General News
24 October, 2026
150 years of rail
THE Avoca community came together in big numbers on Tuesday to commemorate an important milestone for the town. On October 20th 1876, Avoca was officially connected by rail.
The line was later extended through to Ararat in 1890.
The railway paved the way for the growth of the Avoca district allowing residents access to travel to Maryborough, Ballarat and Melbourne as well as improving the delivery of goods by rail.
Avoca Arts and Gardens were keen to celebrate the 150th anniversary of rail with a community function at the Avoca Railway Station, which is now the home of Gallery 127.
The assembled crowd were treated to the history of the Avoca line as well as a musical presentation by local school students.
The celebration was also used to unveil new signage depicting the history of the Avoca line along with the naming of a memorial garden after a former volunteer and a room named after a former station master.
The heritage sign was funded by the Avoca Community Bank and compliments a project by Landsborough Historical Group to erect signage at the sites of former railway stations in the Pyrenees including Crowlands, Elmhurst, Landsborough West and Navarre.
The sign gives visitors a brief history of the Avoca line and its importance to the local community.
Former Avoca community leader Hayden Pilgrim was honoured with the naming of a garden at the entrance to the railway station.
Mr Pilgrim was extensively involved in the Avoca community and was a part of the push to refurbish the railway station into a community space.
The garden, “Pilgrim’s Place”, is named in Mr Pilgrim’s memory.
A new Railway Room was also unveiled by Tim Redpath on behalf of his father Ivan.
Ivan Redpath was the last station master at Avoca when passenger trains ceased in 1979.
Avoca Arts and Gardens President Hugh Forster said it was pleasing to see so many people in attendance.
“It is very pleasing to see so many of you here. We were hoping to get 150 people and I think we might have reached that target,” he said.
“This line is one of the few lines in Victoria to be reopened after it was closed,” he said.
While passenger trains no longer service Avoca, the line between Maryborough and Ararat is an important freight route between the Mallee and the ports.
It recently received a massive upgrade allowing more and heavier freight use in the future.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said it was pleasing to see the line back in service after falling into a state of disrepair.
“I’m very proud to be part of a government that has brough train lines back,” she said.
“I’d like to give a shoutout to all the volunteers who have worked to make today a success.”
Mayor Damian Ferrari said the railway brought prosperity to the region.
Cr Ferrari hopes that rail tourism can be developed in Avoca in coming years.
“Imagine the possibility of heritage railway journeys leading to the Pyrenees wine region. It’s an opportunity worth exploring,” he said.
On October 20, 1876, Avoca welcomed Governor of Victoria Sir George Bowen, who arrived by train for the official celebrations marking the opening of the railway from Maryborough.
The line was officially opened on October 21, with more than 3,000 people reportedly attending the festivities.
Before rail transport, journeys to larger regional centres and the movement of goods relied heavily on roads, horse-drawn vehicles and other slower forms of transport.
In 1876, the railway promised to make travel more convenient and improve the movement of agricultural produce, livestock, mining supplies and other goods.
It also provided residents with a more direct connection to Maryborough, which was already linked to Victoria’s growing railway network.
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