The Domino Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

• The Domino trail is part of the original railway from Daylesford to Carlsruhe.
• Starting from the picturesque country town of Trentham, it passes through bushland which is the habitat of the endangered Powerful Owl. Signboards along the trail explain the history of the area.

There is interest in extending the trail in both directions, possibly going from Daylesford to Woodend (44km). Trentham to Lyonville section of the proposed Daylesford-Macedon Ranges Rail Trail has now been developed. A feasibility study is being conducted with a view to developing more of the trail.

The Daylesford Spa Country Railway runs tourist trains from Daylesford to Bullarto. They will carry bikes.

Description

• The trail starts at the tourist information centre in the old Trentham railway station, Victoria St.
• For the first 500m, the rails are still in place and the grass-covered trail runs between them. On the left can be seen the old Sunnyside foundry.
• After Falls Rd, the trail enters bushland. Species of eucalypt include manna gum, peppermint and mountain gum.  .
• Along this section, watch for swamp wallabies, grey kangaroos and short-beaked echidnas.
• The marked trail ends in Lyonville. A short loop trail has been constructed here which takes you down to the Domino Creek to see the brick-lined tunnel that carries the creek under the line. The loop continues along an old logging trail before returning to the railway.
• This trail uses the Powerful Owl as its trail symbol. This is an endangered species occasionally seen in this area.

Sign boards along the trail explain the history of the area.

Background Information

Daylesford had the distinction of being served by two railways, one from Woodend and one from Creswick.

The railway from Carlsruhe to Daylesford via Trentham was opened in 1880.

By the 1970s, the track on the Carlsruhe line was in bad condition, and despite local lobbying, it was closed in 1978.

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Links

 Contact Hepburn Shire (03) 5321 6123 if there are any problems.

Trentham Tourist Information Centre (03) 5424 1178

Daylesford Spa Country Railway

April 2012