Bar owner, storyteller and culture maker — meet our mate The Baron from Deni

Bar owner, storyteller and culture maker — meet our mate The Baron from Deni

In the heart of Deniliquin, tucked between red gum timber and rich conversation, you’ll find Storyteller: The Baron’s Tasting House — part cocktail bar, part creative refuge, and all heart. It’s the brainchild of 'Baron' David Schoeffel de Merxhausen, a global thinker with a deep-rooted love for his hometown.

It might look like a Melbourne laneway bar, but the materials, the people and the purpose are all proudly local.

The Baron’s not just serving drinks here, he’s listening to stories, initiating games of Jenga and monitoring the swear jar. It’s a whole new kind of regional hospitality experience.

A bar built on ideas (and red gum)

The bar itself is a story in its own right. Made from red gum harvested from The Baron’s family property, it’s one of the many ways this space honours the place and history around it.

“All this behind me is just two trees, made by us. My father cut the main slabs in 1998, and my neighbour Ian, who’s now my right-hand man, did the shelving in 2011. It all comes from Gulpa Island in Murray Valley National Park, which our property is on.”

From the woodwork to the carefully selected spirits, every detail is deliberate — a blend of global inspiration and local grounding.

As The Baron puts it, “I’ve tried to give this place a sense of being out of this world, and at the same time bringing this world into it.”

A space for everyone

After growing up in a nearby intentional community and spending years exploring the world, The Baron returned to Deniliquin in his twenties. What he found was a creative, open-minded community that sparked a new idea.

“I was really surprised by the depth of the culture hidden in this town and how many like-minded people there were. I thought, well, why not bring that variety to these people, and show what can be even here.”

The goal wasn’t just to offer something different, but to create a safe, open space where anyone could belong.

“Whatever kind of person you are, you’ll be welcome. But that also requires that you honour the space, and the space will then honour you.”

Deniliquin: more than meets the eye

The Baron is passionate about giving visitors a different take on the town.

“There’s this perception that regional areas are less cultured. But Deniliquin has a rich history as a party place. At one stage, it had the largest number of night venues per capita in the country because it was an important stop between Sydney and Adelaide.”

That heritage — shaped by pastoralists, bush poets and more than a few wild nights — still lingers. These days, it shows up in quieter, but no less interesting ways.

“I think the café culture around here is fantastic and so unexpected. And from the heart of town, you can just walk past the pub into the forest. Being able to connect with nature so rapidly is a real delight.”

There’s beauty in the simple things here like spotting the Milky Way on a crisp winter night, or watching the sun stretch across the plains at golden hour.

“You know, the ability to see an incredible sunset to 180 degrees is something special. And in this region, the river is something very, very special.”

It’s not all bush and bars, either.

“The BIG4 is incredible. The Crossing Cafe, Frank N Beans and Harry Pepper are fantastic cafes and we’re spoiled for pubs.”

And when it comes to riverside downtime, Deniliquin delivers. McLean Beach, Riverside and Willoughbys Beach all offer peaceful spots to sit, swim or simply breathe it all in.

A quiet oasis with something to say

Storyteller is more than a bar. It’s a statement. A meeting place. A reminder that regional spaces can be surprising, progressive and full of soul.

“It’s a nice little oasis here, a rarity. But you can’t hold that pleasure without giving people an enjoyable, memorable experience.”

And at its heart? It’s a place where stories and people are seen, heard and celebrated. Every visit shows good stories — and good company — can be found in the most unexpected places.

Explore more of Deniliquin and the surrounding region

This blog is part of the latest season in our Mates of The Murray series — a celebration of the people at the heart of our region. We’re spotlighting local operators whose passion, creativity and everyday efforts help shape The Murray, not just as a place to visit, but as a place to belong. It’s not about events or must-see spots. It’s about people, stories and the connections that tie our region together.

Follow along on Facebook and Instagram to meet more of our mates or subscribe to our emails for more stories from across The Murray.