Feature Profiles
12 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Memories from the Vale
Stories from the once great railway town of Korong Vale
KORONG Vale’s railway station was expected to be “established as one of the largest railway junctions in the state” according to the Boort Standard and Quambatook Herald in May 1914, yet less than a century later the station all but vanished leaving only the water tower behind.
In July 1913 the railway received a £40,000 upgrade. The aim for the upgrade was to relieve the congestion of traffic at the Bendigo station during the busy season allowing northern traffic to be handled at Korong Vale resulting in a faster service with a quicker despatch of trains.
The upgrade included “a considerable area of land acquired to extend the yards, adding an island platform with booking and parcels offices, refreshments rooms, and various waiting rooms; marshalling yards to make up loads; gravitation yards, a coaling stage and coal store; engine sheds, a weighbridge, signal stations, and a number of officials’ residences. Altogether 12 miles of track will be laid, embracing 14 sets of rails.”
Following the completion of the upgrade, the station was considered “the most up to date in any country centre, with the view of affording wide facilities for the handling of the ever-expanding traffic of the two branch lines—one running to Sea Lake through Charlton and Wycheproof, and the other to Manangatang via Boort, Quambatook and Ultima—both lines serving 200 miles of very productive country.”
After World War Two and the diesel era in the 50s the need for an extensive railway network across Victoria dwindled. Between 1976 and 1987 56 country lines were closed including Korong Vale, after the transport of livestock was moved predominately to private road transport operators and the focus of railway transport moved to wheat traffic, containerised goods and other bulk products.
Passenger services were withdrawn from Korong Vale in 1978 leading the station building to fall into disrepair before the railway was closed completely in 1983 and the building was demolished.
A once expansive railway station providing employment for many locals during its peak operation is now almost forgotten with only a water tower remaining to mark the location.
Railway enthusiasts still visit the town to survey the land that once was hive of activity.