Mary Valley Abandoned Railway and Rail Trail, Imbil to Brooloo
Built between 1914 and 1915 to serve the valley's timber and dairy industries, the Mary Valley railway linked towns like Imbil and Brooloo with the main line at Gympie. Heritage trains still run on part of the line, but the rest was closed to regular traffic in the 1990s. Its timber trestle bridges, cuttings and old sleepers are a record of how rural Queensland moved its goods a century ago. It's one of the stops in our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
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Mary Valley Railway History
The railway had to wind through the rolling country of the Mary Valley, which meant big earthworks and heavy timber bridges over the local creeks. After the line closed to regular commercial traffic, much of the infrastructure was left in place. Decades of damp subtropical weather have taken their toll on the hardwood bridge pylons and iron rails, and they show the manual labour and engineering it took to run a country railway before heavy road freight took over.
How to See the Old Mary Valley Railway
The best way to follow the old line is the Mary Valley Rail Trail, a 4.7 km section of the former track bed between Imbil and Brooloo that's open to walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. Entry is from William Street in Imbil and Sutton Street in Brooloo, and dogs are welcome on a leash.
Elsewhere, the disused rail corridor crosses private farmland and has no public access. Don't walk the rail corridor or onto the bridges and culverts. View the old rails and bridges only from public roads and public land.
Mary Valley Railway FAQs
Can you walk the old Mary Valley railway?
Only on the Mary Valley Rail Trail, a 4.7 km section between Imbil and Brooloo. The rest of the disused corridor crosses private farmland with no public access.
Where does the Mary Valley Rail Trail start?
Entry is from William Street in Imbil or Sutton Street in Brooloo.
Who can use the Mary Valley Rail Trail?
Walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
When was the Mary Valley railway built?
Between 1914 and 1915, to serve the valley's timber and dairy industries.
For complete access details and more heritage sites across the state, grab a copy of our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
