Almost half of the shattered Canowindra community has turned out at the local footy oval to remember Chris Noble, one of three people killed in a tragic explosion in Sydney earlier in September.

About 800 members of the 2000-strong central west NSW community gathered on the town’s main oval on a beautiful Saturday morning.

The four members of Mr Noble’s immediate family spoke at the emotional memorial, where many grown men were seen to be crying.

A friend who had recently travelled abroad with Mr Noble also paid tribute.

After the emotional ceremony, the strains of the song He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother were carried across the oval on a light breeze.

Grieving family members and friends then retired to the local rugby club where toasts were made in Mr Noble’s honour.

Mr Noble, neighbour Bianka O’Brien and baby Jude died when a convenience store in Rozelle exploded in the early hours of September 4.

The 27-year-old, who grew up in Canowindra before moving to Sydney, had returned from a trip to South America only two weeks before.

Investigators have collected up to four days of CCTV footage from nearby petrol stations after reports of an accelerant being found at the explosion site.

The event has left the inner-western suburb reeling, with part of Darling Street still sealed off and business slow.

Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne estimates the local economy suffered a $1.5 million hit.

The local council has launched measures to lure Sydneysiders back to the area, including a marketing campaign titled “Rozelle Needs You – Can you shop local?”

An open-air concert will be held in a Rozelle park on Sunday, September 21 and a street fair will be staged on Darling Street when it reopens.

An appeal has also been set up for John O’Brien, the husband who lost both his wife and son, their family home and all their belongings in the blaze.

The building next to the site was demolished on Friday after an all-night effort by police.

Authorities will now turn their attention to the crime scene.