More country pubs owned by locals keen to keep community hub and share business challenges

Dingee pub shareholder and local farmer Russell Hocking is thrilled to see the old Railway Hotel thriving. (ABC Central Victoria: Sarah Lawrence)

As the challenges faced by hospitality businesses grow, more pubs are being taken over by groups of community members trying to keep an integral part of their small towns alive.

Across regional Victoria, pubs in places like Apsley, Lockington, Boolarra, Sea Lake, Dingee, Nandaly and Yinnar are owned by groups of locals.