Murals and windows: How two Horsham businesses are adapting to the COVID-era

It comes at a time when interest in commercial property in the town is at a ten year high, according to one real estate agent.

Steve Monk, who studied to be an art teacher, has this week finished painting the wall at the Capital hotel and bistro.

Mr Monk moved from Horsham to Bendigo with wife Carol four years ago. Carol, who used to manage the Capital, now works at a Bendigo hotel while the couple put their children through school.

Mr Monk is from a sculpting background, and has works on public view in Natimuk, Murtoa and Rupanyup. He has switched to paint since leaving Horsham, after contracting Silicosis from the limestone dust that is unavoidable during sculpting.

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He said his return to the Wimmera was brought on by the Capitol's current general manager hearing a radio report on him.

"Shannon (Couch) saw that and said 'Hey we've got a wall just like that'," he said.

"Arapiles is one of the major reasons we get tourists here, and my brief was something Horsham and tourism-centric. All the little holes and spots on the mountain have names, and I'm sure when climbers look at it they will think 'Oh that's not right'. But there's a little cave halfway up the cliff where the plaque is, and you see a lot of photos of rock climbers just sitting in there resting.

Ms Couch said she had the idea for a mural after removing trees on the wall that were damaging it and the carpark.

"I had a vision that I wanted to put a mural on there," she said.

"I'm hoping we can tie it in with the Silo Art trail and become a bit of an attraction."

Mr Monk's next project will be as a contender in a Tasmanian mural festival in November, where he will livestream himself painting his entry before it is shipped to the northern town of Sheffield.

Another recent change in Horsham's CBD is a bit more subtle, but no less significant to the business enacting it.

Roberts Avenue's Nourish'd Eatery has installed a servery window at its Horsham cafe, allowing for quicker and safer service for staff and customers.

In a statement, owner Stewart Neighbour said it was a necessary change to allow for more footpath orders - and thus more business - as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions continue to prevent normal cafe trade.

"Through the new servery window, we will be able to serve our new Bad Boy Burger Co range as well as our coffee and health food," Mr Neighbour said.

"Not having as many people actually inside the door will help with the efficiency of our business. It means staff can spend more time preparing orders," he said.

Horsham Rural City Council said Mr Neighbour successfully applied for one of its COVID Support Grants to fund the new window, which a local business designed and installed.

There could yet be more changes in store for Horsham's CBD: Real estate agent Gerry Smith is reporting "a very healthy level of inquiring for renting and purchasing" in the city.

"There are some new traders coming to town, or contemplating it, there are existing traders expanding or amalgamating. There is a lot of activity going on behind the scenes, most of which is very positive," he said.

"It's the largest number of transactions we've seen in at least six to ten years."

Mr Smith said an existing trader in Horsham has recently relocated to the former Trends jewellery store site at 67 Firebrace Street.

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