The couple were invited to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Bellinzona Grange Country Retreat in Hepburn Springs, where they holidayed for their honeymoon 50 years ago.

"We feel really honoured to stay here again," Mrs Hoare, 75, said.

"We were so heartbroken when we heard it had burnt down so to come back here again has been wonderful."

Mr and Mrs Hoare were married at Sunshine Methodist Church on Mrs Hoare's birthday on October 22, 1955.

They stayed at Bellinzona for two weeks for their honeymoon.

Mr Hoare, 80, remembers doing a lot of walking because they didn't have a car.

"One night we walked home from the Daylesford movie theatre," he said.