Work began on developing a rail trail between Girgarre and Stanhope back in 2011. Two years later a committee was formed and began work on the restoration of the old railway platform and renovation off site of an old building, transforming it into a replica gangers hut. Volunteers have persisted with turning their vision of a rail trail going south from Girgarre to Stanhope into reality. They were successful in getting a 2.5km trail built going south towards Stanhope, ending at Mason Street. The full distance to Stanhope is 6km, so there was more disused rail land to be transformed for community use. A number of community volunteers from Stanhope joined in and over a few recent years a wonderful collaborative effort has finally brought about completion of this 6km rail trail. Support has been provided by a range of groups:
The community resurrected the local Landcare Group (which had been in recess for 10 years!) and achieved success in obtaining a Landcare/VicTrack grant $24,000. This enabled fencing to be built along the boundary with adjoining landholders and direct seeding to revegetate along the trail.
Other financial support to complete this rail trail came from the Gardner Foundation, the Bendigo Bank and sponsorship from local businesses. The hours of effort in administrative tasks, communication and physical labour must be acknowledged, because without the local people doing the many tasks required, none of this would have happened.
The final step in completing this work will be sign-off by Goulburn Murray Water, which owns and operates the water channels over which the two new bridges with their safety railing have been installed.
Well done to the communities of these towns, who have planned, raised funds, lobbied, obtained access to the land, and done the physical work to make this rail trail. What a testament to their commitment!
The community is planning for a launch of the Girgarre to Stanhope Rail Trail in early April 2022.
The community have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to assist the Mt Alexander Shire Council in partnership wi...
The City of Greater Bendigo will shortly commence a project to construct and install public toilets, bike hoops, new par...
A large crowd turned out today (Friday 26 May) on a beautiful morning at Trawool Estate for the official launch of the A...
On Wednesday 10 May 2023 a public-information session was held for community members to view and discuss the plans for r...
The duplication of Main South Road from Seaford to Sellicks Beach has commenced and will include a 16km off-road shared ...
The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in Western Victoria. Walkers, runne...
The good news just keeps rolling in for the Tweed Section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with the Tweed Council NRRT ...
On 17 May 2023, Cessnock City Council unanimously approved the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and associated repo...
The third South Burnett Express Rail Trail Relay, run from Kingaroy to Wondai (on the Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Tra...
The catchily-named Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail will have its 800m extension from Edenmont Rd to Belgrave-Gembrook Rd ...
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail in South Australia now has a new side trail called the Flat to Vale Trail and while it is ...
The Australian and South Australian governments have jointly (50:50) funded $400m for the removal of level crossings whe...
The Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) Art Installation Project is on track to be completed by the end of April as planne...
The Yarra Valley Trail (YVT) stage 1a opened a few years ago and is now heavily used and embraced by the community. Not ...
The official opening of the Nyora to Leongatha section of the Great Southern Rail Trail was held on Saturday, 1 April. T...
On 24 March, Rail Trails Australia hosted the 2023 Rail Trails Forum in Murwillumbah NSW, timed to coincide with the Com...
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesThe community have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to assist the Mt Alexander Shire Council in partnership wi...
The City of Greater Bendigo will shortly commence a project to construct and install public toilets, bike hoops, new par...
A large crowd turned out today (Friday 26 May) on a beautiful morning at Trawool Estate for the official launch of the A...
On Wednesday 10 May 2023 a public-information session was held for community members to view and discuss the plans for r...
The duplication of Main South Road from Seaford to Sellicks Beach has commenced and will include a 16km off-road shared ...
The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in Western Victoria. Walkers, runne...
The good news just keeps rolling in for the Tweed Section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with the Tweed Council NRRT ...
On 17 May 2023, Cessnock City Council unanimously approved the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and associated repo...
The third South Burnett Express Rail Trail Relay, run from Kingaroy to Wondai (on the Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Tra...
The catchily-named Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail will have its 800m extension from Edenmont Rd to Belgrave-Gembrook Rd ...
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail in South Australia now has a new side trail called the Flat to Vale Trail and while it is ...
The Australian and South Australian governments have jointly (50:50) funded $400m for the removal of level crossings whe...
The Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) Art Installation Project is on track to be completed by the end of April as planne...
The Yarra Valley Trail (YVT) stage 1a opened a few years ago and is now heavily used and embraced by the community. Not ...
The official opening of the Nyora to Leongatha section of the Great Southern Rail Trail was held on Saturday, 1 April. T...
On 24 March, Rail Trails Australia hosted the 2023 Rail Trails Forum in Murwillumbah NSW, timed to coincide with the Com...