Cracow, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cracow Queensland
Third Avenue, Cracow, 2022
Cracow Location in Queensland
Population	114 (2021 census)
• Density	0.1579/km2 (0.409/sq mi)
Established	1931
Postcode(s)	4719
Area	721.9 km2 (278.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	49.8 km (31 mi) SSE of Theodore 133 km (83 mi) SSE of Taroom 155 km (96 mi) S of Bileoela 270 km (168 mi) S of Rockhampton 494 km (307 mi) NW of Brisbane
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 small rural town and area, also known as a locality, located in the Shire of Banana in Queensland, Australia. It's famous for its history as a gold mining town, and some mines have even reopened recently. In 2021, about 114 people lived in the Cracow area.

Exploring Cracow's Location

Cracow is found on the Eidsvold–Theodore Road. It's about 494 kilometers (or 307 miles) by road north-west of Brisbane, which is the capital city of Queensland.

Mountains Around Cracow

The area around Cracow has several mountains:

• Mount Edwards (also called Mount Bannister) is about 460 meters (1,509 feet) high.
• Mount Elvinia reaches about 441 meters (1,447 feet).
• Mount Irving is also around 460 meters (1,509 feet) tall.
• Mount Steel stands at about 440 meters (1,444 feet).

Cracow's Golden Past

Third Avenue of Cracow, 1961, showing how the town looked during its gold mining days.

The town of Cracow got its name from a large farming area called a "pastoral run." This name was chosen by a farmer named John Ross in 1851. He named it after the city of Kraków in Poland, which had recently been involved in a big fight for Polish independence.

Discovering Gold

Gold was first found in Cracow way back in 1875 by people looking for minerals. Later, in 1916, an Aboriginal stockman named Johnny Nipps found another gold nugget. These discoveries led to the establishment of the Golden Plateau mine in 1931. This mine operated for many years, until 1976. By 1977, an amazing 19,910 kilograms (or 43,894 pounds) of gold had been taken from this mine!

Life in a Mining Town

As the gold mining boomed, Cracow grew into a busy town. It had five cafes, a barber shop, a billiard hall, two butcher shops, a movie theater, and even a factory that made soft drinks! The town's post office opened on October 1, 1932.

A school, Cracow State School, opened on June 12, 1933. It quickly became too small and had to be moved and made bigger. However, it eventually closed on December 12, 1997. The school was located at 11-17 Third Avenue.

When the main gold mine closed, Cracow became almost a ghost town. Many houses and shops were left empty.

A New Chapter for Cracow

Fred Brophy, who used to own the Cracow Hotel, in 2014.

Around the year 2000, a well-known person named Fred Brophy and his wife Sandi bought the Cracow Hotel. Fred Brophy was famous for his boxing tent shows, which he would bring to Cracow every year.

In 2004, a company called Newcrest Mining started gold mining again in Cracow. This brought new hope that the town would recover. Today, another company, Aeris Resources, operates this mine.

Cracow has even been a filming location! The 2019 horror-comedy movie Two Heads Creek was filmed right there in the town.

Who Lives in Cracow?

The number of people living in Cracow has changed over the years:

• In 2011, the Cracow area had a population of 196 people.
• By 2016, the population was 89 people.
• In the most recent count in 2021, the population of Cracow was 114 people.

What's in Cracow Today?

The Cracow Hotel, established in 1937, a popular spot for visitors.

Inside the Cracow Pub Bar in 2022, filled with interesting items.

The Cracow Hotel, located at 30 Third Avenue, is the only business still operating in the town. It's a popular spot for tourists because it's filled with old and unusual items covering its ceilings and walls.

The Cracow community centre is at 57-63 Tenth Avenue. It's managed by the Banana Shire Council, providing a place for local events.

There's also a caravan park at 11 Third Avenue. It's next to the old courthouse, which has been turned into a museum about mining.

Learning in Cracow

There are no schools directly in Cracow. The closest government school is Theodore State School in Theodore, which is to the north-west. This school offers education for primary students and secondary students up to Year 10. For students needing to complete Years 11 and 12, options include learning from home through distance education or attending a boarding school.