The initial stage of the project, which involved the restoration of the Girgarre Railway Station platform and ganger’s shed in the progress park, began in 2014.
It was followed by the Winter Road to Mason Road section, officially opened a year later, before three years of land acquisition negotiations eventually saw the land handed over to the Girgarre Development Group.
Fencing was completed in 2020 and the track formed before COVID forced a halt to works and, finally, the bridges were completed this year.
Glenda Cowie, the Stanhope Development Group member who headed up the rail trail committee, and her secretary, Girgarre’s Sandra McDonald, were both part of the official launch.
They were flanked by Campaspe Shire councillors John Zobec and Adrian Weston, who along with the Girgarre-Stanhope Landcare committee, Gouburn-Murray Water and Vic Trac, were key players in completing the project.
Mrs Cowie said there were several organisations, aside from the two towns’ development groups, who had ensured the project was successful, contributing either financially, in kind or through the negotiation process.
They were Rushworth and District Community Bank, Kyabram Club, ACM, MSC Miantenance Systems Consulting, Gardiner Foundation, Fonterra, Stanhope Lions and Kyabram Water Cartage (who graded the track).
“It’s been an amazing time,” Mrs Cowie said.
“This project has seen the transformation of parcels of land that were leased to farmers become a walking track that is in constant use.”
During the project there has also been 2000 trees planted on the rail trail, ensuring significant coverage for walkers for many years into the future.
