Feature Profiles
14 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Murray's memories of growing up in the Vale
A recent Loddon Herald feature on the glory days of trains stopping in Korong Vale stirried the memories of reader Murray Keller. The district history buff has now shared some photographs from his collection and memories as a youngster heading to the Vale
“As a young kid growing up in Wedderbur, I would spend a lot of time in Korong Vale on my grandparents’ farm which is on the northern side of where the railway yards and station were located.
“My father Vic Keller worked as a signalman in both A and B signal boxes in Korong Vale for around 40years.
“So I got to see the rise a fall of the railways at the Vale.
“The railways shutting down in Korong Vale was the death of the Vale with the local shops, bank, butcher, garage, school, cafe, post office, churches and sporting clubs etc all closing due to railway families having to move away to find work elsewhere.
“The tennis club, Scully’s hotel and the hall are a few of the survivors.
“I have many fond memories of the Saturday night dances held in the hall and the big celebrations had when Korong Vale won the Loddon Valley Football League grand final - what a weekend that was!”
“There were also many a saturday night had in the pub when more than 200 people would party on till all hours.
Sadly time moves on and these little towns are left to battle on as best they can.”
In its heyday, Korong Val had two hotels, two bakers, two butchers, The Paragon Cafe, two general stories, three blacksmiths and its own newspaper, The Lance.