26-586: The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail – also on some maps as Rail Reserve Heritage Trail or Rail Reserves Historical Trail , and frequently referred to locally as the Bridle Trail or Bridle Track – is within the Shire of Mundaring in Western Australia . The trail comprises a loop between Bellevue and Mount Helena , and a line from Mount Helena to Wooroloo . The loop, called Trail Loop ,
52-612: A population of approximately 38,000 as at the 2016 Census . The Greenmount Road District was created on 17 April 1903. On 29 March 1934, it was renamed the Mundaring Road District . On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Mundaring following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960 , which reformed all remaining road districts into shires. Mundaring Shire has published the following statistics for
78-754: A starting point of the Morrison Road-Pechey Road intersection in Swan View . It has a map, terrain profile, and a brief history of the two sections/routes. A newer pamphlet produced by the Mundaring Shire Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is linked with the new website. Shire of Mundaring The Shire of Mundaring is a local government area in eastern metropolitan Perth , the capital of Western Australia . The Shire covers an area of 645 square kilometres (249 sq mi) and had
104-588: Is 40.8 km (25.4 mi) in length, and follows the two Eastern Railway routes travelling east from Bellevue and meeting up again in Mount Helena, thus forming a loop. The southern route, which traverses Mundaring , is the First Route , opened in 1884. In contrast, the northern route, which passes through John Forrest National Park , follows the Second Route , opened in 1896. In Mount Helena
130-743: Is a creek in Western Australia . It is a seasonal tributary that flows into the Helena River with a catchment that moves through a number of hills suburbs just east of the Darling Scarp . Its source is in Mahogany Creek , and it flows through Glen Forrest , Darlington , and Boya before meeting the Helena River at Helena Valley . It was originally known as the Smiths Mill Brook on maps between 1902 and 1920. In
156-491: The 1920s it became known as Nyaania Brook , and in 1945 it officially took the current name. Its importance stems from the fact that it flows through private land for most of its length, linked to issues that affect watercourses in the Darling Scarp region: It has significant areas of reserves either adjacent, or within 100 metres (330 ft) either side of its main creek bed. It runs in a number of places along what
182-594: The Mundaring shire to maintain the reserve for use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders (hence the Bridle Trail name recurring). However, despite restraints, motor cyclists and others provide a regular hazard. The two earlier routes of the Eastern Railway followed closely the line of two creeks – the first route followed Nyaania Creek which is part of the Helena River catchment, while
208-505: The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail continues as a line 22.5 km (14.0 mi) in length, called Eastern Extension , onto Wooroloo . The line is coincident with this part of the 75-kilometre-long (47 mi) Kep Track , which continues along the old railway route as far as Northam. In Kalamunda there is a railway heritage trail that follows the alignment of the old Upper Darling Range railway . It
234-555: The Shire of Mundaring, of which 26 are on the State Register of Heritage Places , among them John Forrest National Park , Lake Leschenaultia and the Swan View Tunnel . 31°53′49″S 116°10′16″E / 31.897°S 116.171°E / -31.897; 116.171 Nyaania Creek Nyaania Creek ( 31°55′S 116°03′E / 31.91°S 116.05°E / -31.91; 116.05 )
260-669: The last hundred years is a significant reserve. Near the ex- Statham quarry in Glen Forrest it enters into its first reserve, the Thomas Park reserve. In Glen Forrest the Glen Forrest Super Block is on its south side just prior to the border with Darlington and near Devil's Terror. Historically it achieved its significance in the construction of the Eastern Railway where a surveyed route of
286-485: The legal bounds of the land designated as the trail: Trek the Trail is a free walking and cycling event that takes place every September along a section of Railway Reserves Heritage Trail. This annual event, jointly run by the Shire of Mundaring, Mundaring Arts Centre, Mundaring Tourism Association and Mundaring and Hills Historical Society , encourages participants to enjoy art, entertainment, local history, activities and
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#1732787422109312-414: The period 1994-2006: The shire is divided into four wards. The Shire contains three national parks and numerous nature reserves: The Shire is recognised for its natural environment and has numerous walk and ride trails: The suburbs and localities of the Shire of Mundaring with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census : As of 2024 , 144 places are heritage-listed in
338-447: The physical challenge along the Trail. The event was conducted from Wooroloo to Chidlow in 2004, Mount Helena to Parkerville in 2005, Mundaring to Darlington in 2006, Chidlow to Sawyers Valley in 2007, Mundaring to Mundaring Weir in 2008, Mundaring to Darlington in 2009 and Parkerville to Swan View in 2010. Most road crossings on the trail have signs showing distances to the next number of locations or road crossings. As
