Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail (also known as the Warburton Trail) is a walking, cycling and horse-riding track in eastern Victoria, Australia. It runs a distance of 38 km between Lilydale and Warburton, along the former Warburton railway line. A section between Corduroy Road in Yarra Junction and Warburton is also known as the Centenary Trail.[1][2]

The trail begins at Lilydale and passes through the townships of Mount Evelyn, Wandin, Seville, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn and Millgrove, ending at Warburton.

History

Since the closure of the Warburton railway line in July 1965 and the dismantling of the track in the 1970s the land had remained vacant. In 1984 and again in 1996 the state government investigated selling off the land, but withdrew these proposals in part due to community opposition.

Since its establishment in 1996 the trail has been continually developed and maintained by a combination of local volunteers, particularly the Friends of the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, as well the Local Council and State and Federal governments. Over several years a significant amount of effort went into clearing the land, restoring 13 bridges and surfacing of the trail. Negotiations were undertaken with neighbouring farmers who had previously occupied the reserve to erect fencing and gates where necessary.

By 1998 the trail was continuous from Maroondah Highway, Lilydale to the site of the former Warburton station, with only a relatively short section between Lilydale Station and Maroondah Highway remaining incomplete.

The remaining section of the trail, a bridge across the Maroondah Highway, was completed in early 2011. The next stage of improvements to the trail is a crossing at York Road in Mount Evelyn, which should be completed mid-2011.

Flora and fauna

There are many rare species of plants and animals to be seen by the keen observer along the trail.

Surface

The trail's compacted gravel surface between Lilydale and Millgrove is pram and wheelchair friendly and accommodates activities such as walking, cycling and horse riding. The surface of the last 4 km between Millgrove and Warburton is sealed. The trail meanders through scenic bushland, open river flats and some of the many farms in the Yarra Ranges district. Most of the original timber bridges along the route have been restored and have safe handrails with a timber deck.

Deviation

The trail is, however, incomplete. The longest unbroken section begins on the south side of Maroondah Highway approximately 1 km east of Lilydale railway station and continues all the way to Warburton. Heading from Lilydale station along the original route, the trail begins to take shape at the northern end of the station’s eastern car park and continues for about 800 metres to an historical bridge where the original alignment of Anderson Street passed over the railway. Immediately beyond the bridge the trail deviates around a school to the north, east and south. The eastern and southern parts of the deviation are not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. The school currently leases the land formerly occupied by the railway. On the southern boundary of the school the deviation runs up a steep hill to meet the original alignment of the trail, which then continues south to Maroondah Highway.

Map of the rail trail.


Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps
  2. ↑ Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, June 05, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.