Marnoo

Marnoo is a small, quiet town situated in the north of the Northern Grampians Shire.

The newcomers to the town are made to feel welcome and can become involved with any of the local clubs and committees.

The township of Marnoo is approx. 50kms north of Stawell; 40kms west of St Arnaud; 40kms south of Donald and 75kms east of Horsham.

History

Two townships were named Marnoo after the Aboriginal word finger.  The first, now known as 'old Marnoo', developed around the school that was opened in June 1875, the first Government school between Stawell and St Arnaud.  The school served selectors who took up land in the district following the 1865 Land Act. 

Doubt about the route of a railway along the Richardson River stunted the progress of old Marnoo which scarcely increased beyond a district centre with three buildings.  Settlers waited more than thirty years until the line was officially opened in 1909.  A new Marnoo was surveyed at the railhead, a mile east of old Marnoo.   By 1911 Marnoo had two general stores, a butcher, baker, blacksmith, bootmaker, saddler, two soft drink shops, a fancy goods shop and soon after a bank. 

Against considerable local opposition the coffee palace sold its first wine in 1911 and gained a full licence in 1916.  Apart from a wheat silo constructed in 1940, Marnoo's first initial burst of progress was not repeated and the population gradually declined. 

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