After falling in love in a chance encounter with Ouyen's Victoria Hotel, Thorany Zhang has worked tirelessly to restore the classic red-brick country pub to the glory of its heyday. The bar and bistro reopen this week in the first step of her mission to make it a place where community spirit thrives. SARAH BUCHECKER reports.

AS soon as Thorany Zhang set her eyes on the old architecture of Ouyen's Victoria Hotel, she knew it had to be hers.