Community
24 June, 2026
Railway sees upgrade
COBDEN Miniature Railway will be seeing a facelift to its aged platform thanks to a funding announcement from the Victorian State Government.
Round three of the $20 million Tiny Towns Fund will deliver 157 projects across 151 towns with less than 5000 people.
As part of the Tiny Towns Fund, South Western Model Engineers Inc, whose volunteers run the Cobden Miniature Railway, received $23,100 for the upgrading of their station and platform floor.
South Western Model Engineers Inc president Haydn Howard said the funding would go a long way into replacing the uneven concrete flooring in the station.
“We are extremely grateful to the State Government of Victoria to receive a grant for $23,100 through the Tiny Towns grant process towards the refurbishment of our ageing platform and station floor,” he said.
“After 32 years of use the gravel and concrete surface is beyond repair.
“It needs to be fully replaced.
“The Tiny Towns grant will go a long way towards making the station and platform safe and ensure easier access to our trains for visitors from all walks of life, including the elderly, young children and those with a disability.”
Mr Howard said the railway had a variety of visitors and users who would benefit from the upgrade.
“We have a couple of regular visitors whose children are in wheelchairs or use special walking frames to get around, and for them to access the trains the wheelchairs get caught up in holes and stones,” he said.
“This upgrade will make it a more enjoyable experience when they visit us.
“We also have a three-year-old child belonging to one of our members who has Down syndrome and whenever he is at the railway he finds it difficult to navigate across the station.
“This upgrade will be really good for him.
“Some of our own members are reaching an age where they have mobility issues and need help to cross the tracks in the station, so they will be relieved they can get themselves across the tracks without the need for relying on others to help them.”
The works will be done by local Cobden business Greencon Concrete and Construction, who will be ripping up the old floor and concreting the new one.
“South Western Model Engineer volunteer members will be lifting the tracks in the station, boarding up around the tracks ready for concreting and installing boards on top of the tracks to ensure there are no tripping hazards,” Mr Howard said.
“Cobden Miniature Railway will still be operating as usual while these works are going on.”
Mr Howard said without grants such as the Tiny Towns Fund, the Cobden Miniature Railway wouldn’t be able to have as many refurbishments as it has in the past several years.
“Over the past five years thanks to grants, donations and sponsorships from various organisations and individuals in and around Cobden, we have been able to concrete a footpath from the barbecue area to the playground, allowing people with disabilities and parents with prams easier access to the playground and to continually top up the playground with softfall,” he said.
“We have been able to upgrade some of the outdoor tables and chairs in and around the barbecue area and restore our walkover bridge.
“One of our bigger projects was to install a level, safe, fenced undercover waiting area.
“We have also been able to purchase a few other smaller items for our railway to make maintaining the railway so much easier for our volunteer members.
“Without these grants, sponsorships, donations and the support of the public when they come in for a train ride, many of these upgrades would not have been possible.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said the Tiny Towns Fund was a great benefit to regional Victorians.
“Our smaller towns have so much to offer,” she said.
“They’re built on strong community spirit and passionate volunteers, and it’s fantastic to see their hard work backed through the Tiny Towns Fund.
“Whether it’s restoring a much-loved hall, upgrading a recreation reserve or preserving a piece of local history, every one of these projects has come from the community itself.
“I’m proud we’re backing these local priorities and helping ensure our tiny towns continue to be wonderful places to live, work and visit.”
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