ghost town in Queensland, Australia

Cooladdi is a ghost town in southwest Outback Queensland. Once a busy rail town with 270 people, today all that remain are three residents, three buildings and the grave of a small child.

Understand

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Renamed in 1913 from its original name of Yarronvale, Cooladdi predates the 'Flying Flea' steam train from Charleville to Quilpie. In its heyday as a major rail centre, Cooladdi boasted a school, butcher shop, post office, store and police station accommodating 270 residents. The railway bypassed the town in 1914, starting a long decline. A Cooladdi State School which opened in 1970 was abandoned in 1974.

Now the smallest town in Australia, Cooladdi has its own motel, (disused) train station, self-rated four-star restaurant, pub and general store, which is also the home of the three residents of the town.

Get in

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Access is by road only, from Charleville approximately ninety minutes away.

Get around

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  • Cooladdi rail station. No longer in service, but the building and rails are still standing.
  • Cooladdi Heritage Trail. A walking tour of the city. A written guide and map are available at the Charleville Visitor Information Centre, Qantas Drive, Charleville.
  • Foxtrap Cooladdi Road House. The only restaurant, run by the same residents who run the roadhouse.

Drink

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Sleep

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  • Fox Trap Cooladdi Roadhouse, Diamantina Development Highway, Cooladdi 4479, +61 7 4654-0347, +61 7 4654-0167. Motel with bar and restaurant, grocery and post office.

Connect

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  • Cooladdi has its own post code, 4479, with a small post office in the Fox Trap motel. It is the smallest point in Australia with a post office.

Go next

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This city travel guide to Cooladdi is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.