Mount Gambier Rail Trail – Rail Trails Australia

Map Legend:

Rail Trail
On Road
Possible Rail Trail
Other Trail
former Railway

Why visit the Mount Gambier Rail Trail?

A short, high quality trail of 8km in length that passes through the regional centre of Mount Gambier
Links tourist attractions and facilities
Commercial centre is 400 m from the trail
Flat, with easy street crossing

Attractions

Many tourist features, including Umpherston Sinkhole and Cave Garden
Old rail yards have been converted into a landscaped civic centre where community events and markets are held regularly
The railway station has been restored and is used for community activities
The extinct volcanic region of Mt Gambier is less than 2 km south of the trail. The crater region contains Blue Lake, Valley Lake, a playground, walking trails and a caravan park

Trail Guide

The trail runs east-west through the city of Mt Gambier with its focal point being the former rail yards and railway station, which have been transformed into parklands and play areas while retaining much railway memorabilia.

The trail begins at the Blue Lake Sports Park, passes Umpherston Sinkhole and then progresses to the centre of the city and the railway station precinct.

Further Information

Information and Links

The rail trail is managed by the City of Mount Gambier

Walking SA have more photos of the trail click HERE.

For a very detailed history of the railway station click HERE

Contact Rail Trails Australia

To contact us about this rail trail, email sa@railtrails.org.au

Background Information

Traditional owners

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

Development and future of the rail trail

The trail has recently been extended to Wandilo Road and in late 2021 a shared use path will be built along Wireless Rd.

The trail will have solar lighting installed in 2021-22.

Railway history

The railway line to Mount Gambier was originally part of South Australian Railways (SAR) narrow gauge network. Opened in stages from 1881, it reached Mt Gambier in 1887 and connected with the broad-gauge Adelaide-Melbourne line at Wolseley. It was also a junction for the line to Millicent and Beachport.

The SAR line to Mt Gambier and Millicent was converted to broad gauge in the 1950s.

Mt Gambier also had a broad-gauge connection with Heywood, Victoria, which opened in 1917. Mt Gambier had two goods yards and a locomotive depot and roundhouse.Passenger services to Adelaide ended in December 1990, and the line officially closed in April 1995. Some of the line was used by the Limestone Coast Railway tourist service, but this ceased operations in June 2006.

When the land was given to the community by the SA Government, the City of Mount Gambier repurposed the site into a public green space.

Photo Gallery

Plenty of recreation space in the old station area (John Masson 2015)

Between White Avenue and the station, where the 'New Goods Yard' used to be. (2019)

Enjoying a stroll in the station area. (2019)

The western end of the rail trail. (2019)

The Junction signal box at White Avenue still remains. The branchline to Millicent used to go straight ahead while the main line (now rail trail) to Adelaide curves to the right (2019)