Our journey ends with a bridge, a bridge that is the last surviving structure of its type in Australia.

We kick off our Offramp series in the little village of Noojee, which is nestled in the Noojee valley, about a 90-minute drive from east Melbourne, and owes its name to the Indigenous meaning of “Valley of rest.”

Noojee began life like most hamlets in the 1860s as a gold town when traces were discovered in the region. But timber was another natural commodity that saw Noojee rise to prominence in the 1900s. 

The region is home to the ADA tree, considered the oldest living tree in the state. Standing 76 metres in height and with a circumference of 15m. This mountain ash is estimated to be 300 years old. The walk along the 3.2km trail to the Ada tree will reward you with a platform that encircles this towering gum, an excellent vantage point to admire its ability to survive and thrive.

Like most Aussie towns, Noojee has a pub, although this 96-year-old watering hole has an interesting claim to fame. It not once, but twice was the sole surviving building during the bush fires of 1926 and again during the black Friday fires of 1939. 

The valley was once home to many timber mills that harvested the mountain ash gum, which was used to stoke the state’s construction. The abundance of available timber required a solution to bring the product to market. Enter the Noojee – Warragul rail line.

The line covered 42 km and required no less than seven trestle bridges to be built, with the last and finest version still standing today. Spanning 102m and soaring 21m into the sky, it majestically arcs through the tall timbers, timelessly calling out to a simpler time. 

The first time I visited the Noojee bridge, it was a cool winter morning with a low fog settling at the structure’s base. It gave the impression that the rail line was floating on a cloud and snaking off into a mythical land with the promise of adventure. 

Sections of the original line began opening in 1890 and through to its completion in 1919. The massive timbers from the region strut up from the earth to create the trestles.

The difficulty encountered in building these structures 120 years ago takes imagination from the modern-day visitor. It is sobering to remember that this structure once carried hundreds of tonnes of train and timber cargo to destinations afar. 

A journey to Noojee must include a visit to the bridge. 

Other points of interest include the Alpine Noojee fish farm with over 2 million trout. The farm engages in low stocking density per dam, ensuring low stress and cleanliness. Much of the product is harvested for Sydney, Melbourne, and international markets. You can fish here for free, only paying for the catch you wish to keep.

Links

https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/destinations/west-gippsland/noojee

https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail?view=trail&id=204

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noojee

http://www.alpinetroutfarm.com.au/

https://beaumiles.com/films/