Article from The Weekly Times (www.weeklytimesnow.com.au ) - July 29, 2009

IAN Whalley is awakening the hamlet of Merino from its slumber, as KATE DOWLER reports

Merino is one of Victoria's infamous ghost towns.

Situated 22km south of Casterton in the far southwest of Victoria, the tiny town - the state's first inland settlement - is isolated, its survival challenged.

But not if Ian Whalley can help it.

Ian, a former Melbourne town planner, boldly bought the Merino Hotel last year, a rambling heritage-listed building, and is now attempting to reinvigorate it.

He had never lived in the town of about 200 people, let alone rural Victoria.

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