The Marnoo Hotel

Property Description

The Marnoo Hotel is an old country pub, located in the small farming community of Marnoo in the Australian bush, and is on the way to just about everywhere! The family that owns and operates it live on premises. We treat our guests as friends, and are very flexible and easy-going. Come in and check out our Number Plate Wall... it is just a sample of our extensive collection of number plates from all over the world. We also feature a gift shop that includes locally made arts and crafts.

Our facility is said to be Victoria's first pub to feature en suites in each room. It has a rich and exciting history, having been originally built in the early 1900s, then having been rebuilt after a suspicious fire in 1957. The original stables remain in our large back yard. We have a beer garden with barbeque, plus off-street parking. Our rooms still have many original fixtures. Staying here is a bit like stepping back in time.

If you are looking for luxury, this isn't the place for you. If you are looking for comfort, adventure, warmth, and humour, this is the place for you. If you like the "Survivor" television series, Marnoo Mayhem may be perfect for your small group. It is a fantastic structured weekend party for small groups that consists of hilarious and fun games and competitions... an opportunity to experience a weekend of nonstop fun, games, and laughter. Not to mention, there are some great prizes to win. At the end of the weekend, one person in your group will be crowned the Master or Mistress of Mayhem. Contact us to find out more about this hilarious and relaxing party-of-a-lifetime!

Do you have someone you'd like to embarrass? Well, we are happy to help! We can arrange Cher to pop in and sing "If I Could Turn Back Time" to your unsuspecting victim! Of course, this isn't the real Cher, this is the Australian bush Cher, complete with a size 4-x body stocking and sailor hat. Contact us to find out more about booking plus-size Cher for a shocking but hilarious performance during your stay.

Marnoo is the proud birthplace of Maori's Idol, Australia's greatest and most famous champion trotter. He won 40 of 46 starts, and went on to sire 182 winners by the end of the 2004/05 season, including Australasian Trotters Championship winner Digger's Idol. The Healy family, who bred, owned, trained and raced Maori's Idol, still live in Marnoo and still breed, train and race trotters. Maori's Idol is the only trotter to receive the award of Australian Harness Horse of the Year. He was a miracle! He has also physically been a guest in our pub, and above our jukebox is a photo of him drinking from his winning cup at our bar.

We are a 45-minute drive to Halls Gap, a half hour to Stawell, Donald, St. Arnaud and Murtoa, and an hour from Horsham. Our accommodation is clean, neat, safe and friendly. It is convenient to the Grampians, Goldfields, and Wimmera/Mallee regions. Marnoo is a very quiet, relaxing country town, a warm, friendly place full of history and country peace. Our hotel carries that spirit, as we treat our guests as friends, and many have become like family.

We have three lounge rooms that can be used for small meetings. These rooms are open to one another, so they can also serve as a large function room. We have a professional P.A. system with microphones and speakers. We have DVD player and video player with a television. We have a private computer room that is available to our guests with both ISDN and Satellite Internet.

There is room to park directly in front of our motel-style rooms, plus additional parking on the street and more parking along the nature strip that runs between the main street and the access road. We can accommodate large vehicles. If needed, there is private gated parking in our large back yard.

Check-in anytime between 11:00am and 9:00pm, plus any other time by appointment. Just ring and let us know an estimated time of arrival, and your room will be ready.

We love children and have one of our own! Children are always welcome. We have lots of crafts and games, toys, an X-Box, and heaps of movies to watch. We have a very large fully fenced-in gated back yard with a small glider swing, a cubby house and sandpit, and plenty of room to run and play. We also have a 'home' karaoke system that is available for children and adults.

We love critters and have fish, a Basset Hound, a gorgeous Greyhound (adopted retired race dog!) and a beautiful pony named Rosa. We welcome pets. We don't have limits on our rooms, and are happy to put in extra beds and cots to accommodate children and extra guests.

Marnoo is the perfect mid-point for touring other historic towns, such as Stawell, St. Arnaud, Rupanyup, Murtoa, and Donald. Drive up to Halls Gap for lunch, climb a mountain, visit the extraordinary Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, hike to breathtaking water falls, go horse-back riding, play miniature golf... anyone for abseiling? Listen to the dingos sing at Halls Gap Wildlife Park and Zoo, stop for lavender ice cream at Grampians Lavender Patch, and don't pass up the unique shopping opportunity at Barney's Rubble! Sample some of the region's best wines at one of the areas many famous vineyards. Or better yet, why not try them all!

Marnoo is a great place to come to REALLY get away from it all. Why spend a lot on accommodation when you are only in your room to sleep. Our affordable accommodation leaves plenty in your wallet to spend on fun and activities. It is also a great place for a stopover on long journeys. There is a milk bar that also serves as post office, grocery store, newsagent, and DVD rental. There is also a fabulous antique and second hand shop right next door to The Marnoo Hotel. This shop is exceptional, as it always has heaps of interesting and highly collectable items at fantastic prices! Our own gift shop offers a variety of new gift items, and features handmade arts and crafts made by local artisans.

Marnoo has a footy oval, cricket grounds, tennis courts, and swimming pool including a kiddie pool. There is a public park with playground facilities and public toilets. We have a lovely walking trail through our nature strip that has been planted with Australian native flora. Along this strip is a 'shed' that offers the history of Marnoo in large text with pictures. A five-minute drive will take you to Wallaloo Golf Club. Our pub offers pool, darts, and barbeque facilities, plus a juke box. Hang around in the evening, and you might get to meet Brian Healy!

We are right off the Wimmera Highway about halfway between St. Arnaud and Murtoa. Or along the Stawell-Donald Road about halfway between Stawell and Donald. It takes about 2.5 - 3 hours to get here from Melbourne.