A musician and a farmer, brought together by a love of Deniliquin, opened The Crossing Café and gave the Riverina town a cosmopolitan eatery that specialises in live music.
Story by Freda Nicholls, Photos by John Kruger
Deniliquin may be better known for its world record ute muster than its musical and culinary delights, but restaurateurs Chris Bodey and Brett Allitt would like to put paid to that. They have created a unique eating experience right on the river with a combination of great food, a lively atmosphere and all kinds of music.
Chris, who hails from the Barossa Valley in South Australia, trained as a classical guitar player before moving to Deniliquin 17 years ago when he married a local girl. “A guy in the local music shop suggested I earn some beer money by taking on some guitar students,” says Chris. These guitar lessons led him to local farmer Brett Allitt who, after a three-year stint in Melbourne, wanted to inject a cosmopolitan feel to his hometown. “We both had a hankering to do the café thing,” Chris says.
This story excerpt is from Issue #44
Outback Magazine: Dec/Jan 2006
