Name: Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail
Rating: 4.3

Rail Trail
On Road
Potential RT
Other Trail
Former Railway

Why visit the Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail?

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Experience Victoria’s history of timber-harvesting in the mountains around of Noojee. Only a 127km scenic drive from Melbourne, the area gives you a feeling of turning back time to the days of sawmills singing and steam trains struggling to get their loads over huge trestle bridges and up the steep grades.

This trail is short on distance but high on value, thanks to the heritage listed Noojee Trestle Bridge. At an impressive 102m long and 21m high, this curved timber bridge is something to be seen.

Nearby Attractions

Loch Valley Tramway Walk
Toorongo Falls
Natural flora and fauna like- wombats, echidnas, wallabies, lyrebirds and kookaburras
The Rokeby to Crossover Rail Trail is on part of the same branch line
The crystal waters of the Latrobe River
Beautiful bush camping areas

Trail Guide

Last updated: 6 March 2023

This rail trail is just a sliver of the branch line from Warragul which opened to Noojee in 1919 to get access to the timber reserves in the hills around the town.

Access Points

The trail starts at the trestle bridge, signed from Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd, but access is better from the Noojee Heritage Centre trailhead in School Rd, Noojee, which has toilets, ample parking and picnic tables.

Section Guide

Spend some time at the Noojee Heritage Centre, which features a J 550 steam loco, old freight wagons and extensive displays. The trail starts here and almost immediately crosses Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road.
The trail is level for about 600m then changes to a 1-in-45 incline from which you get views of the town of Noojee
After about 1km you reach a level area where the Goodwoods timber siding was.
After 2km you arrive at the timeless Noojee Heritage Trestle Bridge. It was burnt down in the 1939 bushfires but rebuilt later the same year and has been restored twice since then.
There are steep steps at both ends of the bridge which lead down to the carpark. but there is a vehicle access track at the western end which families and cyclists may find easier
The trail narrows and ends after another 1km, before reaching the site of trestle bridge #6, which is on private land. This section is not maintained but smoother than the rest.
The trestle bridge historic area has picnic tables. Noojee has a café selling some grocery items, a hotel, parks and accommodation.

Photo Gallery

The magnificent Noojee bridge [2008]

No horses allowed and walking the narrow bridge deck is recommended (2023)

The Noojee Bridge was destroyed in the 1939 Black Friday bushfires but rebuilt before that year was out [2023]

The Noojee Railway precinct is well worth a visit with replica station and a steam locomotive along with other heritage items [2023]

Historic steam locomotive besides replica railway station created by community [2014]

An old J Class locomotive was trucked in from Warragul for the Railway Precinct [2023]

Running the Warragul-Noojee Railway line

Get Around

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Reviews

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4 reviews of “Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail”

2/27 2nd Jan 2019. 2nd Rail Trail completed in my quest to ride every RT in Victoria this year. This is short and close to home so an esay one to knock off. A really nice area at the start with an old engine on display. The Noojee Trestle Bridge is beautiful and very picturesque. I went as far possible past the Bridge until a tree across path blocked my way, although I think I was only a few hundred metres from the end before turning around and going back to the start. You can follow me on FB Warwick Duncan – The 2nd Chance Man or Insta @warwick_rides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX-b3RnjRGM

Only called in for a visit on our way back from Warburton but a fantastic walk around and across the bridge. Wedding party there taking photos to add to the magic.

I rode this trail today (26th December 2014). It is a short well maintained trail – with two great tourist sites at either end – the Noojee station and the Trestle bridge. The track is well maintained and hybrid bikes will be fine. Honestly, it is too short for riding – and would be better suited for walking, given I rode the distance in less than 15 mins. Very impressed with the Noojee area.

Further Information

Information and Links

The Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail is managed by the DEWLP and the Baw Baw Shire.

Tourism services may be accessed from Visit Baw Baw at its website or by calling Baw Baw Shire Toll Free: 1300 BAW BAW (1300 229 229). Tel: +61 3 5624 2411.

https://www.visitbawbaw.com.au/discover/explore/rokeby-to-neerim-trail/

Contact Rail Trails Australia

To contact us about this rail trail, email vic@railtrails.org.au

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Kurnai people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is constructed.

Development and future of the rail trail

The Noojee and District Historical Society’s plans to restore the original railway site in Noojee including the station and surrounding tracks, goods shed, turn table and new additions of an underground museum and cultural centre.

The official opening of the ‘Noojee Heritage Project Centre’ occurred in December 2011 comprising of the Society’s five-stage plan to reconstruct the site. The Noojee Heritage Project Centre will begin with stage one, which will see the construction of the goods shed and surrounding decking, a car park and appropriate signage in the township.

Baw Baw Shire is planning to extend the Noojee trestle Bridge rail trail to the rail trail at Neerim, which will include the Rokeby Crossover section.

Railway history

This trail is part of the branch line from Warragul that opened in 1919.

The branch line from Warragul first opened in 1890 to Rokeby, then 1892 to Neerim South. In 1915 the State Government wanted to access the tall timber at Noojee and decided to construct the railway which opened from Neerim South to Nayook in 1917. After building seven trestle bridges the line was then opened to Noojee in 1919. The bridge seen today is bridge No7, a height of 21m and 102m long and was the third largest bridge.

Seven years after opening in 1926 bushfire struck, burning five of the seven bridges including bridge No7. Then only five years later the 1939 Black Friday bush fires, bridge No7 was destroyed and had to be rebuilt again. The cost of keeping the line open was huge compared to the revenue from it. From 1939 to 1945 World War II reduced the demand for timber.

By the1950’s road transport was competing against the railway, and after a fire in 1954 on bridge No2, a 30 meter high bridge, the line was closed from Noojee to Nayook.

It was gradually closed in sections between 1954 and 1958. This area suffers from bushfires and required a lot of expensive repairs on many occasions. The Noojee Trestle was actually destroyed by fire in 1939, and rebuilt again in the same year. It is an impressive structure spanning 102 metres, is 21 metres high, and is supported by 19 sets of piles.

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