A bold idea, strong community backing and plenty of hard work has seen Cycle Tumbarumba deliver one of Australia’s most unique mountain bike projects.
Mt Tumbarumba Mountain Bike Park was born from the town’s determination to rebuild after the 2020 Black Summer bushfires.
When plans for state forest trails fell through, the 40-member club turned its focus to Mt Tumbarumba, a prominent landmark just 2.5 kilometres from town.
From there, an ambitious plan took shape, to purchase the 470-acre property and create a gravity-focused trail network.
The club also maintains 25km of trail network near the town centre.
The project gained momentum after securing $3.4 million through the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, along with additional support from the Tumbarumba Community Bank and Hyne Timber. The final hurdle was raising the remaining funds needed to complete the land purchase.
In 2022, local farmers donated cattle for a fundraising auction. The response was overwhelming, raising more than $141,000 through the auction and additional contributions.
“Tumba’s always been a place where the community digs in and backs itself,” Peter Marshall from Cycle Tumbarumba said.
“When we put the call out for donations, even we were blown away. Most of the people who donated or farmers who gave cattle will probably never ride a mountain bike, but they did it for the town to help keep it alive.”
Finished last year, the park features 27 kilometres of gravity trails, with a mix of flow, technical features and jumps set across the region’s distinctive granite terrain.
The club hold races and social rides all year.
Owned entirely by the club, Mt Tumbarumba operates as a paid-access facility, with day passes from $15. Every dollar is reinvested into trail maintenance and ongoing development.
Beyond the trails, the club hosts races all year round, bringing riders together for social spins and barbecues while raising funds to support the network.
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Photos: supplied