Murchison - Rushworth Rail Trail - Trail Description

Looking back to Rushworth's main street from the overpass bridge. Alexander McCooke

Location: North East Victoria, 170km from Melbourne

Start/end: Murchison/Rushworth

Region: Northern Victoria, Victoria

Length open: 2km

Surface: Ashphalt and Gravel

PARTIALLY DEVELOPED

Description

This trail is partially open - it is still being developed.

This is old goldmining and cropping country, with a another signifcant landmark being the Waranga Basin. A line from Murchison East on the Shepparton railway was constructed to the gold minig town of Rushworth in 1890 and extended to Colbinabbin in 1914. Rushworth became a junction when a line was constructed to Girgarre in 1917. A diversion of the line was necessary when the Waranga Basin was constructed. The lines were all closed by 1987.

However at Rushworth the community purchased the land and infrastructure around the station to retain it for posterity. Recently it has become the Rushworth Old Lead Railway Reserve, the name in keeing with the town's history. Landscaping has been done and an ashphalt trail laid from the main street to the end of the yard. It will be a great reminder of how a Victorian country branchline station looked now that nearly all have disappeared. At either end of the sealed trail the surface is gravel to the town's limits.

Local groups are also beginning to get togther to plan to convert the rest of the former rail lines into a rail trail. The obvious first stage is the 19km section between the two historic towns of Murchison and Rushworth. Extending it to the railway at Murchison East would allow better access but making the large bridge across the Golburn River safe to cross will not be a minor task.

If you would like to help contact the people at the links below or Waranga Regional Tourism on (03) 5856 1117

Trail Map

Gallery

Click any of the photos below for a larger image or display all.

Web Links

• Daryl Medding - President, Greater Shepparton Bicycle Users Group

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Related Information

• Discuss this trail in our Victoria Rail Trails Forum
• More trails in this region
• Find other trails with our Rail Trail Finder

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