Torbay to Elleker Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

This route includes the recently opened Torbay Rail Trail which spans Elleker to Torbay Hall.

• There is a bit of extra trail added onto both ends to stretch it out a bit.
• Even though it spans only 8km, the Rail Rail is flat and very diverse with karri, sheok and paperbark all showing their wares.
• This trail has the future potential to be extended towards Denmark along the old railway route.
• Here it will link up with the Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail, which is on the same former railway corridor.

Description

 Access Points

• Elleker
• Torbay
• Cosi Corner cafe

To do the Rail Trail, leave Albany and get onto the Lower Denmark Rd until you hit Elleker. This is where the old Nornalup railway line used to branch off from the working Perth to Albany rail line. The Rail Trail ends at the Torbay Hall, but there is an extra section where you can head back to the Lower Denmark Rd and arrive at the Cosi Corner Cafe for a well earned array of food and great coffee. The route taken here from Torbay Hall to the Cafe is via some quiet gravel roads that go through rolling green pastures.

Sections of this trail are also on the Mundi Biddi Trail.

The Denmark to Nornalup Railtrail is also on the same old railway alignment as this trail.  It can be accessed at Denmark, which is approx 20km west of Torbay via the Lower Denmark Rd and South Coast Highway.

Background Information

 The South Coast Railway was built by private contractors in three stages.  The Millars built the first stage from Elleker to Torbay in 1884.  Then they commenced sawmilling in Denmark, and so extended the line to there in 1985.  The Group Settlement Scheme started in Denmark in 1923, and because roads were non existent and road transport was rare, there was a demand to extend the line to Nornalup, which was completed in 1929.  The whole line had many cuttings and embankments, and was built entirely by hand, with pick and shovel and horse drawn drays.

After the second world war, the motor car had become more popular, roads were being built and improved, and the railway line from Elleker to Nornalup closed in 1954.

Links

For further information and more photos click on link below

Torbay to Elleker

If you wish to check out the Denmark to Nornalup Railtrail click on link below

Denmark To Nornalup Railtrail

April 2012

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Contact Us About This Trail

Email or click here: wa@railtrails.org.au.