Be Beside The Seaside
2 October 2020 / The Australian / Christine McCabe
The Cally and Drift Cafe were recently featured in a write-up on The Limestone Coast in the Australian:
“The rather smart Drift Cafe, all mid-century cool, does a good fish taco… Alternatively, catch up over a cold one with a prawn po’ boy at The Cally (Caledonian Inn), dating from 1858 and one of the most charming pubs in the country.”
The Caledonian Inn Voted #1 Country Pub in SA
July 2020 / The Messenger
We are so proud to announce that the Cally has been voted the number one country pub in SA in the annual Messenger news poll.
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us x
Cally to re-open for bookings from Monday 31st August 2020!
Monday 1 June 2020
Hello good friends!
We are using this time to plan and renovate our beloved Cally and cant wait to see you all again as soon as the plague has passed!
Accommodation has been opened up again: now from Monday 31st August so book now !
All bookings are risk free cancellation with a full refund unless cancelled in the 7 days before arrival. Book via our website to get the best price online.
We will still be HAVING A PARTY on the October Long weekend with Shaun Brown bringing the house down !!

Rock Solid
December 2019 / Australian Traveller / Kate Symons
The Cally’s Cottages by the Sea were featured in this article about the Limestone Coast featured in the forthcoming December edition of Australian Traveller magazine.
Triple J’s One Night Stand Coming to Lucindale!
Saturday 14 September 2019
In case you missed it….
By now everyone has heard the HUGE news that Triple j’s One Night Stand is coming to Lucindale. The all ages, drug and alcohol-free One Night Stand will be held in Lucindale on September 14. RDALC encourages everyone to mark the date and get ready to be entertained by Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Ocean Alley, G Flip and the triple J Unearthed winner.
Opportunity is still open for a lucky local band to play on the big stage as part of the event. Jump over to the triple j Unearthed website & upload your best tune if you think you’ve got what it takes.
With over 20,000 people expected to attend the event, this is also an amazing opportunity for local businesses to showcase the best our region has to offer. We encourage all our local businesses in the area to dust off your welcome mats and get ready for what is bound to be a fantastic weekend. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in securing this amazing event for Lucindale – we can’t wait!
Where to eat, stay and play on the Limestone Coast
30 May 2019 / Australian Traveller / Kate Symons
Australian Traveller Magazine – the country’s biggest selling travel magazine focussing on Australian stories, experiences and trends with 480,000 readers each issue – has picked the Cally as the place to stay on the Limestone Coast!
Ms Kate Symons writes:
Established in 1858, the Caledonian Inn is an English-style pub with character to boot. As well as your standard front bar/back bar/beer garden combo, the inn has a few accommodation options including the charming Cottages by the Sea.
The self-contained cottages, featuring a loft bedroom big enough for four without squeezing, are clean and simple, but it’s the location that reigns. The cottages are tucked behind the inn and sit in pole position next to Town Beach, with water views and a Juliet balcony upstairs.
The Cally’s Geoff & Holly featured in SA Weekender
07 April 2019 / SA Weekender
Channel 7’s SA Weekender recently profiled Robe and the Cally’s Geoff & Holly were featured!
Cally in Top 7 Country Pubs
20 March 2019 / The Weekender
The Weekender has picked the Cally as one of the top 7 country pubs in SA!
Known as ‘The Cally’, Robe’s Caledonian Inn is the best character pub on the Limestone coast. Established in 1858, with sea views, it’s a fantastic function space, as well as a beloved local. With a seafood focused menu, an ocean outlook, and an expansive lawn, it’s fabulous in summer. In winter, it takes on the persona of quaint classic pub – you could be forgiven for thinking you have landed in the UK! Accommodation also available.
Caledonian Inn wins tourism award
12 November 2018 / Coastal Leader
The Robe Caledonian Inn’s Holly and Geoff Prest had plenty to celebrate after receiving bronze for Standard Accommodation at the South Australian Tourism Awards.
The Caledonian Inn were first-time entrants, walking away with 3rd place in the state and a bronze medal for Standard Accommodation. The awards were announced during the gala dinner, taking place at the Adelaide Convention Centre, with over 750 industry representatives attending

