European settlement of Mount Noorat began in 1839 when Frederick Taylor established Strathdownie station for MacKillop and Smith. Niel Black purchased the rights in 1840, renaming it Glenormiston. The area saw ongoing disputes over boundaries, with Commissioner Foster Fyans resolving one major conflict in 1848. Surveyors and settlers developed the land, with sheep and later cattle farming. Mount Noorat was also the site of frequent bushfires, prompting the establishment of a dedicated fire lookout in 1880.
The land was gradually opened for sale, and the Black family acquired much of it, culminating in Niel Black's purchase of Mount Noorat in 1863. Celebrations and bonfires marked royal visits and jubilees. Gravel quarrying began in the 1840s and remains a threat to the Mount’s landscape. Over time, the Blacks transitioned from sheep to cattle, then to dairy and other ventures. A hotel and a small settlement developed under the Mount’s southern slopes.
Rabbits became a major pest by the late 19th century, and extensive efforts were made to control them. Mount Noorat House, a grand mansion built in 1878, was demolished in 1939 due to maintenance costs. The Black family retained ownership until 2017, when the property was bequeathed to Corangamite Shire, marking over 175 years of family stewardship.