Noorat – Alan Marshall Discovery Trail

The 1.5 km Alan Marshall Discovery Trail is a fascinating self-guided heritage walk through the tiny township of Noorat, celebrating the childhood of one of Australia's best-loved authors, Alan Marshall. Best known for his classic autobiography I Can Jump Puddles, Marshall was born in Noorat in 1902 and spent his early years exploring the town and surrounding countryside that later inspired many of his stories.

The trail links 16 locations that played an important role in Marshall's early life. A map and interpretive information are displayed opposite the historic Bee Hive Store, where Marshall was born and where his parents operated the family business. From there, the easy walk follows quiet streets to a series of plaques and historic buildings, allowing visitors to discover both Marshall's story and the rich history of Noorat.

Highlights along the trail include the Noorat Public Hall, which was once used by Marshall's father as a grain store, the commemorative boulder unveiled by Alan Marshall himself in 1979, a memorial tree planted by his daughter Cathy McCallum during the first Alan Marshall Festival in 1996, the historic Bills horse trough, the former Noorat State School, churches, the Presbyterian Manse and picturesque Lake Lolly. Each stop provides an insight into life in the Western District during the early 1900s and the people and places that shaped Marshall's writing.

The walk is mostly flat and follows footpaths and quiet local streets, making it suitable for families and anyone interested in local history. Allow around 45–60 minutes to complete the trail, although many visitors combine it with a climb up nearby Mount Noorat via the separate Alan Marshall Discovery Trail to the volcanic crater and summit.

Trail highlights include:

Noorat Public Hall - Alan Marshall’s father, William, in partnership with George Neale, used this building as a grain store while operating the Beehive Store nearby.
Beehive Store - Alan Marshall’s birthplace and home throughout his childhood.
Commemorative boulder and plaque - Unveiled by Alan Marshall in 1979.
Manna Gum and Memorial Plaque to Alan Marshall - Tree was planted and the plaque unveiled by Cathy McCallum, Alan Marshall’s daughter, at the first Alan Marshall Festival in 1996.
Horse trough - One of the many erected nationwide through the generosity of Annis and George Bills, providing fresh water for working horses.
Noorat Primary School - Alan Marshall attended school here and relates events of his early school day memories and the people he met in the book ‘I Can Jump Puddles’.
Lake Lolly - Site of a pond called Lake Lolly by the local children. Alann Marshall and his best friend used to sail salmon tins across the pond with ants for crew trying to sink them by throwing stones.
Niel Black Memorial Presbyterian Church - Built in 1883 in memory of Niel Black (1804-1880). The Marshall family attended church here and Alan Marshall the Sunday School.
The Old Manse - Two Presbyterian ministers who lived at the Manse were notable mentors of the young Alan Marshall.
Noorat Recreation Reserve - Alan Marshall loved country shows and travelled to many as a fortune teller and palm reader.
Black’s Gates - Noorat’s history is linked to the settlement of the area by the Black Family, after Niel Black took up the ‘Glenormiston’ run in 1839. ‘Mt. Noorat’ is a portion of the ‘Glenormiston’ property still operated by family members. The Carruthers family in Alan Marshall’s ‘I Can Jump Puddles’ is based loosely on the Black family.
Glenormiston College and former Trufood Factory - Alan Marshall worked in the office of the Trufood Factory in 1923. The factory is now an indoor equestrian centre at the Glenormiston College, formerly the property ‘Glenormiston’.
Mt. Noorat & the Alan Marshall Walking Track - Traditional meeting and bartering place for Aboriginal tribes of the district. Known in the book ‘I Can Jump Puddles’ as Mount Turalla, the unique volcanic crater was the site of childhood adventures of Alan Marshall and his mates. One of the best preserved dormant volcanoes in Victoria, the crater is 159m deep and 400m wide. The ‘Alam Marshall Walking Track’ leads from Carroopook Street to the crater rim.
Former Glenormiston Butter Factory - The Glenormiston Butter and Cheese Factory was an integral part of the economic, social and cultural history of the Noorat-Glenormiston District. Originally established in 1895 on the site of the bluestone wool shed at Glenormiston, production was transferred to Noorat in 1910. After a series of amalgamations, it ultimately became part of Bonlac Foods Ltd. The factory ceased operation in 1970 and Bonlac Foods sold the building in 1998.
Lake Keilambete - Alan Marshall learnt to swim at Lake Keilambete, a tale he has recounted in ‘I Can Jump Puddles’, in which the lake was called Lake Turalla.
Mount Emu Creek - A conspicuous water course through the district, Mount Emu Creek was the favoured spot for fishing for eels by Alan Marshall and his friends.
Consumption Dyke - Alan Marshall believed that the stone walls at Noorat and Kolora were the best in the country. He wrote an account of them, “The Walls in the West”, included in If These Walls Could Talk: The Report of the Corangamite Dry Stone Walls Conservation Project 1995.
Terang-Mortlake Road Wall - As a boy Alan Marshall and his friends used to catch rabbits in the stone walls at Noorat and Kolora. This wall is No 7 on the Corangamite Dry Stone Walls Heritage Trail.

At a glance

Distance: Approximately 1.5 km circuit
Time: 45–60 minutes
Grade: Easy
Trail type: Self-guided heritage walk
Suitable for: Families, history lovers and literary enthusiasts

Access for Dogs:

Permitted on leash on public streets

Tip: Start at the Bee Hive Store, where the trail map is displayed. Take a photo of the map before setting off, as there is no printed brochure currently available online.

Location

Carroopook Street, Noorat 3265 View Map