THE recovery of Marysville's tourist sector after the Black Saturday bushfires could hinge on the impending sale of a major piece of commercial land.
The 9050sq metre site of the Cumberland Marysville and Villa Day Spa is for sale, almost a year after bushfires swept through the area, destroying about 90 per cent of the town.
The sale could be a litmus test for the future of the town as a tourist destination.
It is expected to fetch more than $1 million.
Locals say the sale of the site, with its still-intact day spa, would give the community much-needed confidence.
Marysville and Triangle Development group president Graeme Brown said local businesses needed encouragement to rebuild.
The group was set up to represent bushfire-affected communities in the area.
"If we had a conference centre or a major tourism investor come back, it would obviously spur on others to come on board because they've got a large business to leverage off," Mr Brown said.
Marysville Triangle Real Estate agent Dianne Lisle, who is handling the sale of the site, said people were visiting the town, but needed somewhere to stay.
"If this Cumberland site sells, and people know it's going for a development, then the confidence will really start to come back," Ms Lisle said.
While commercial development has been slow, residential development is strong and the town is a hub of activity.
A Murrindindi Shire spokeswoman said between February 7 and December, the council had issued 227 building permits within the municipality, 41 in Marysville.
Mr Brown said residential properties and land had been in high demand.
"There are a number of homes being rebuilt ... and land is selling at a tad higher than pre-fire prices."
