Developed in 2016, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project, which includes the development and installation of public art, landscaping, improved amenity options and new commercial opportunities along the trail, looks to effectively establish the region’s rail trail network as an authentic, iconic tourism product, central to delivering strong outcomes for the local visitor economy including increased visitation and yield.
The M2M Rail Trail Enhancements Project will see the introduction of a series of world-class installations, experiences and infrastructure improvements designed to increase visitation by offering one of a kind, “must-see” moments that are engaging, shareable and repeatable.
Through a curatorial lens, the Trail will be transformed into a seamless journey that celebrates local stories and provides meaningful creative opportunities for Victorian artists and First Nations peoples to share their work on a world stage.
The project aims to:
- Make the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail the pre-eminent rail trail in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Drive repeat visitation and advocacy for the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail through enhancing the visitor experience.
- Inspire, delight, encourage talkability and social shareability to position the Murray to Mountains Trail as a ‘must do’ accessible cycling experience to domestic and international audiences.
New visitation from the initiative is expected to generate 17,500+ additional visitors and $12.3 Million in output per annum. The project is also expected to support the creation of 65 ongoing jobs.
In 2022, the Victorian State Government announced $8.5 million in funding to support the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements project. To support the delivery of the project, Tourism North East is the lead agency, working closely with the Rural City of Wangaratta, Indigo and Alpine Shires.
For LGA-specific updates, please use the links below.
Project Update | June 2024
Selected Sites
Sites have been identified for enhancements in each of the Local Government Areas involved in the project. These sites have been specifically selected to support the strategic objectives of the project which include increasing visitation and making the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail the best trail in the southern hemisphere. The sites nominated help support the overall experience of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail for all visitors. Please refer to the LGA-specific pages for further information on specific sites selected for the project.
IDENTIFIED CREATIVE THEMES
Following the cultural symposium, a creative theme has been developed for each of the selected sites. The creative theme will form the basis of an artistic brief that will be sent to selected artists who will be chosen from the EOI process.
The following themes have been identified for the corresponding sites:
Bright to Porepunkah: Ever New
Eurobin Station: True Horizons
Beechworth Railway Precinct: Abundance
Oxley to Milawa: Palate Palette
Bowser to Tarrawingee: Swoop
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Over the coming months, Tourism North East in collaboration with our LGA partners of Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta, will be proactively communicating regular updates on the project via this website and the Tourism North East Facebook and Instagram pages.
Click here to follow us on Facebook. Click here to follow us on Instagram.
Beechworth Community Engagement Sessions – Tuesday 16 July | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join Tourism North East, Indigo Shire Council and Public Realm Lab at the Beechworth Town Hall on Tuesday 16th July for a 'Meet the Creative Team' community engagement session. Meet Ben Gilbert of Yackandandah-based Agency of Sculpture, who has been commissioned to develop and deliver an innovative landscape design to complement the Beechworth Railway Precinct as part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project.
There will be four one-hour sessions held throughout the day: at 10am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm. Please select a session time when registering.
Please note that this is a free but ticketed event. To attend, you will be required to register. Spaces are limited.
CLICK HERE to register.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where did the funding come from?
A. The Victorian State Government announced $8.5 million in funding for the Murray to Mountains Enhancement project in the 2022 State budget.
Q. Why is this money being spent on a rail trail, rather than on critical infrastructure or repairs?
A. Tourism is a critical industry across North East Victoria. Funds spent investing into tourism infrastructure supports a $2.3 Billion industry by providing better experiences for visitors, meaning more reasons to visit and stay longer.
Q. What will the actual outcomes of the project be?
A. New visitation from the initiative is expected to generate 17,500+ additional visitors and $12.3 Million in output per annum. The project is also expected to support the creation of 65 ongoing jobs. Physical outcomes include the development and installation of public art, landscaping, improved amenity options and new commercial opportunities along the trail, establishing the region’s rail trail network as an authentic, iconic tourism product, central to delivering strong outcomes for the local visitor economy including increased visitation and yield.
Q. When will it be completed?
A. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements will roll out in phases beginning in the second half of 2024 with anticipated completion by mid-2025.
Q. Where will the enhancements be exactly?
A. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements will be placed along the trail at sites in the Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta. A full precinct map and details of each site will be released with Artist Briefs in early 2024.
Q. Who is responsible for the project?
A. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements managed by Tourism North East (TNE) in consultation with the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta. The project is curated by DAE Global, producers of White Night Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong from 2017-2019.
Key dates
- Artists Expressions of Interest platform closes: 1 March 2024
- Creative briefs issued to selected artists: Mid-February 2024
- Art installation to commence: July 2024-onwards
* Subject to change.