Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesBoorowa to Galong Rail Trail Moving Forward
The committee for Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail Inc has made a significant leap towards realization of the Boorowa Galong Rail Trail with funding now secured to complete the Development Plan for the 27km proposed route.
The committee was formed after Jim Ryan attended the Rail Trail forum held at Tumbarumba in April 2021. The committee comprises Jim Ryan, Chair; Paul Parker, Secretary; Julie Poplin, Treasurer, David & Julie Henderson, Alan Mostyn, Paul Young, Will & Marg Kelly, and Gail Flanery. They quickly raised the funds from local supporters for a Feasibility Study which was completed by Mike Halliburton and Mike Maher in November 2022.
The small village of Galong is on the main Sydney to Melbourne Railway line. The line to Boorowa was branch line only as far as Boorowa. The last train ran in 1977. Galong currently has no services or accommodation, but has an active Progress Association supporting the Rail Trail proposal. St Clement’s monastery and retreat centre is just outside the town. Adjacent to St Clements and on the proposed Rail Trail route is a significant and well maintained historic cemetery with many impressive monuments. The old railway timber trestle bridge over the Boorowa River is in a state of serious disrepair but, if restored, would be a highlight of the Trail.
Boorowa is a bustling town of some 2000 residents with cafes, accommodation, hotels, a museum and golf course. The region is known for its agricultural excellence, especially fine merino wool production. Boorowa has significant Irish heritage with an annual woolfest and “running of the sheep”. The old railway station has disappeared but there is an impressive locomotive turntable near the end of the rail line. The trail head in Boorowa would be in an existing recreation park near the old station and only a short distance from the centre of town. Boorowa is an hour and half’s drive from Canberran and about 3 hours from Sydney.
The Rail Trail is located within the Hilltops Shire boundaries, with a generally supportive council. The Rotary club of Boorowa has supported the project with significant funding, as have local businesses and landowners. The Trail has some similarities to the very successful Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail.
The Development Plan is being completed by Mike Halliburton and Mike Maher and is expected to be completed by March 2024. The committee is now exploring funding opportunities for the Trail’s construction.
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...
Calendar of Events
See upcoming eventsNews Archives
Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesFeatured Articles
Celebrating RTA’s Volunteers
26/05/25
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...
One comment on “Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail Moving Forward”
Never having been to Boorowa until about 10 years ago I've now spent time there on half a dozen occasions since. A great little town. An early recommendation would be an early start to planting trees. Another would be to ask council to start lobbying the state government to start considering reinstating Galong station. The hardest ask would then be to organise NSW Rail to allow bicycles to be carried unboxed on regional NSW trains. All this will take perseverance and patience. Eventually the successes of Tumbarumba and Northern Rivers, let alone Victoria, will sink in. Galong will be revived. A 2 day ride from Galong to Boorowa and back, then jumping back on the train for a ride to Wangaratta. What a hoot!