Attractions / Bodalla Dairy Shed Cafe

Bodalla Dairy Shed Cafe

The Bodalla Dairy Shed is fast becoming a local institution; a place to warm up by the huge Tuross River stone fireplace, sip a delicious Rainforest Alliance coffee in the sunny courtyard, enjoy burgers made from local beef ground daily or choose from a menu that pays homage to this village's history of cheese making.

Opened only in April, right on the Princes Highway, the word is spreading fast that the Bodalla Dairy Shed is now the place to stop if you are travelling along the south Coast.

The decor is an eclectic work of art, put together lovingly by local tradesmen and artists. There are reminders of the 50’s and the 60’s –laminex tables, cosy booths, a long redgum counter with a base of recycled pressed-tin which was once on the ceilings of the members stand at Randwick racecourse. It is full of what the owner – Sandra McCuaig, says are “lucky finds”. Her favourite is a rare, and classic AMI juke box, 1962 model, which was bought with 4000 original vinyls.

And if amazing decor doesn’t make you put on the brakes, the milkshakes should. Bodalla Dairy Shed Shakes, are as good as a milkshake should be. Thickened with ice-cream and whipped to the top of the metal container, they are creamy and irresistible from the first sip to that final slurp.
Perhaps the secret to them being SO good, is the 1950’s milk-bar fridge. In its’ previous life, it was in the Bodalla Co-Operative’s cheese factory. When that closed, it was put under the building and forgotten for decades.
It has a new life as the centrepiece in the Bodalla Dairy Shed’s amazing retro milk-bar; it makes the milk the perfect coldness needed to make good shakes while seemingly triggering childhood memories with many of the customers.

The Bodalla Dairy Shed is currently building a boutique factory on the site and milk from local herds will be used to manufacture a variety of cheeses, starting with cheddar – the cheese Bodalla is best known for.

The tradition of commercial cheese-making from local milk began in the area 150 years ago but stopped in 1982 when the last of the Bodalla cheese factories closed.
Thomas Sutcliffe Mort started cheese making here in the 1860’s. The first efforts were not to his satisfaction, but he was determined to make the best cheese in the land. He cleared river flats, planted crops and new grasses, imported the first milking machines and the first separator.
Soon there were five factories on his Bodalla Estate producing loads of huge cheese wheels which left the village in horse drawn wagons. These cheeses won top prizes.

Bodalla is rewarding to visit because it is a working village supporting a big farming community. And it is also a time-warp experience - the main street still looks like it did last century!

The Bodalla Dairy Shed’s Friday Night Dinner is an easy night out, excellent value for money and different table configurations make it work for groups, families or couples.Serving are generous and there is plenty to check out around the walls.
Bookings are essential and recommended early as its becoming a popular haunt for those in the know.
Book it out for your end of year work or social party.