Rosstown Rail Trail

The Rosstown Rail Trail follows the historic route of the former Rosstown Railway through Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, linking Elsternwick with the Oakleigh/Hughesdale area. The heritage route is around 8.5km long, while Glen Eira City Council identifies approximately 7.4km as the improved cycling trail between Elsternwick and Hughesdale. Rather than being one continuous off-road path, the route uses a combination of linear parks, shared paths and quiet local streets. The terrain is generally flat and suitable for riders of most abilities, making it a relaxed way to explore this part of Melbourne while following the footprint of a railway that never really fulfilled its intended purpose. The trail passes through suburbs including Elsternwick, Caulfield South, Carnegie and Murrumbeena, with sections travelling through attractive green corridors such as Marara Road Reserve. Recent improvements have included additional signage, bicycle markings, raised crossings and traffic-calming measures to make the route easier and safer to follow. The history behind the trail is particularly interesting. The private Rosstown Railway was the ambitious project of entrepreneur William Murray Ross, who planned to use it to transport sugar beet to his mill and refined sugar towards the Port of Melbourne. The project struggled with funding and construction delays, the mill never went into production, and the railway eventually fell into disrepair without becoming a successful operating line. RTS Tip: Rosstown is more of an urban heritage ride and cycling connector than a traditional continuous rail trail. There are on-road sections and intersections along the way, so keep an eye on the route signage. With Elsternwick Station near one end and the Djerring Trail and wider Melbourne cycling network accessible around the eastern end, it’s also easy to incorporate Rosstown into a much longer urban ride.