Houdini and Houdini II ‘cannot be removed’ from Hughenden’s recreational lake

Houdini the elusive freshwater croc is officially staying in this small town’s recreational lake - alongside his new buddy, ‘Houdini II’. See what his growing fan club had to say.

A brief sighting of Houdini captured by Zeena Launder in Hughenden. The reptile is very shy and pictures of the croc are rare.

Houdini the freshwater croc is officially staying in Hughenden’s recreational lake - alongside his new buddy, who locals have dubbed ‘Houdini II’.

Flinders Shire Council mayor Kate Peddle jokingly described Houdini as the bane of her existence, after being left to live in the shadow of the croc’s media stardom.

“You do so much work throughout the week and a journalist calls up and all they want to talk about is Houdini,” Mayor Peddle said.

“We always sort of knew he couldn’t be removed, but we wanted to give the community some certainty around what could be done by asking the Department of Environment.”

In 2019, Hughenden took a big leap and constructed a recreational lake designed to be an ‘oasis’ where residents could swim, kayak, go water skiing, and more.

2020: Then- Mayor Jane McNamara dips her toe in the newly established Hughenden Recreational Lake. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

In June 2024, a crocodile appeared out of thin air in the lake, and the Department of Environment was quickly notified.

Initial speculation was that Houdini had been dumped in the lake, but it’s more likely he simply walked from the nearby Flinders River.

2020: Newly established Hughenden Recreational Lake. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

2025: Hughenden Recreational Lake

The Department of Environment sent rangers out to evaluate if the reptile needed to be removed - exactly one year after his first sighting, the rangers delivered their findings.

Their conclusion? Houdini does not pose enough public danger to warrant removal.

Flinders Shire Council published the news on their Facebook page, and it was largely met with positivity from residents.

Children release fish and red claw yabbies in to Hughenden Lake, 2020.

“Finally, some common sense,” Naomi Mullaly said.

“Could be a great tourist attraction,” Jan Young pointed out.

Regina McAulay suggested that Houdini needed “his own webcam” and Shane Porter threw his support behind the decision, saying: “our mob have been swimming with them for a long time leave him be I’ll still swim there.”

A metre-long freshwater crocodile found lounging in a backyard. The animals are not aggressive towards humans. Picture: Australian Reptile Park

Scott Geary had a more cynical view.

“Oh good god it’s a freshie. Leave him/her be. What a total crock (pardon the pun) but seriously what a waste of money and lengths to go to for misinformed folk about a little freshwater fella,” Mr Geary said.

Freshwater crocodiles are common from Townsville to Mount Isa, and have evolved to survive the North’s “boom and bust” wet seasons - in fact, they are known to ‘gallop like horses’ across large sections of dry land to find water.

It is considered safe to swim near freshwater crocodiles - famous, Lake Eacham has its own freshie-in-residence and despite snapping at a few early-morning swimmers, it’s yet to be removed.

A freshwater crocodile pictured resting on a research platform in the Ross River, Townsville.

Mayor Peddle said the final meeting with the department on June 18 was very informative.

“Because we’ve never had a body of water in town, we’ve never had to deal with a freshwater crocodile before,” she said.

“They gave us a lot of good information about the animals. I had never felt one way or the other about Houdini, but I felt more comfortable after learning more about freshwater crocodiles.”

Flinders Shire Council mayor Kate Peddle.

Mayor Peddle said councillors were told freshies were “physically incapable” of taking dogs, and their shy personalities meant they almost never approached humans.

“The rangers couldn’t ever get within 100m of him, the whole time they were here,” she said.

Flinders Shire Council have also started work on freshwater crocodile information signage they plan to permanently post around the lake.

Freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), Ord River, Australia. Freshies are more likely to be found upriver and inside isolated billabongs as they travel to avoid being eaten by much larger saltwater crocodiles. They eat fish, frogs, crustaceans, and the odd turtle or bird.

“It’s really minimal but there is a group of people who are quite scared of it and saying they won’t ever use the lake,” Mayor Peddle said.

“We’re planning to put permanent signage up to help educate people about freshwater crocodiles so that we can understand and learn to coexist.”

Mayor Peddle said her fear towards Houdini disappeared when someone pointed out snakes were far more dangerous than the frog and fish-eating freshie.

“We might need to run a naming competition soon,” she said.

“Because a second crocodile showed up and everyone is calling it Houdini II, and it will get confusing if we get any more Houdinis.”

Originally published as Houdini and Houdini II ‘cannot be removed’ from Hughenden’s recreational lake