JULIA Harris is delighted to be back on Marysville's main street.

Her lolly shop is the first burnt-out business to return, trading from modest digs three days a week.

The shed she's operating from with a small generator is a long way from the historical shop and residence she lost in the fires.

But Julia's upbeat about the future. "I've only been open for a few weeks, but there's been so much support. Some days I've had people lining up to get in."

"I'm intending to re-build as soon as my insurance comes through and the electricity's back on."

Just up the street, Dianne Lisle, Grant Stinear and Karen Morrison are teaming up to run a real estate business, also out of temporary premises. It opens for business today.

"We all live in the area, and we think it's a great idea, people really need something like this run by locals," Ms Lisle said.

"We got the furniture on the weekend, the phone's just been connected and we'll either have electricity or a generator on site."

"Whatever, our first appointment is at 10.30am so we'll be there."

Ian and Shelly Board, who lost their rented house and plant nursery business, have just bought a block of land burnt out in the fires.

They aim to start building a new house within six weeks and eventually set up a permanent nursery outlet on the main street.

"We were in shock for few days after the fires, but then we pretty well figured out we wanted to stay," Ian said.

"A lot of people are still shell-shocked, but there's a lot of optimism about Maryville's future."