Cook, ghost town in South Australia
Cook is an abandoned railway town in South Australia on the Nullarbor Plain, founded in 1917 to support the Trans-Australian Railway. The settlement features a small refueling station, deserted buildings, and concrete slabs marking where a hospital, school, and swimming pool once stood.
The town was founded in 1917 as a support base during construction of the Trans-Australian Railway and named after Joseph Cook, Australia's sixth Prime Minister. It grew into a thriving community but was effectively closed in 1997 after the railway was privatized and no longer needed its services.
Cook carries the humorous nickname "Queen City of the Nullarbor", a title that underscores the irony of its current emptiness. Visitors notice that despite being deserted, the town does not feel eerie but instead radiates a certain friendliness preserved in witty signs and visible remnants of its past.
Cook is located about 100 km from the Old Eyre Highway and accessible only via dirt roads, so expect rural driving conditions. Visitors should note the town has no permanent facilities or amenities; it is wise to bring all necessary supplies with you.
Cook sits on the world's longest straight railway line, stretching about 478 km without a curve and representing a remarkable engineering feat. Today visitors can still see the former corrugated iron prison cells that once held suspected offenders until the next train arrived.
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