Locals and visitors alike can now step back in time and enjoy a vintage railway experience at Bullarto Station thanks to a redevelopment of the historic station.
Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Brian Hood joined Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas to celebrate the opening with community members, volunteers and local representatives.
The works have created a replica of Bullarto Station as it appeared in the 1930s complete with historical exhibits. Families, train lovers and history buffs can get a taste of rural life in the 1930s, learn about the history of Victorian Railways over the last 140 years and enjoy the restored platform and surrounding gardens.
Daylesford Spa Country Railway (DSCR) manages the operation of the tourist rail, which runs restored heritage trains on return trips from Daylesford to Bullarto through picturesque farmland Wombat State Forest.
The project was made possible by a contribution of $184,000 from Council, together with funding from DSCR who provided $63,000, and a $500,000 contribution from the state government’s Regional Development Fund.
Ian Fell has been involved with DSCR since the mid-1980s. “Bullarto is the second highest railway station in Victoria. It snows and it gets hot, the guests need somewhere to go. We are the only tourist railway in Victoria that is an accredited museum, so we’ve got rail safety accreditation to run the trains, but we’ve got museum accreditation as well. We’ve shown an accurate representation of what it used to be in the Victorian Railways.”
“Bullarto Station is one of the gems of our region – it’s wonderful to see it completed and ready to welcome families, train lovers and history buffs,” said Mary-Anne Thomas. “This redevelopment celebrates local history and harnesses it to create a first-class visitor destination that’s sure to bring joy for years to come.”
Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said Hepburn Shire Council was proud to support this project and he was thrilled to see this precinct come to life. “The precinct will enhance the experience for locals, tourists and particularly train enthusiasts, who enjoy this part of the Hepburn Shire in a unique way,” he said. ” It is a stunning part of our Shire and we are pleased to display it to its best advantage.”
The opening of the station marks the completion of Stage Two of the Bullarto Station Tourist Precinct project which is designed to strengthen one of Hepburn Shire’s most unique tourist attractions.
Stage One works created ancillary buildings, including the Van Goods Shed, which has become a popular weddings and events venue.
A future Stage Three development will involve the reconstruction of an additional goods shed and platform to create another venue for community and business events.
This series of works at Bullarto Station will also complement the forthcoming development of the Daylesford Macedon Rail Trail, enabling people to transport their bikes on the train between Daylesford and Bullarto.
Bullarto Station as it appeared in the 1930s.
This article is based on media releases from Hepburn Shire Council and from the office of Mary-Anne Thomas.
