An Avoca butcher’s shop and café/gallery have been destroyed by fire overnight.
Firefighters were called to the fire just before 1am this morning, with both buildings well alight on their arrival.
District 16 Duty Officer, Operations Officer Paul Ditchburn said a resident at home in one of the buildings had been woken by a passer-by banging on the door and had managed to get out on their own.
Firefighters with breathing apparatus entered the building to make sure no one else was inside.
No injuries occurred during the fire.
Operations Officer Ditchburn said the fire was brought under control within 1.5 hours, and an adjoining café was saved through the hard work of attending crews.
Avoca CFA attended with two tankers and a pumper, and were supported by surrounding brigades from Maryborough, Amphitheatre, Lexton, Natte Yallock and Warrenmang. Ballarat CFA also attended with a pumper and its ladder platform.
The fire is not deemed suspicious, but the cause is not yet known. Fire investigators will attend this morning.
CFA crews are still at the scene, mopping up.