Cracow, a ghost town.... almost

In 1851, the area of Cracow was named by pastoralist, John Ross, after a local cattle or sheep station, which in turn was named in honour of the Polish city of Kraków, at the time, the centre of a fight for Polish national independence. Gold was first discovered in Cracow in 1875 by itinerant fossickers, with a further discovery of a nugget made by an Aboriginal man in 1916. In 1931, the Golden Plateau Mine was established and operated continuously until 1976. At its gold mining peak, the town included five cafes, a barber shop, a billiard saloon, two butchers, a picture theatre and a soft drink factory. The closure of the mine led to Cracow becoming a ghost town with many deserted houses and shops. In 2004, Newcrest Mining re-established gold mining in the town, leading to hopes the town may recover. The mine was later sold to Evolution Mining, and in 2020, to Aeris Resources. While mining prospered, the optimism that the re-establishment of the mine would lead to a reinvigorated town has not eventuated, a victim of better regional communication and fly in fly out mining. So, the shops remain vacant although the hotel is open for business. At the 2011 census, Cracow and the surrounding area had a population of 196. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracow,_Queensland)

CRACOW PUB

CRACOW HOSPITAL

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH

SEEN BETTER DAYS

Hall and picture theatre

MAIN STREET

First Holden dealership in Queensland

DEFENCE ROAD

The Inland Defence Road between Ipswich and Charters Towers via Blackbutt, Nanango, Gayndah, Eidsvold, Banana and Clermont, (in Queensland) was built by civilian labour during 1942–1943. However, by 1942 the enlistment of men in the armed services created a shortage of labour.

A solution was the employment of “enemy aliens” (residents of Australia who were not citizens and whose country of origin was at war with Australia). In early 1942 a round-up of enemy aliens occurred on the North Queensland coast, which was considered to be in danger of Japanese attack. The internees were put to work on a heavy rock section at Camboon between Eidsvold and Banana. This 68km section branches off from the Eidsvold-Theodore Road, about 15km east of Cracow, and heads north and then northwest before joining the Leichardt Highway north-east of Theodore.

120 non-refugee enemy aliens were employed, initially under a military guard although this was soon removed.

The work done by the internees on five bridges on this road was recognised by the Main Road Commission as 'remarkable for the fine workmanship shown in masonry piers and abutments'. (https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/place?id=580)

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