The rail trail was constructed in 2021 with funding under the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.  This followed seven years of lobbying by the Dartmoor community.  The trail was officially launched in December of that year. There are no plans to extend it to Mt Gambier.

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Gunditjmara people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Railway history

The Mt Gambier-Heywood Line was mooted in 1900, and decided upon in 1912. Surveying and construction began from Heywood in 1913; a 300m wooden bridge over the Glenelg River at Dartmoor was completed in April, 1915, and the section to Dartmoor in June, 1916, with the remainder completed and opened in November, 1917. Passenger trains operated until 1942. In the mid-1980s the original bridge was demolished and replaced by the current concrete and steel one. The line was ‘suspended’ in April, 1995, due to gauge standardisation of the main line.  (Source: www.railpage.com.au)