Blaze a trail with us!
We’re building overwhelming support for a new world-class recreational trail for all in Central Victoria.
CAMPAIGNS
Broiler Farm Threat to Rail Trail – Update
Update 9th September The Central Goldfields Shire Council are now in Caretaker Mode due to the upcoming Shire Elections. As the result there will be no major planning decisions made in the near future. Furthermore the Shire is looking for a new CEO, this process is...
New Buyers to Re-open the Guildford General Store
It has just been announced the the Guildford General Store has been bought by a family from Castlemaine who intend to re-open it as soon as possible after the sale is settled. See the article from the ABC News at...
Stop the Development of a Broiler Farm Near Our Rail Trail – Petition
Why this petition matters The Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail members and supporters cherish the tranquility and natural beauty of our proposed rail trail. The development of a broiler farm that may make approximately 1.3 kilometres of this trail unusable, due to a...
NEWS
Grant for $400,000 – Successful!
CMRT has been awarded a Victorian Government Enabling Tourism Fund grant of $400,000 to complete the pre-construction stage of the rail trail. Mt Alexander and Central Goldfields Shires have pledged $40,000 each to co-fund the grant, and our wonderful supporters and...
Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Line 150th Birthday
On Sunday 7th July 2024 we cerebrated 150 years since regular train services began on the Moolort Railway Line (Castlemaine to Maryborough) on 7th July 1874. Construction of the line commenced with the first sod turning ceremony at Castlemaine on the 7th Sept 1872....
The Next Chapter
We have begun the next chapter!
Immediately prior to Easter we applied to the Victorian Government’s Enabling Tourism Fund (ETF) for $400,000 to complete the next stage of the trail, the Pre-Construction Stage.
EVENTS
AGM and Celebration
Save the date: Wednesday 13th November 2024 Newstead Red Shed (old Railway Goods Shed) 6pm, followed by a BBQ celebration of our Year to Remember! Members Only, ticketing Information to follow
Walk the Line – Moolort – Postponed
Walk the Line - Moolort has been postponed until March 2025. CMRT is organising a track walk following the section of our proposed trail from the Moolort Silos at the old Moolort Station and Bald Hill Road. More information regarding times, parking,...
Official Announcement of CMRT’s Grant Award
Join us for the official announcement of our receipt of the $400,000 Enabling Tourism Fund Grant from the Victorian Government Date and Time: Monday 2nd September 2024 at 11.00 am. Where: The Arts Hub at the former Newstead Railway Station, Newstead. CMRT President,...
Watch our video… “What if we made a rail Trail?”
The Rail Trail Project
The proposed 55km Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail is a $35m, multi-year project. It has been instigated and driven by the Committee, members and supporters of the Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail Inc in association with the Mount Alexander Shire Council, Central Goldfields Shire Council, State Government of Victoria and the Australian Federal Government. The Project has been planned to proceed in three well designed Stages and currently is in Stage Two of its development. The Victorian Government has recently announced that CMRT has been sucessful in its grant application for the funding for Stage Two.
Stage one
Stage One was completed in August 2023 with the publication of the Feasibility Study. —-
Stage Two
We are currently in Stage Two; The Pre-Construction Phase. —–
Stage Three
Stage Three is the Construction Phase.——–
The Trail Experience
One of the wonderful things about our trail is that it’ll be equally enjoyable no matter which end you start from!
Start at Maryborough and you can alight from one of Australia’s grandest old railway stations. Start at Castlemaine station and you will be right where the story of the goldfields began.
A powerful and unique feature of the trail is that it has a train line to Melbourne at both ends. Easy for local commuters; a magnet for eco-tourists.
If you start in Castlemaine, you can easily find good food and coffee and any last-minute necessities, then you’ll be off along the Campbells Creek Trail to Winters Flat where the disused part of the old train line begins and the Goldfields Steam Train blows it’s whistle and turns off towards Maldon.
Then the creek, the road, and the rail trail rolls down the valley past farms and houses to Guildford. You’ll be able to look down on the cars passing by as you are safe on the trail and can enjoy the view.
At Guildford, the line crosses the highway on a high bridge and leaves the road for a while, past the place where Campbells Creek joins the Loddon River, over another bridge, and now you’ll follow the Loddon River through bush and farmland, all the way to the old Newstead Station which is now an arts hub.
Soon after Newstead, you will ride across the spectacular Joyce’s Creek bridge, the longest of the trail, at the south end of Lake Cairn Curran Reservoir. Then it’s a short climb up onto the volcanic Moolort Plains, with big skies, and world-recognised wetlands.
The rollicking downhill run past the Moolort Silos and into Carisbrook is a blast before heading into Maryborough and the truly magnificent Maryborough Station where you can enjoy a well-deserved milkshake (or other age-appropriate refreshing treats).
We’ve always envisaged our trail as something more than a sealed path linking two points. Our region is studded with natural and other attractions. That’s why we developed our Guide to the Trail to highlight some of our region’s many attractions, and help better tell our stories of people and place.
P.S. Take a peek at some of views you’ll get along the trail in the Views Along The Trail gallery. Click on the button below (photographs by Mick Evans and Ken Stewart)..
Towns Along the Trail
History
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Jaara Jaara people, the custodians and caretakers of this land through which the trail will pass.
We thank them for the care they have taken of the country: the rivers, mountains, trees, and animals. We could like to honour this Country, the Elders of the past and present and most importantly the young, proud Aboriginal people, as they are our leaders for tomorrow.
we’d love to hear from you!
email us at:
Address:
Unit 6, 167-171 Railway St, Maryborough, VIC 3465
Contact CMRT
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