Inside Australia's smallest town where the only two residents run the local post office, pub and grocery store
The tiny Queensland town of Cooladdi loses half of its population whenever Carol Yarrow pops over to the shops.
Located 800km from Brisbane and an hour's drive to the nearest big grocery store, Australia's smallest town has precisely two residents: Carol Yarrow and Jo Cornel.
Yarrow and Cornel have called Cooladdi their home since February 2023 after taking over its one and only building, the famous Fox Trap Roadhouse.
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Carol Yarrow and Jo Cornel took over the Fox Trap Roadhouse in 2023. Supplied
"We don't ever feel isolated or lonely," Yarrow told 9news.com.au.
"It's an ongoing roll-in of passers-by, truckies and tourists. During the winter months, tourist season is very busy."
"It's on the main route to Birdsville races. We see caravans heading through the west and a lot of truckies."
Yarrow and Cornel happily wear their unique postcode 4479 like a badge of honour.
Cooladdi retains its township status because the Fox Trap has a working post office.
It's a post office, store, cafe and pub which sells famously good burgers - cooked and served up proudly by Yarrow and Jo.
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Cooladdi retains its township because it has a working post office. Supplied
"It serves all our 'locals' within a 70km radius," Yarrow explained.
"With online shopping, the post office can be busy. Mostly receiving and delivering packages.
"And for groceries, we go to Charleville once a week, it's only 90km away."
Cooladdi was once a thriving railway town with 270 full-time residents.
At its peak, the town also had a school, police station and butcher.
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Cooladdi was once a thriving railway town with 270 residents. Supplied
After the railway closed, the original township became a "ghost town" but the Fox Trap owners were determined Cooladdi would remain alive and kicking.
They bought the Fox Trap from a family of four.
In the 2021 census, Cooladdi's population was seven.
It's now down to two - but would be zero without Yarrow and Cornel.
There's no likelihood the town will get any bigger either, as the owners live on-site in the only building.
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The Fox Trap Roadhouse is also famous for its burgers. Supplied
Their love affair with Cooladdi began in 2023, with plans to keep the Fox Trap running for just a few years.
But living in Australia's smallest town has its perks and they plan to stay longer.
"We're nearly two years in now and I'm sort of thinking… oh I'll give it another three," Yarrow laughed.
"It's just a laid back lifestyle out here. No hustle and bustle, just really laidback."
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