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The Outer Circle Trail, also known as the Anniversary Trail, Anniversary Outer Circle Trail, or even the Outer Circle Anniversary Trail, is a shared use path for

cyclists Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of Bicycle, cycles for transport, recreation, Physical exercise, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", ...

and pedestrians, which partly follows the Alamein Line through the inner eastern suburbs of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, Australia. The trail follows the

right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

of the old steam era Outer Circle Line. It runs from the

Yarra River Trail __NOTOC__ The Yarra Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Yarra River through the north eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trail follows the river from near its mouth, through the city a ...

near the Eastern Freeway at Fairfield, down to Hughesdale Station in the south. The Outer Circle train line opened in 1891. Parts of the trail were opened 100 years later in 1991, hence the Anniversary. It is heavily used by local residents and recreational cyclists, due to its proximity to other paths, many suburbs, and connecting transport. The path was upgraded in Dec 2006 and is now fully sealed and divided. Signs are still lacking, and there is no lighting for some of the sections, such as between Whitehorse Rd and East Camberwell station. The path, in some stages, follows the direct line of the old railway, in others it weaves through parks, and follows the side of the Alamein Line, continuing beyond Alamein Station underneath the still standing pylons for the overhead wiring to the

Gardiners Creek Trail __NOTOC__ The Gardiners Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Gardiners Creek through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bicycle Victoria is campaigning for a connection between Wint ...

in Malvern East through to Hughesdale Train Station in the south.

Following the Path

Leaving the

head south on the

Chandler Highway The Chandler Highway is a short road in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It runs from Heidelberg Road in Alphington, crosses the Yarra River, then continues across the Eastern Freeway, then terminates at an intersection with Princess St ...

and the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail can be found 0.6km later, just across the bridge that crosses the Eastern Freeway. A safer alternative is to continue along the

from the

to Willsmere Park - 1.5km. You can cross under the Eastern Freeway at Willsmere Park and traverse to the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail via Hyde Park. Despite numerous upgrades to the path, it can still be hard to follow in some sections: Coming from the north the trail arrives at the junction of Harp Road, High Street and Valerie Street. Located in the junction is a tram stop and some vegetated median strips. Just circumvent all this as well as possible, while maintaining a direct line and the path will be refound on each side of High Street. 340m past the Canterbury Road underpass, there is a Scout hall on the right (south east). Continue straight down the hill, rather than taking the path to the right at this point, which leads to East Camberwell Station. The path swings to the right (south) at Myrtle Road and continues under the railway bridge. The path parallels the south-west side of Myrtle Road. A short detour at this point, (900m) to the east along Warburton Road, leads to the Maling Road coffee strip. At Prospect Hill Road, 500 m south of the train line underpass, the path appears to terminate again. Cross Prospect Hill Road and turn right, continuing along 30 m and take a left into Spencer Road. Ride along Spencer Road until Riversdale Park is seen on the left (east). Ride across the park to the pedestrian crossing on the far side of the park at Riversdale Road. Cross Riversdale Road and proceed left (east) towards Fordham Avenue, then turn right down Fordham Avenue (south). Follow the designated path, and turn right just before the scout hall. From here, the path is clear cut until East Malvern train station. Between Burwood and Ashburton stations you pass by a small park with a playground (Summerhill Park). The Ferndale Park Trail starts here and acts as an alternative route to the

. At the very southern end of the trail you can access the Gardiners Creek Trail. Access is provided via the small footbridge at the south end of Solway St. Due to flood damage the bridge was closed from April 2006 to June 2007. After being open for 3.5 years the bridge was washed away by flood waters very early in the morning of 5 February 2011, after heavy rain resulting from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, rendering the bridge impassable. This was rebuilt and opened in late 2011. The trail seams to terminate here and can be hard to follow onwards. Take the Gardiners Creek Trail across the bridge and turn left onto the

Scotchmans Creek Trail __NOTOC__ The Scotchmans Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Scotchmans Creek through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from East Malvern railway station through to Jells P ...

. This path takes you through the Malvern Valley Public Golf Course, Then up and over the footbridge that crosses the

Monash Freeway The Monash Freeway is a major urban freeway in Victoria, Australia, linking Melbourne's CBD to its south-eastern suburbs and beyond to the Gippsland region. It carries up to 180,000 vehicles per day and is one of Australia's busiest freeways ...

and on past East Malvern Station.

Chadstone Shopping Centre Chadstone Shopping Centre (colloquially known as Chaddy) is a super regional shopping centre located in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Malvern East. Chadstone Shopping Centre is the biggest shopping centre in Australia and one of the bi ...

and Homesglen Institute of TAFE are nearby. Head through the station car park to Waverley road and cross at the traffic lights into the

Urban forest An urban forest is a forest, or a collection of trees, that grow within a city, town or a suburb. In a wider sense, it may include any kind of woody plant vegetation growing in and around human settlements. As opposed to a forest park, whose ec ...

, this section of the railway has been turned into a nature reserve with two artificial ponds and revegetation of the Gardiners Creek valley. It can be easy to get lost here as there are many unpaved paths that go off the main footpath. In the middle of the Urban forest section you will reach Princess Highway, turn right and head 160 meters up the service road and cross at the lights. Turn left and near the bottom of the hill you will rejoin with the path. The path continues further south through parkland passing Boyd Park and Neerim road for a few hundred meters where it ends at William Street connecting onto the newly built Djerring trail at Hughesdale Station. Map of Anniversary Trail Stevage

Facilities

The path is fully sealed, either bitumen or concrete, and busy road crossings are serviced by pedestrian traffic lights. At various locations along the path, there are barbecues (at the park adjacent to Whitehorse Road crossing and Frog Hollow Reserve). Many parks are dotted along the path, such as ovals, playgrounds, tennis courts and cricket pitches.

Connections

in the North. *The Ferndale Park Trail connects to the trail between Burwood and Ashburton Stations and acts as a short cut to the Gardiners Creek Trail. *A path from Alamein Station leads to Warrigal Rd via Markham Reserve. *Gardiners Creek Trail and Scotchmans Creek Trail in the south. *Djerring trail at the southern end of the path.

References

*''Bike rides around Melbourne'' 3rd edition, 2009, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, *''Bike Paths Victoria'' sixth edition, 2004. Edited and published by Sabey & Associates Pty Ltd. pp104.

External links

Outer Circle Railway Trail - description of the trailBoroondara BUG - Detailed map of the TrailBoroondara BUG's proposal
to close the gap between Markham Reserve and Holmesglen Station via a shared path alongside Warrigal Road. Creating a link to the Waverley Rail Trail. {{Rail Trails of Victoria Bike paths in Melbourne Rail trails in Victoria (Australia)

Following the Path

Facilities

Connections

See also

References

External links