Cracow, Queensland

Last updated

Cracow
Queensland
Cracow Third Ave.png
Third Avenue, Cracow, 2022
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Cracow
Coordinates 25°17′48″S150°18′17″E / 25.2967°S 150.3047°E / -25.2967; 150.3047 (Cracow (town centre))
Population114 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density0.1579/km2 (0.4090/sq mi)
Established1931
Postcode(s) 4719
Area721.9 km2 (278.7 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Banana
State electorate(s) Callide
Federal division(s) Flynn
Localities around Cracow:
Isla Camboon Eidsvold West
Spring Creek Cracow Eidsvold West
Glebe Cockatoo Eidsvold West

Cracow is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia. [2] [3] Historically, Cracow is a gold mining town, with some recent mines opening. [4] In the 2021 census, the locality of Cracow had a population of 114 people. [1]

Contents

Geography

The town is located on the Eidsvold–Theodore Road, 494 kilometres (307 mi) by road north-west of the state capital, Brisbane. [5]

Cracow has the following mountains:

History

Third Avenue of Cracow, 1961 Cracow Main Street 1961.png
Third Avenue of Cracow, 1961

The town was named after a pastoral run, which was in turn named by pastoralist John Ross, in 1851, for the Polish city of Kraków, which had recently been the centre for a fight for Polish national independence. [2] [11]

Gold was first discovered in Cracow in 1875 by itinerant fossickers and a further discovery of a nugget was made by an Aboriginal stockman, Johnny Nipps in 1916. In 1931, the Golden Plateau mine was established and it operated continuously until 1976. [12] As of 1977, 19,910 kilograms (43,890 lb) of gold had been extracted from the mine. [13]

Cracow Post Office opened on 1 October 1932. [14]

Cracow State School opened on 12 June 1933. [15] [16] [17] It was found to be too small with a few months so it was relocated and extended with an annex. [18] [19] It closed on 12 December 1997. [15] [20] It was at 11-17 Third Avenue ( 25°17′36″S150°18′04″E / 25.2933°S 150.3010°E / -25.2933; 150.3010 (Cracow State School (former)) ). [21]

At its gold mining peak, the town included five cafes, barber shop, billiard saloon, two butchers, a picture theatre and a soft drink factory. The closure of the mine led to Cracow becoming almost a ghost town with many deserted houses and shops. [22]

Fred Brophy, former owner of the Cracow Hotel, 2014 Fred Brophy.jpg
Fred Brophy, former owner of the Cracow Hotel, 2014

Circa 2000, Fred Brophy and wife Sandi purchased the Cracow Hotel. [23] He operated his famous boxing tent as an annual event in Cracow. [24] [25] [26]

In 2004, Newcrest Mining reestablished gold mining in the town, leading to hopes the town may recover. [22] This mine is now operated by Aeris Resources. [27]

The 2019 horror-comedy film Two Heads Creek was filmed on location in Cracow. [28] [29]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Cracow and the surrounding area had a population of 196 people. [30]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Cracow had a population of 89 people. [31]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Cracow had a population of 114 people. [1]

Facilities

Cracow Hotel, est 1937 Cracow pub 2021.jpg
Cracow Hotel, est 1937
The Cracow Pub Bar, 2022 Cracow pub 2022.jpg
The Cracow Pub Bar, 2022

The Cracow Hotel at 30 Third Avenue (corner Tenth Avenue, 25°17′43″S150°18′09″E / 25.2954°S 150.3026°E / -25.2954; 150.3026 (Cracow Hotel) ) [32] is the only remaining business in the township, as it attracts a lot of tourists due to its array of antique and unusual artifacts adorning the ceilings and walls. [27]

The Cracow community centre is at 57-63 Tenth Avenue ( 25°17′43″S150°18′06″E / 25.2953°S 150.3018°E / -25.2953; 150.3018 (Cracow Community Centre) ) and is operated by the Banana Shire Council. [33]

There is also a caravan park located at 11 Third Avenue, next to the old court house which has been turned into a mining museum. [34]

Education

There are no schools in Cracow. The nearest government schoola is Theodore State School in Theodore to the north-west; it provides primary education and secondary education to Year 10. There is no nearby school providing secondary education to Year 12; options are distance education and boarding school. [35]

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References

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  2. 1 2 "Cracow – town in Shire of Banana (entry 8648)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. "Cracow – locality in Shire of Banana (entry 49544)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. "Cracow Gold Operations". Aeris Resources. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
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