The ubiquitous regional Australian general store is not just a place to buy milk, bread and the newspaper. It is also a one-stop shop, a community hub and a place to seek out information and support.

But dwindling populations in struggling regional centres across the nation is proving a challenge for the owners of these traditional businesses.

It is estimated that over the past 50 years rural communities across Australia have lost more than 20 per cent of their population and those who stayed are older residents.

Business owner Chelle Espagne spent close to 30 years as a sergeant in the Australian Defence Force. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Long hours, little monetary reward

Every Friday afternoon elderly Quambatook resident Ella visits the general store for lunch and sits by the fireplace in winter and under the air-conditioner in summer.

Recently when the 97-year-old did not show up at the store for a couple of days, people knew something was wrong.

Shop owner Chelle Espagne said she had been found lying on cold concrete in her garage, where she had been for some time.

"She's a tough old biddy", Ms Espagne said.

"She was fine."

Luckily, the badly bruised Ella had not broken anything and was taken to hospital.

Ms Espagne said the incident was an example of caring and close community in smaller towns, often where the corner store is the social hub.

Kristy Pilgrim (L), who fills in occasionally and Chelle Espagne (R) help out a customer. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

But long hours and hard work for little monetary reward is how she described working at the Quambatook General Store for the past five years.

"There's a need for it, it's the hub of the town, it's where everyone comes," Ms Espagne said.

The fifth generation 'Quamby' does not draw a wage, but said her parents owned the building and as a licensee of Australia Post the store received a small stipend.

"My Dad actually sat down and worked it out that if we were paying ourselves a wage out of what we made on the post office we'd be on $2.80 an hour," Ms Espagne said.

"We're never going to be rich, we're never going to be rolling in it, but we keep the wolf from the door and a roof over our heads — what more could you ask?"

Single, divorced and in need of a job

Once a large grain shipment area, additional silos were built in Mitiamo in the early 1940s. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

The small, northern Victorian town of Mitiamo has almost 120 people and was once a large grain-shipment centre.

Trucks used to line up outside the shop during harvest season before heading towards the nearby grain silos.

But these days, poorer seasons mean fewer customers.

Customer Samantha McCready (L) with owner Jill Raskill. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

For the past decade Jill Ramskill has run the store to 9pm seven days a week.

"Getting close to 100 hours week, could even be a fraction more, I don't know if I want to do the maths on that," she laughed.

Conveniently she lives out the back which cuts down on travel time.

Like many country general stores along with groceries, food, fuel and liquor have been added to bolster business.

For Ms Ramskill too, it was the people that ultimately "saved" her.

Jill Ramskill has created a community hub in her store, working with other community organisations. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Originally from Tasmania, she and her husband worked on a dairy farm in central Victoria until the drought forced them out.

"I ended up single, divorced and I needed a job and somewhere to live and here I am," Ms Ramskill said.

Married for nearly 30 years, it ended 10 years ago, and she took over running the store.

"I don't know where I'd be without the shop, because you're committed to facing that customer and that's how, I guess, I got through," Ms Ramskill said.

To town newcomer Samantha McCready the general store was a lifesaver, not just a place for milk and bread supplies.

"If you need it, Jill's got it," Ms McReady said.

'Almost like a big family'

The Guildford General Store began as a pub in 1860 before it became a general store. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

The old goldmining town of Guildford on the banks of the Loddon River, between Castlemaine and Daylesford in Central Victoria, has a population of about 300 or so.

Guildford still has people farming but unlike many other towns further afield has seen an increase in housing development.

Years ago, items such as animal feed, manchester and bales of straw were sold, but now the place is known for its homestyle cooking and pies.

Run by mother and daughter duo Janet 'Zeppy' and Emily Zepnick for the past five years, the family has an even longer association with the shop.

Having first moved to the area in the 1970s, chef Zeppy first began working in the shop in the 1980s and Emily spent her teenage years working there.

After returning to her hometown to help run the store, Emily said she had reconnected with locals.

"It makes you feel proud of the town and reminds us about how much we all care for it and look after it," she said.

"Almost like a big family."

Emily Zepnick surrounded by shelves made of old kerosene boxes and mother chef Janet 'Zeppy' Zepnick in the kitchen. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Like many country general stores it doubles up as an information hub and safe place for children and adults needing to stay for a while.

"If someone's lost something or someone needs something, the first thing they do is ring the store, there's that real connection," Zeppy said.

"People check on each other, it's a real, sort of, lifeblood."

'People just want you to listen'

Annemarie Norman and Morell Lake have run the Nanneella General Store for the past 15 months. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

In the 35 years that Annemarie Norman has called Nanneella, 200 kilometres north of Melbourne, home the biggest change has been the closure of many dairy farms.

"There used to be dairy farms everywhere, both sides of the road, there's very few here now, and I think that will change to even less," she said.

Looking for a lifestyle change, Ms Norman took on running the general store along with her partner of six years, Morell Lake.

From bullets to beer the 'one-stop' shop stocks a wide range of goods including take-away food and Friday night fish 'n' chips.

Without the additional goods and attached post-office with three daily mail runs, they concede it would be a challenge to run the business.

The Nanneella General Store opened in 1917 but was rebuilt in the 1960s after a devastating fire. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

But it is the customers they love, especially the locals and truckies and both agreed the key to success was being friendly to everyone.

"It's a bit like a hairdressers, they tell you all their problems and things," Ms Norman said.

"You try not to give them advice, because it's not your role, you listen, people just want you to listen,

"It's all confidential, what they tell you, stays with you."