Alice was watching A Current Affair at home in Dubbo when she first heard about the scheme, designed by Cumnock residents to boost the population of their village and help keep the primary school open.

The family of six missed their former life out of town at Carinda, Mrs Elsley said.

“The kids seem to like smaller schools better than the bigger ones. I think the kids love being out in the open again and free to do whatever they want,” she said.

The Cumnock Progress Association offered four farmhouses to families willing to move to the area, renovate the houses and contribute to the community.

Dozens of applications from across Australia and overseas were received, with organisers then sorting through the applications and informing the successful families.

Christine Weston from the Cumnock Progress Association said the scheme had encouraged other people to move to the village as well.

“We’ve probably had five normal rentals and five houses sold as a direct result,” she said.

The additional families will boost the village’s population by as much as 10 per cent.

The Elsley family was the first to move in to their $1 rental house on Boxing Day.

Mrs Elsley said they knew on the first day they’d made the right decision.

“The peace and quiet, the tranquillity, being able to sleep without sirens. We weren’t far from the hospital in Dubbo and we heard sirens all the time. The first night here we were just waiting for the noise,” she said.

Wansey Cottage, their new home, is in good condition and the Elsleys plan to add their own touches to the house and garden.

The children will attend Cumnock Public and Molong Central schools.

Mrs Elsley said she could already see benefits for her children, including three-year-old Ethan.

“He used to be all wound up. Now he’s using up all his energy,” she said.