364-456: The railway encountered difficulties with the creek and creek bed. As a cutting was being constructed (near the bottom of Dalry Rd) clay was struck followed by an underground stream which flooded the clay and turned it into a bottomless bog. The locality earned the name in the Perth newspapers of the 1880s as The Devil's Terror and they cite the example of workers sinking in mud. That section of
390-403: The railway had to be resurveyed and was shifted 100 metres south along the bed of Nyaania creek. The creek above Glen Forrest was diverted into Chittawarra Brook while a dam was thrown across the creek just to the west of Glen Forrest to hold back the water while a man made channel was built to replace the original creek bed. On completion of the channel the dam wall was breached and Nyaania Creek
416-647: The railway line. The sleepers and rails were removed in the mid-1960s, and ever since they have subsisted even when the Nyaania Creek is dry in the middle of a drought. Many users of the subsequent Railway Reserve Heritage Trail have had a particular attraction to their persistence. Having passed through the built up area of Darlington it proceeds into a steep valley south of the riding school in Glen Road, and enters Helena River in Helena Valley. In
442-525: The railway system. The Avon Valley route taken by the new Standard Gauge line, was the third and final attempt to take the railway system out of the metropolitan area across the Darling Scarp . The first two Eastern Railway formations were closed by an Act of Parliament in the 1960s, and the lands were vested with the Mundaring Council . As a result, most of the removable property of the WAGR -
468-752: The reserve remain unchanged. In 1988 the Australian Bicentenary saw 17 Heritage Trails funded by the Commonwealth and Western Australian governments under the Commonwealth State Bicentennial Commemorative Program - as the W.A. Heritage Trail Network . The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail was developed by the Mundaring Bicentennial Community Committee , and a pamphlet and signage on the trail
494-528: The second followed Jane Brook which joins the Swan River at Middle Swan . Sections of the reserve have important ecological features that contain examples of a range of conditions found in the region. The whole trail is in effect a vital Wildlife corridor creating connections between adjacent parks and nature reserves: First Route or southern section Second Route or northern section It also has named parks and reserves either within or linked in
520-481: The stationmaster's houses in Mundaring and Glen Forrest - these have been preserved and maintained. The Mundaring house is currently the location of the office of the Mundaring and Hills Historical Society . Considerable alterations have been made to the original railway formations by telecommunication, power, road and other authorities. In parts, roads named "Railway Terrace", and other old roads running parallel to
546-547: The trail is a shared trail – cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians share the trail – one route suggested by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure utilises part of the trail. An older pamphlet produced in conjunction between Trailwest, Bikewest, WAMBA, Mundaring Shire, DEC, and Lotteries West - Bikewest Mountain Bike Maps - Railway Reserve Trail - Midland-Mt Helena-Midland recommends
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#1732787422109572-511: Was allowed to run into the new channel. As a result of this construction the creek bed now runs along the top of the 3 to 5 metre deep cutting. In winter the water can be heard rushing just above ones head as they walk through the cutting. For the duration of the Eastern Railway route usage (1880s to 1953) the Nyaania Creek/ Eastern Railway /Devil's Terror location point of coincidence has had springs under or next to
598-649: Was created following the Western Australian Government Railways (the WAGR, as it was commonly known) ceasing to operate on the Bellevue to Northam railway following the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway in 1966. The first two attempts at the Eastern Railway from Bellevue to Chidlow, Western Australia both constructed before 1900 failed to have sufficiently low gradients for the increasing tonnages on
624-498: Was funded by this as well. In the pamphlet and on the signage - the main stopping places as annotated, and the details go as far as Wooroloo. In some parts the reserve is an important wildlife corridor, while other parts have been degraded by erosion and bushfire damage. It passes through the John Forrest National Park and is one of a number of named trails in the park. Considerable funds have been given to
650-596: Was rail reserve of the Eastern Railway – which is now the southern part of the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail . The creek is small in size and width and moves through numerous private properties. The upper portion of the creek has the Strettle Road Reserve on its north side - which is at the west end of Mahogany Creek which although completely a regenerated plot of land following extensive firing and logging in
676-441: Was removed from the reserve. Notably the Mundaring and Darlington concrete railway platforms remain, and approximately three telegraph poles remain along the original formation. Otherwise all rails, sleepers and buildings no longer remain. The Koongamia platform, although in use for only about five years in the 1960s, was re-built as public sculpture in the 2000s. Interesting exceptions to the removal of railway operations assets are
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