Tiny town of Cracow's cheap property prices attracts newcomers

As property prices continue to skyrocket across most of Australia, there are still pockets of cheap homes in regional communities.

The small town of Cracow is off the beaten track between Eidsvold and Theodore in the Banana Shire, 500 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.

Four homes sold in the township last year for between $83,000 and $170,000. 

Geraldine Newall moved with her partner to Cracow in 2023, looking for somewhere to settle after travelling in a caravan for the better part of the past two decades.

Snatching up the property for under $100,000, it's a stark difference from the city of Rockhampton, three hours away.

Rockhampton's median home value in 2024 was $410,000, according to CoreLogic data.

While Cracow property prices might be keeping the dream of home ownership alive, it comes with a different kind of cost.

A bit of preparation needed

The only operational business in the township is the local pub.

The closest town to buy a bottle of milk and bread is Theodore, 50km down the road, which has a small independent grocery store.

Ms Newall said she did top-up shops in Theodore and visited Rockhampton every two to three months.

It's not too different from when she was caravanning and would travel with a month's supply of food.

"We're used to that," Ms Newall said.

Getting trades out to Cracow can also be a challenge, and it was only when an electrician's van was parked at another resident's house that Ms Newall was able to snag him to return to her place weeks later.

"When we first came here, we needed an electrician and we'd heard that locals had been trying for two years to get someone to come out here," Ms Newall said.

The closest doctors are also in Theodore.

But despite some of the challenges, Ms Newall, like most other locals, isn't swayed to leave any time soon.

Pub the heart of town

The local pub, filled with quintessential country pub relics and memorabilia, puts on events to entertain the small community.

"We have lots of events throughout the year. We just had a big Australia Day and probably had about 70 people here for the day," pub owner Nikki Burke said.

"A lot of motorbike groups come through during the year and Variety Bash car rallies."

There's also a local park, museum with artefacts from the mine and a short drive away is what locals call "Cracow Beach", a sandy area on the banks of the Dawson River out of town.

Ms Burke moved to Cracow in 2002 to work as a barmaid for boxing identity Fred Brophy who had bought the local pub.

"There were 15 locals and about half a dozen drill rigs with the drillers in town, so it was pretty wild days," she said.

"I think I owned the only registered car in town in those days."

At its peak in the 1930s, the town was once home to an estimated 4,000 people who flocked to the region in the hopes of finding gold.

The mine was wound down and closed in the 1970s.

It was reopened in 2004 but has a regimented workforce with a mining camp on the outskirts of town and most workers fly or drive in and out.

These days, the population is 114, according to the latest Census in 2021. 

With rural properties surrounding the town, Ms Burke estimates the actual township is about 50 people.

According to the latest real estate listing, there are currently three properties on the market for sale, all under $170,000.

Ms Burke said most people moved to the community in search of a peaceful lifestyle.

"Some people don't mix, they move out here because they like the quiet. Others are really involved in community, but someone will always put up their hand and help you here if you need it," she said.

Ms Burke, along with her husband, Stuart, ended up buying the pub off Fred Brophy in 2021.

"It's quiet, it's peaceful, there's a good community here, we pretty much get left alone most of the time," Mr Burke said.