Although Noojee was officially founded in the early 1900s, it began as a gold prospecting site
in the 1860s. Considered unsuitable for settlement due to its swampy environment,
prospectors camped there temporarily while searching for gold.
The gold rush of the 1860s marked a turning point for the area. A major flood between 1902
and 1905 changed the river’s flow, enabling the establishment of permanent buildings.
Pioneers were equipped with basic panning tools and driven by the hope of striking it rich.
This influx of settlers preceded a timber boom that reshaped the region and significantly
impacted First Nations communities who had lived in the Valley long before the gold seekers
arrived.