The Ballarat–Skipton Rail Trail in western
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, runs 53 kilometres along the old
Skipton railway line
The Skipton Line was a branch line running south west from Ballarat to the town of Skipton, Victoria. The line branched from the main Serviceton
__NOTOC__
Serviceton is a small town in rural western Victoria, Australia. It is near the Victo ...
from western
Ballarat, southwest through
Haddon,
Smythesdale
Smythesdale is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Glenelg Highway. Most of the town is located in the Golden Plains Shire local government area; however, a small section lies in the Shire of Pyrenees. Smythesdale is west ...
and Pittong to
Skipton
Skipton (also known as Skipton-in-Craven) is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the East Division of Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the River Ai ...
. The trail was in poor condition for many years before being upgraded and resurfaced in 2008, at a cost of $700,000, funded in roughly equal measure by local, state and federal government. The new surface is "compacted granitic sand". The total length of the trail is 63km including an 8km section from
Ballarat railway station
Ballarat railway station is located on the Serviceton line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the city of Ballarat, and it opened on 11 April 1862 as Ballarat West. It was renamed Ballarat in 1865. to the trailhead.
One major landmark on the route is the historic timber Nimmons Bridge at
Newtown over which the trail passes. An adjacent dirt road also permits a close inspection of the structure.
Landmarks
* 0km: Trail begins at
Ballarat railway station
Ballarat railway station is located on the Serviceton line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the city of Ballarat, and it opened on 11 April 1862 as Ballarat West. It was renamed Ballarat in 1865. .
* 4.5km: Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour. Trees commemorate Ballarat residents who enlisted in World War I between 1917 and 1919.
* 7.6km: Rail trail proper starts.
* 10.2km: Cardigan Station.
* 17.8km: Haddon Station.
* 25km: Smythesdale Station;
Smythesdale
Smythesdale is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Glenelg Highway. Most of the town is located in the Golden Plains Shire local government area; however, a small section lies in the Shire of Pyrenees. Smythesdale is west ...
was a former gold mining town.
* 29.3km: Scarsdale Station.
* 33.8km: New Town Station, Nimmons Bridge.
* 36.5km: Ruins of another trestle bridge.
* 42.3km: Historic township of
Linton.
* 50km: Pittong
* 62.6km: Skipton Station.
* 63km: Skipton
[Source: "Ballarat Scenic Bike Rides" tourist brochure]
References
External links
Bikely maprailtrails.org
*
Rail trails in Victoria (state)
{{VictoriaAU-geo-stub