Geoff & Holly Prest

The Caledonian Inn
30 November 2017 / She Gathers No Moss
A wood panelled dining room. A quiet corner table by an open window. A cool evening breeze drifting in, after a molten afternoon. A glass of chilled, Limestone Coast Chardonnay. A book. A sumptuous salmon fillet with a crusty, crunchy skin, resting on a bed of al dente vegetables: broccolini, asparagus, fennel. A caper and dill aioli. A scattering of orange segments, that match the colour of the sun dropping out of the sky. Feel the serenity…
I am a lone diner at the Caledonian Inn, but I have a lovely waitress checking regularly to make sure I have everything I need. I’m thoroughly enjoying my book. I’ve had a call from a friend in Sydney who I haven’t seen in ages. The Chardonnay is crisp and soothing. My salmon is perfection. What more could a girl want…
The Great Aussie Pubs Dotting Rural South Australia
31 October 2017 / Qantas Travel Insider
South Australia’s country pubs are worthy of exploration, whether it’s fishing village inns, riverside taverns or historic German alehouses deep in wine country…
Caledonian Inn
Similar in design to the pubs of England’s West Country, this delightful 1858 stone inn is a must-visit when you’re in the fishing village of Robe, near Victoria’s border. Apart from the tiny wood-panelled bar, the newly refurbished “Cally” has a beer garden and an upscale restaurant serving Limestone Coast produce.
Popular Pubs: Australia’s Favourite Gastro Pubs
16 August 2017 / Australian Good Food & Travel Guide
Traditionally, British pubs were primarily drinking establishments with little emphasis placed on the serving of food. Dishes were smaller in size and the simple ploughman’s lunch reigned supreme…
Fast forward to the present day and the traditional pub with minimal menus are fewer and far between, whilst the rise in the higher end gastropub makes for the majority of the new age scene. Winter is the ideal time to take respite from the chilly days and visit your nearest gastropub, with our top picks around the country.
Caledonian Inn
Those who have spent the morning working up an appetite on the seaside of Robe can take a short stroll across the road to satisfy their hunger and quench their thirst at the charming Caledonian Inn. The Cally, as locals know it, is an old English style stone pub, whilst their exterior boasts a spacious beer garden. A quality menu of authentic pub fare with a touch of modern refinement is seen in entrees of seared duck breast with eggplant crisps and hearty mains like lamb shanks infused with rosemary and chilli and served with mashed potato and broccolini.
Countdown on for Robe Boat Show 2018
10 July 2017
The countdown for the 2018 Robe Boat Show is on! The 2018 Boat Show, to be held at Robe Marina on the 20-21 January promises to a cracker with a huge range of incredible boats of all shapes and sizes. From one-man dinghies to island-hopping luxury catamarans and everything in between. The Lifestyle section will feature luxury vehicles, tow cars, SUV’s and 4×4’s, caravans and outdoor equipment with something for everyone.
There will be added attractions for all ages. From the kids play area, locally sourced food and of course, loads of options of handcrafted beer & wine from the Limestone Coast.
Click here to find out more about the Boat Show at their NEW website
Designer Lights Up Coast
Fairfax Media / 15 June 2017
You can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy. This is particularly the case for Limestone Coast man Hugh Altschwager. The founder of Inkster dragged a part of the region with him when he uprooted to Melbourne about seven years ago, but has since returned to his beloved German Flat locally where a long farming heritage has cultivated a deep connection to the natural environment.
Hugh’s unique style has made him a household name on the Limestone Coast with his creations turning up right across the region, most recently at the entrance of Robe’s historic Caledonian Hotel.
Walk from Robe Gains Victorian Premier’s Attention
News.com.au / 25 May 2017
A walk started in Robe commemorating the journey made by Chinese goldminers 160 years ago has culminated in Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews issuing an apology to their descendants for the racist policies of the past. The send off from Robe and the attention it received is thought to have positively impacted on the success of what has become known as “The Walk From Robe”.
Lunchin’ Out For Easter
27 March 2017 / Australian Good Food & Travel Guide
Perhaps this year the time has come to break the cycle and head out for lunch a few times, instead of the steady diet of chocolate, chocolate milkshakes and chocolate chocolates. If the sudden urge to leave the choc stocked hidey hole of home arises, here is a list of places to celebrate Easter out and about in keeping with the Easter theme.
Caledonian Inn
The Cally, as locals know it, is an old English style stone pub with a long timber bar, relaxed seating, an open fireplace and ambient lighting inside, whilst outside boasts a spacious beer garden, creating the ideal space for the whole family to enjoy…
A Rich Chinese History in Robe Celebrated
The Coastal Leader / 01 March 2017
Robe is making the year 2017 dedicated to the rich history of Chinese immigrants starting their journey to the Victorian goldfields in Robe. Events planned include a re-enactment of the Great Walk taken by Chinese migrants, the unveiling of the Welcome Gate, a business forum bringing together Chinese and SE interests and a two day Chinese festival.
The Cally was excited to host a function for our Mayor and the visiting Jiangsu Provincial TV crew who were doing a feature on the Limestone Coast for CCTV (Central Chinese Television) which has been seen by over 100 million people!
Coastal Tourism Hub
The Border Watch / 21 February 2017
Robe will become a coastal tourism hub for thousands of Chinese visitors when a new “Pai Fang” welcome gate is unveiled as part of a three-day Limestone Coast Chinese initiative in May.
New Lighting For Caledonian Inn
Coastal Leader / 1 November 2016
Over the past 157 years the Cally has become a local landmark, and the hotel’s owners have a great attachment to the hotel and strongly believe in keeping things local.
Today, three new pendant lights from Inkster were delivered and will soon be installed in the establishment’s front entrance.
The lights that will sit in the Cally’s entrance are hand turned SA limestone shades and are made in Melbourne with locally sourced materials.
Melbourne Cup 2016 at the Cally
Coastal Leader / 1 November 2016
View the Coastal Leader’s 2016 Melbourne Cup gallery.
Morning Tea A Sweet Treat in Robe
Coastal Leader / By Sonia Legoe / 19 June 2016
A hugely successful “Biggest Morning Tea” was held at the Caledonian Inn on Friday the 17th June.
With 50 people in attendance for a cuppa, close to $1000 was raised for Cancer Research. A great testament to how cancer has affected so many people in our small community.
A special mention to the Caledonian Inn staff for their amazing input with the organisation of this event. Holly, Geoff, Kristina, Jake and Tom were run off their feet keeping up with tea & coffee orders (with proceeds donated back to the cause).
The Cally donated the entire fare of delicious treats baked by Chef Nathaniel and crew!
Cuisine de boozer – these top 10 saloons serve food that’s too good to be called pub grub
South Australia Traveller
#8 Caledonian Inn, Robe
Sitting smack bang in the centre of Robe, the Cally is a piece of rural England set by the seaside. It’s currently undergoing a complete revitalization under new owners Prest Partners who hope to return it to its former glory as the “jewel of the south-east”.
Great pub crawl: Robe’s landmark Caledonian Inn getting overdue makeover
Sunday Mail (SA) / By Amelia Broadstock / 10
AS teens, brothers Geoff and John Prest and their cousin Rick would visit Robe’s historic Caledonian Inn for a beer before hitting the surf.
So when the 156-year-old Calendonian Inn came up for sale, the trio had to buy it…