Unwind With a Meal and an Outback Storm

If I asked if you liked rain on a tin roof, I’d say the majority of you would love it.

I live in a two-bedroom apartment these days, so there’s no rain on a tin roof here. It was, however, the sound of my childhood – that, and a summer storm!

And if you live in Narrabri, for just the price of a meal you have the privilege to have a storm roll through every half hour of your dining experience at The Outback Shack Bar & Grill, located in Club Narrabri. That’s dinner and a show for an insatiable price!

In 2006, Club Narrabri CEO Paul Gordon and the Board of Directors went to tender to determine who could bring their vision to life.

“The concept came from internal management discussions to create a themed style restaurant, a bit like Lone Star but we wanted it to be Aussie,” says Paul.

“Because we’re on the edge of outback NSW we came up with that name The Outback Shack Bar & Grill. It was designed by an artist from Lightning Ridge, Graeme Lees, in collaboration with us and our local builders.”

In scenes reminiscent of Harry Potter, but with an Australiana twist, a ‘pitter patter’ sound begins as soon as you sit down at your table. Then rain starts trickling from the awning and wind picks up as the storm gets closer. Then the tin starts flapping, all while you look over a beautiful mural of the Narrabri township - or into the eyes of your dining companion!

This nod to the storms of outback NSW has been cleverly thought out, with the room being transformed into an outdoor feel with old farming relics dotted around to feed into the old farm look. 

Paul says it’s common for people to come in with something to add to the collection. 
“It has been a very successful concept, because it doesn’t date, the older it gets the more relevant it becomes.” He says.
“All we have to do is keep the food standard up.”

Meals range from your standard chicken schnitzel, to prime aged local steaks – there really is something for everyone. 

While this has been in place for several years now, it should be something worth seeing and celebrating.  This experience is so unique and ticks the boxes of what most people claim as the best sound and light show in outback NSW.

It’s open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.