It originally branched from the Adelaide to Melbourne line at Mount Barker Junction then ran 80.6 kilometres (50 miles) south to Victor Harbor.

South Australia's first railway venture was the 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) line completed in 1854 from Goolwa, on the River Murray, to the small ocean harbour at Port Elliot.

[2] Until 1884, trains south of Strathalbyn were hauled by horse power, but between 1883 and 1885 the section to Currency Creek was rebuilt to steam railway standards.

[4][5] In the early 1980s, Australian National announced that the Victor Harbor line would close, despite high levels of public opposition.

In late 1989, Australian National declared the Mount Barker Junction–Strathalbyn section unsafe due to poor track condition and SteamRanger operated services from Adelaide to Strathalbyn were cancelled.