MERINO
Merino is the next township encounted
as the traveler heads to Coleraine and then west. Merino is a very
small place but does have a number of essential services. The name
‘Merino’ has no connection with the Merino Sheep breed.
The
first European settlement of the area was in 1837, when Francis Henty,
brother of Edward Henty, established Merino Downs station. Henty
established the station after a report on the high quality pasture
from explorer Major Thomas Mitchell at the Henty property near
Portland.
A
store and post office agency was established in 1854 and the first
town lots were sold the next year. An official Post Office opened on
June 1, 1858. The town continued to grow through the 1850s and 1860s
with the construction of churches, hotels and schools. In 1870, the
courthouse was moved from Digby to Merino. A number of ‘old’ buildings
remain.
The
Merino co-operative butter factory was established around 1885. After
World War I, the area was opened up for soldier settlement. In 1955,
Merino was finally connected to the electricity grid.
The
churches in Merino are well spread. The Catholic
and Anglican
Churches are built with federation red bricks and are over 100 years
old.
The
Merino Hotel was built in 1890. A grand imposing building it is.
The
Merino War Memorial is opposite the hotel.
Should the timing be right refreshment may be in order?
Heritage diary
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