available. If your question cannot be answered here, contact harcourtrelief@gmail.com or 5415 3101.
Anglicare Victoria 5440 1100 provides guidance, insurance assistance (inc uninsured and underinsured), paperwork assistance, grants, financial counselling.
Housing support: Dhelkaya Health 5473 1000
Wildlife assistance:
Funding from HPA Community GoFundMe:
see more information below.
Relief payments including re-establishment payment, lost livelihood payment, power outage payment: https://www.vic.gov.au/financial-help
Contact your bank: may be relief on loans, deferred payments, merchant fee waivers.
Pantry food and frozen meals:
See what is available at: Household donated items then email harcourtrelief@gmail.com or attend the Distribution Centre at 5 Johnstone Rd, Castlemaine.
Hay (large bales): Local supply: Form at Statewide Irrigation,
84 Forrest St Castlemaine.
VFF Emergency Fodder: here
Hay (small bales), stockfood, pet food, horse items:
10-11.30am Saturdays, Coolstore Rd, Harcourt shipping containers.
The Harcourt Progress Association (HPA) is transitioning its support for residents affected by the January 2026 Ravenswood South Bushfire from gift card distributions to direct financial grants.
The distribution of Phase 1 Gift Cards will officially cease on Friday, 27th February 2026. Allocations are capped at four per household. If you believe you have not received your allocation, please email Secretaryhpa3453@gmail.com after the closing date with your contact details and the address you resided at on 9th January 2026.
Opening on Monday, 2nd March 2026, Phase 2 provides $2,000 per household to support those who lost their primary place of residence. These funds are transferred directly to nominated bank accounts; no cash payments are available.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact helloharcourt@gmail.com.
For the latest business support updates, please refer to the Mount Alexander Shire Council.
No longer being received
Complete the form here.
Contact harcourtrelief@gmail.com
Food – pantry items: place in yellow food relief bins at major supermarkets (Castlemaine & Bendigo) or contact Foodshare Bendigo.
10-11.30am Saturdays, Coolstore Rd Harcourt shipping containers.
Text 0428 135 324
General volunteering: complete the form here.
Blazeaid 0409 804 844
For any other inquiries, contact harcourtrelief@gmail.com or 5415 3101.
Find other general support & grant information from the Mount Alexander Shire:
Find other general support & grant information from the Mount Alexander Shire:
Stay informed with daily updates from the Mount Alexander Shire:
Find other general support & grant information from the Mount Alexander Shire:
For a range of supportive information please visit our Facebook page for video content from our past information sessions and a range of other helpful info:
We are a member-based organisation with a mission to
effectively support and represent the Harcourt Valley Community,
always striving to support the Community develop in
a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive way.
The Core is the official community newsletter for the Harcourt Valley, published eleven times a year. Serving Harcourt, Faraday, and surrounding areas, it keeps the community connected with local news and events.
Click on the image below to view the latest edition.
The Harcourt Progress Association acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, live and work. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
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ABN: 22887254268