Posted

Strictly north west

Paul Mercurio’s latest role as ‘New England North West’ ambassador takes him from art deco Greek cafés to wineries, waterfalls and wildlife

by Mary Kiley

Paul Mercurio reveals the breadth of his passion for New England produce

When Sandy McNaughton moved to Bingara “for love”, she admits it was a bit of a shock to the system. With a population of 1300 people, the tiny town seems to be the antithesis of her cosmopolitan, coffee-swigging home city of Melbourne. But Sandy, who relocated to the New England area in 2004 to be with her country-dwelling husband, has been conducting another love affair of sorts for most of her married life. Not surprisingly, given her background, it’s with a café.

In 1999, Bingara council acquired the Roxy, a beautiful 1930s art deco theatre that had been sitting dormant for 40 years. After being painstakingly restored to its former glory, it was re-opened in May 2004 and now hosts everything from school graduation ceremonies to films to performances by professional artists and theatre companies. Acclaimed Aussie actor John Wood declared it a national treasure. But, as lovely as the theatre is,
there was one thing lacking – and  for the past seven years, Sandy has worked to set things right.

The original owners of the Roxy were three partners from the Greek island of Kythera and the original complex included a Greek café. Sandy was determined to restore and re-open the café, along with an upstairs museum dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the contribution made by Greek immigrants to Australia.

“What I hope we’re able to achieve is to tell the story of the Greeks who came to rural Australia and the contribution they made,” says Sandy. “[It’s a story that] seems to resonate with so many people because they grew up in these small towns. And so many people who grew up in cities talk about going on trips and stopping and going to Greek cafés. They’ve touched many people’s lives over generations.”

NRMA Open Road article on Bingara. Click to download pdf.

After its official re-opening in April, the café is now back in business. So whether you remember the glory days of the Greek café and want to reminisce or are just keen to have a uniquely Australian experience, the Roxy complex is well worth a visit. And, if you do make the trip to Bingara, it’s also worth taking the time to explore the rest of the north-west New England area, which is at its best and most beautiful in the cooler months.

Stretching from the New England Highway to the edge of the outback, the region incorporates such areas as Tamworth, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, Armidale, Glen Innes and the Great Dividing Range. It covers thousands of kilometres in NSW and offers a wide range of activities. While most people are familiar with Tamworth’s country music festival, they may not be aware of the area’s many other attractions.

Photos: New England North West Tourism/Bruce Williams Photography