Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

• The trail honours elite junior local cyclist Shamus Liptrot who sadly passed away in 2011, several years after suffering serious injuries in a cycling accident. Halbury was Shamus’s home town.
• Dunn’s Bridge (1.5km from Balaklava) – a single span bowstring arch bridge built in 1880 over the Wakefield River.
• Devil’s Garden (7km from Balaklava, east of the Roberts Road crossing) – a small are of Eucalypts which has a history of sand hills, bullock teams, “corduroy” roads and serious flooding. To find out more click here
• Links to the Balaklava to Port Wakefield section of the Copper Rail Trail
• Links to a back-roads trail to the Riesling Trail in the east

Description

Access Points

• Balaklava – good parking is available in Edith Terrace, near shops and amenities, and a short distance from the trail at the junction of War Memorial Drive and Railway Terrace.

The trail commences on the northern side of the rail corridor, just north of the War Memorial Drive and Railway Terrace intersection. Follow the path in an easterly direction along the back of Christopher Street Houses.

The Trail is flat and has a good surface. The rail corridor is well vegetated and provides good protection and scenery for cyclists.

Balaklava to Halbury

1.5km from Balaklava the trail crosses Dunn’s bridge. This bridge was built in 1880 and is metal bowstring arch bridge which was heritage listed in 1995.

A further 3 km along the trail there is a small bridge over a creek. It is suggested that cyclists should dismount to cross the bridge as it is narrow with an uneven surface.

A further 2km along the trail, use Roberts Road to access a cairn near the road side which describes the area as the “Devil’s Garden” (see features section for more information). The reserve area is a fine example of Mallee Box woodland.

The rail trail terminates at Halbury however a well signed backroads trail can be followed over the range to Leasingham and the Riesling Trail.

Background Information

The railway line from Balaklava to Blyth was opened in 1876. The line was closed in 1988 and was removed shortly after with the rail trail being constructed in 2012.

There is a memorial to Shamus Liptrot at the junction of the trail and Bridge Road, 1km from Balaklava

The Copper trail commences at Port Wakefield and extends 26km to Balaklava and continues another 11km to Halbury (The Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail). From Halbury the Copper Trail follows a signed route along back roads, over the range to Leasingham which is located on the Riesling Trail. The Copper Trail follows an unused rail reserve from Port Wakefield to Halbury, a distance of 37km.

Links

To report any issues with this trail, please contact Wakefield Regional Council (phone 08 8862 1115).

Support Services and Attractions

Information is available from Wakefield Regional Council, Scotland Place, Balaklava (phone 08 8862 1115)

August 2020

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Contact Us About This Trail

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