Hartley's Croc Centre

Australia’s leading crocodile interpretive centre

The recently opened ‘Hartley’s Croc Centre’ uses multi-media technology to showcase the history of Hartley’s Creek and the story of the Queensland crocodile.

The story starts with a life size model of Quinkana Fortirostrum which inhabited an ancient landscape in the Chillagoe area over 40 million years ago.

Following on from ancient times, the story touches on how the Yirrganydji people lived with crocodiles.  The legend of Dumari explains why people should be wary of crocodiles.

With European settlement came crocodile hunting.  The Pawlowski’s were crocodile hunters, who became conservationists and lobbyist when wild populations decreased in the 1960’s and built the first crocodile rearing facilities in Australia.

With the opening of the Cook Highway, a Teahouse was built on the banks of Hartley’s Creek in 1934.  The following year, a crocodile, later called Charlie entertained motorists while waiting for their refreshments. 

The touch screen displays delve into the construction of the Cook Highway, the legend of Charlie the crocodile and the evolution of a Teahouse into today’s eco-wildlife attraction and the role Hartley’s has played in the conservation of crocodiles and education of visitors to our region.

The crocodile attacks in the 1980’s highlighted the need to protect both people and crocodiles with science-based conservation plans and public education.  The visitor journey concludes with a display teaching people how to be Crocwise in Croc Country.

The various videos give practical tips on how to avoid unwanted confrontations with crocodiles.