Eden far from a paradise as Australia bushfires hit economy

Black ash and fire debris is washed up on Boydtown Beach and the banks of the Nullica River in Eden, Australia January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

EDEN, Australia/SYDNEY (Reuters) - The peak summer holiday period should bring boatloads of cruise-ship passengers and other holiday makers to the Australian coastal town of Eden, with visitors thronging stores like Lynn Baxter's newsagent.

This year, Eden is anything but a paradise for Baxter and other business owners on the town's smoke-filled main street.