Betty and Jim McDonell remember Alpha in its heyday. (ABC Western Qld: Grace Nakamura)
On this country town's main street, the pub is closed during the day, the butcher is up for sale and the bakery, once renowned for its pies, no longer operates.
But behind the empty storefronts and peeling signs are remnants of a once-bustling town that used to boast multiple industries and a thriving social scene.
Residents of Alpha remember when the main street used to be full of people. (ABC Western Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Elizabeth "Betty" McDonell, 77, remembers when she had to "zigzag" the streets to avoid bumping into people in Alpha, Central West Queensland.
"In those days we used to have balls and dances and things we'd go to at night," she said.
"That's all gone now."
Alpha, 440 kilometres west of Rockhampton, grew in the late 19th century when a railway was built to connect the coast to inland pastoral wealth.
Steady employment in the railway, sawmills, and agriculture kept families in town — and for decades, the place flourished.
But that didn't last, as the railway operations dropped off, the sawmills shut down and a tidal wave of people moved elsewhere for work.
The information centre tells tales of Alpha's industrious past. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
For lifelong Alpha residents Betty and Jim McDonell, "it's a crying shame" to see their town so empty.
In the main street, Peter Tilse owns the newsagency, which also doubles as a hardware and electrical supply store.
"As the population's got a little bit smaller, a few businesses have closed, so I've sort of swept them under the same ceiling," he said.
"I think it's happening all throughout the west — there's a general population decline."
The town of Alpha in central Queensland has a population of 559. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
Decades-long trend
The story of Alpha is part of the national narrative of shrinking country towns, according to Elin Charles-Edwards, an associate professor of human geography at the University of Queensland.
"We've seen this throughout Australia's history … country towns that existed and then are almost wiped off the map," she said.
"A lot of it is driven by jobs, changing economic structure, less demand for labour in these rural communities and also the attraction of big cities to young people."
The population of Barcaldine, the local government area (LGA) in which Alpha sits, declined by 15 per cent in the two decades between 2003 and 2023.
And further west in Queensland, the population decline in that period was even steeper.
Since the 1970s, capital cities and coastal areas have exploded in population, while their inland counterparts have bled residents — particularly young people.
Dr Charles-Edwards said without young people willing to raise families in towns like Alpha, their populations would continue to dwindle.
"The life and the spirit of a town is really dependent on the social capital there, the ability to attract younger people and fresh blood is really one of the only ways to save it," she said.
Coffee brewing and community building
Former Gold Coast tradie Chris Gray said buying the Alpha post office was the best decision he ever made, though his friends still thought he was crazy.
"It had been for sale for a very long time, and I think the common misconception was that it wasn't really a thriving business," he said.
His move to the country proved fruitful in more ways than one, after matching with his now fiance, Sue Consedine, on Tinder.
The couple is optimistic about their future in Alpha, having also just opened a cafe in the main street.
It's the town's first coffee shop in 15 years.
"After a while, people see the way things are and they don't think there can be any change," Ms Consedine said.
The coffee shop has regular customers and serves tourists passing through town. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"Us doing the coffee shop shows people can do this and be successful."
But the Naidoo family has had a different experience with running businesses in Alpha.
Rav Naidoo's father purchased Alpha's two pubs in 2006, hoping the family would strike gold as rumours circulated about big mining projects about to invest millions in the town.
Rav Naidoo and his brother run the pub and adjoining motel. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
Today, one building sits rotting beside a second, which opens intermittently.
"You come and hope you're going to make a fortune and you're going to be on that money train but that definitely didn't happen," Mr Naidoo said.
The Criterion Hotel on the main street of Alpha in 1989. (Supplied: State Library of Queensland)
Industries needed for survival
Mr Gray said the town's country spirit was alive and well but for its longevity, more diversity was needed.
"We've got a beef industry here and that's really like the powerhouse for this entire area, but we do need a second industry," he said.
The town has been teased with possibilities in recent decades, including the promise of nearby coal mine proposals, sparking national attention.
Both Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer had ambitions to open coal mines near Alpha. (ABC Western Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Mining magnate Gina Rhinehart announced a multi-billion-dollar coal mine in Central Queensland's untapped Galilee Basin in 2008.
In 2018, Clive Palmer proposed a coal mine and a coal-fired power plant on a cattle station outside Alpha.
Both mine projects were slated to bring thousands of jobs to the area, but years later are all but abandoned.
The coal mine near Alpha never eventuated, leaving the crew's quarters abandoned. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
According to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, neither hold active mining leases, with assessment applications having sat with the state government for years.
What's the solution?
In the township, many echo the sentiment that any industry would be better than none, including mining.
But grazier Bruce Currie has spent years opposing the projects, even taking them to Queensland's Land Court.
"We all need to be able to make income today, so we can survive and pay our bills … but when that mine shuts, what have you got and what are you giving the next generation?" Mr Currie said.
Bruce Currie says mining is a finite industry. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"We need to be looking at sustainable, long-term industry to keep people out here."
Dr Charles-Edwards said while it was inevitable that some country towns would decline or even die, enticing people to the bush was about more than jobs.
"You need employment, affordable housing — but you also need a community and culture to make it an attractive place to stay and to raise a family," she said.
The bakery in Alpha was renowned for its delicious pies but is currently non-operational. (ABC Western Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Newsagent Mr Tilse wants a government taskforce to examine the issue, and to push incentives that encourage people to raise families in towns like Alpha.
"I don't know that there's anyone really watching," he said.
"I'm not just talking about Alpha, but all country towns and small communities."
