LIARS, larrikins and legends can all be found in Barcaldine. So can the man from Ironbark.

But the “Man from Ironbark” you’ll find in Barcaldine is not the character who was the subject of a poem by A.B. “Banjo” Paterson. It’s Rob Chandler, who with his wife Deb owns the Ironbark Inn.

A raconteur who can recite poetry with the best of them and has his own brand of larrikinism, Rob can often by found down at the inn’s 3L’s Bistro and Bar where he tells stories, orates verse and even teaches geography for the entertainment of all patrons.

Rob is a shearer by trade, so he has a real outback slant on humour. And he insists that his tall tales are true. It’s a good thing he sprouts them all when he’s inside the 3L’s - Liars, Larrikins and Legends - because once people know what the 3L’s stand for they at least know to take his stories with a pinch of salt!

One thing Rob does take seriously, though, is food. He knows exactly where his beef comes from and fresh fish is brought in from the northern rivers of Queensland.

“Our steaks are from Blackall and are sumptuous. We’ve worked together for 10 years to perfect the beef. The meat we serve here is as good as any you’ll find in the whole State,” he said.

“The secret to fine restaurant food is to use fresh produce of excellent quality.”

He said the restaurant and bar were open seven nights a week.

The Ironbark Inn also offers accommodation in 29 air-conditioned units and can organise tours through Artesian Country Tours.