The line runs from the New South Wales town of Deniliquin into Bendigo, before turning south-south-east towards Melbourne, terminating in Docklands near the central business district.

Construction of the line was begun by the Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company, which was incorporated in 1852.

[1][2] The company made almost no progress on the construction of the railway due to an inability to raise sufficient funds, and in 1856 it was purchased by the Victorian Government.

[3] Because Isambard Kingdom Brunel was at that time the Inspecting Engineer in Britain for the Victorian Government, some people have claimed that he was responsible for the railway's design.

The route and structures were the work of the Victorian Railways Department, under the supervision of Engineer-in-Chief George Darbyshire, and completed under Thomas Higinbotham.

[4] The line was designed with two broad gauge tracks, high speed alignments cutting through the landscape, substantial bridges and railway stations built of bluestone, and double-headed rail.

[6] The railway finally reached Echuca in 1864 and transformed the town into a major river port, with a famous wharf and substantial urban growth in the 1870s.

The last train was also 153 hp Walker railmotor, the service being provided for school children and paid for by the Education Department.

[10] The Bendigo – Echuca – Deniliquin passenger service was withdrawn on 11 January 1979, with the last train being operated by a DERM.

The passenger service was replaced with buses on 19 December 2004, pending an upgrade due to poor track condition.

[15] The Victorian Goldfields Railway has restored the line between Castlemaine and Maldon and operates trains over that section.

However the lift span of the old bridge has been relocated to McGinty Park in Robinvale as part of an historic display.

Until late 2006, rural rail network lessee Pacific National had mothballed the Mittyack to Kulwin section.

There are substantial wrought iron and masonry viaducts at Sunbury, Malmsbury and Taradale, as well as two tunnels at Elphinstone and Big Hill.

Most V/Line regional passenger trains operate on the second pair of tracks between Sunshine and Southern Cross that were built as part of the Regional Rail Link project, leaving the original pair of tracks for the primary use of the Sunbury commuter rail line.