Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail trail

The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail (KKRT, in part also known as the South Burnett Rail Trail or SBRT) is an 88-kilometre (55 mi) recreation trail from Kilkivan to Kingaroy. The trail follows the old Kingaroy Branch railway and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.[1][2][3]

Geography

Kilkivan is situated on the Wide Bay Highway, 229 kilometres (142 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane[4] and 50.4 kilometres (31.3 mi) west of Gympie.[5]

Kingaroy is situated on the junction of the D'Aguilar and the Bunya Highways, 218 kilometres (135 mi) north-west of Brisbane[6] and 141 kilometres (88 mi) south- west of Gympie.[7]

Geology

The Trail crosses two belts of old rocks separated by the northern end of the Esk Basin.[8] The Kilkivan Railway Station was built on a goldfield.[9]

Route

The northern end of the trail is located in Kilkivan, north-west of Brisbane and directly west of Gympie. The Kilkivan to Murgon section of the trail passes through Goomeri and is located in the upper reaches of the Mary River valley and crosses through open farmland. The trail head at Kilkivan is located opposite the former railway station building near the Bicentennial National Trail. Kilkivan is 216 kilometres (134 mi) from Brisbane (via the Wide Bay and Bruce Highways) or 273 kilometres (170 mi) via the Burnett, D'Aguilar and Bruce Highways. Kilkivan and Goomeri are located on the Wide Bay Highway.

The Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail Trail joins the larger Bicentennial National Trail at Kilkivan.[10]

The South Burnett Mountain Bike Club, in conjunction with the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association, has established clear signposted cycling routes that loop out from the rail trail into the surrounding countryside:-East Memerambi Loop, Memerambi Gordonbrook Dam Route, Wooroolin West Loop, East Wooroolin Loop, West Tingoora Loop and East Tingoora Loop.[11]

The 55-kilometre (34 mi) Link Trail joins the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail to the Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail trail for a total distance of 305 kilometres (190 mi). The Link Trail follows the old stock route from Yarraman to Nanango for 21 kilometres (13 mi), and then from Nanango to Kingaroy is a further 34 kilometres (21 mi) along quiet country backroads. While they were open these two rail lines were never joined, hence the Link Trail is not a rail trail.[12]

Use

The section of the trail in the Gympie Regional Council area between Kilkivan and Murgon is for walking, cycling and horse riding only. The surface is not suitable for road/racing bicycles, personal mobility vehicles or horse-drawn vehicles. Motorised vehicles of any type are prohibited to keep trail users safe. The trail surface is compacted gravel (in populated areas) and grass (in rural areas) between Murgon and Kilkivan. Queensland’s longest sealed rail trail section of 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Murgon to Kingaroy in the South Burnett Region, is for walkers and cyclists only.[13] In this section horse riding is not allowed, as the trail crosses the "tick line".[14]

Most creeks are crossed via timber bridges or concrete causeways, the most notable of which is the restored curved trestle railway bridge at the rural town of Tingoora.[15] After widespread criticism of the lack of a crossing at Wide Bay Creek near Kilkivan, Gympie Regional Council announced that $130,000 had been allocated to address the crossing and make other improvements along the trail by 30 June 2019. A low level bridge was opened across Wide Bay Creek in October 2021.[16] There is another curved timber bridge between Cinnabar and Kinbombi.[8] Old signage like W for Whistle an be seen along the trail.[8]

Along the KKRT scattered amenities (rest stops, public toilets and shelters) are placed for user convenience. There are multiple free camping options located in the townships however camping along the trail itself is not permitted.

Use of the KKRT is governed by a Code of Conduct issued by the local governing authorities.

Heritage listings

The following site on the closed Nanango railway line is on the Queensland Heritage Register:-

The following are Local Heritage listed by the South Burnett Regional Council:-

  • Kingaroy Railway Precinct:- The former railway station, and a row of camphor laurel trees.[18]
  • Murgon Railway Complex and Corridor:- The former railway station and station master’s residence, and what were a goods shed and platforms, and some railway tracks and the remains of the water tank stand.[19]
  • The Wondai Railway Complex:- The former station master’s residence, railway station and platform, the weighbridge and loading platforms, and the remains of some railway tracks and goods sheds.[20]

References
  1. "Rail Trail". South Burnett Regional Council. 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  2. "Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail". Gympie Regional Council. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. "South Burnett Rail Trail User Association AGM – Rail Trails Australia". 18 October 2020. RTA news. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  4. Google (3 November 2022). "Kilkivan to Brisbane" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  5. Google (3 November 2022). "Kilkivan to Gympie" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  6. Google (3 November 2022). "Kingaroy to Brisbane" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. Google (3 November 2022). "Kingaroy to Gympie" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. D’Arcy, Bill; Winter, George (2020). Willmott, Warwick (ed.). "Education Pamphlets. Rocks and Landscape Notes: Geology along Recreational Rail Trails". Geological Society of Australia Qld Division. Kilkivan Rail Trail. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  9. "KILKIVAN". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 4, 001. Queensland, Australia. 20 May 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "BNT Facility". Gympie Regional Council. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  11. "Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Trail – Rail Trails Australia". 24 August 2022. Trail Guide. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  12. Heymans, Heymans (22 August 2017). "BVRT/KKRT connecting route | Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Experience | Explore the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  13. "Rail Trails in the South Burnett". South Burnett Regional Council. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  14. Fisheries, Agriculture and (23 September 2015). "Moving low-risk livestock (horses, camels, goats, sheep, llamas, vicunas, guanacos and alpacas)". www.business.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  15. Martindale, Dafyd (10 September 2015). "Historic Bridge Gets Health Check". southburnett.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  16. "New bridge at water crossing on Kilkivan to Kingaroy – Rail Trails Australia". 16 October 2021. RTA news. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  17. "Dickabram Bridge (entry 600836)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  18. "local-heritage-placecards". South Burnett Regional Council. 2016. Kingaroy Railway Precinct. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  19. "local-heritage-placecards". South Burnett Regional Council. 2016. Murgon Railway Complex and Corridor. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  20. "local-heritage-placecards". South Burnett Regional Council. 2016. The Wondai Railway Complex. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
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