Warburton+Trail


 * __Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail __**

 media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=110735534517025396984.000451b3a93ef1c17a974&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.76203,145.537949&spn=0.176422,0.480652&z=11&output=embed" height="325" width="700" Early History __**  The railway line between Lilydale and Warburton was constructed between 1899 and 1901 by the Victorian Government as a means of transporting timber from the region to the city. The line opened on 13th November, 1901, and in the following years a thriving timber industry emerged, with dozens of timber mills in operation in the Yarra Valley region. It is claimed that more timber passed through Yarra Junction than any other place in the world except for Seattle in the United States. The line was also popular with residents and tourists, and was broadly embraced by the local farming community for transporting produce from the area including fruit, dairy, sheep and cattle. One notable visitor to travel on the line was Queen Elizabeth II in 1954, when she and Prince Philip travelled from Melbourne to Warburton by train to attend a church service in Warburton. It is estimated that 20,000 people flocked to Warburton to witness the event. The railway served the community well for many years, and it wasn’t until the 1950’s that it became evident that diminishing passenger numbers and declining produce loads would lead to it’s inevitable closure. That time came in 1965 when it was deemed uneconomical to keep the line open, so on August 1, 1965, the line closed when a special train service was scheduled from Melbourne to Warburton for one final trip with 500 passengers on board.
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__**Recent History** __  In the decade following its closure, the track was dismantled and the line was left to lay to waste. The State Government tried on two occasions, in 1984 and 1996, to sell off the land, but was thwarted on both occasions by local residents. In 1988, the section of the trail between Yarra Junction and Warbuton was developed by the Upper Yarra Shire. In 1996, a Committee of Management was appointed, consisting of local volunteers, who were given the task of restoring the trail to its former condition. Over the next few years, local volunteers carried out the laborious task of clearing sections of overgrown land, restoring 13 bridges, erecting fences and gates, and resurfacing the majority of the trail with Lilydale Toppings. The trail was completed in 1998, running continuously from Maroondah Hwy, Lilydale, to the Warburton Visitor Centre, covering a total distance of 38km.

 Today the trail has become one of the premier rail trails in Australia, being popular with cyclists and walkers from far and wide. It provides a wide variety of scenery as it winds its way through the Yarra Valley including bushland, fern gullies, rock cuttings, woodlands and native grasslands, open river flats, grazing properties and magnificent views of the nearby mountains.  The trail is predominantly flat, with the two steepest sections leading up to Mt Evelyn having a maximum gradient of 2.6%. The trail passes through all of the former railway stations between Lilydale and Warburton, with all of these having parking and rest areas.
 * __Present Day __**

There are a number of attractions along the trail to visit. At the start of the trail in Warburton, is the Water Wheel Information Centre [|www.warburtoninfocentre.com.au/links.htm], providing information for visitors to the area. In Yarra Junction, the old station has been converted into a museum [|www.upperyarramuseum.org.au], which is open to the public on Sundays from 1.30pm to 5pm. Also in Yarra Junction is the Upper Yarra Community Market [|www.eaus.com.au/eastvicmarketupperyarra.cfm], held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. In Launching Place is the historic Home Hotel [|www.gdaypubs.com.au/VIC/launching+place.html#home_hotel], providing bistro meals and refreshments. In Woori Yallock, a great view of the Yarra Valley can be seen from the 175m bridge which crosses over Woori Yallock Creek. Just outside the centre of Mt Evelyn is the Cog Bike Cafe [|www.cogbikecafe.com.au], providing snacks and refreshments as well as bike hire. In Mt Evelyn, next to the old station platform, there is an educational series of historical murals painted on panels, describing historical events in Mt Evelyn over the past century. The old station building in Mt Evelyn, which is heritage listed, was renovated back in 1987, and is now the location of the Mt Evelyn Library. Also in the same building is the Morrison On The Park Café Bar [], open 8.30am to 5.00pm, 7 days a week, which has a great range of meals and beverages available.

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