Lorne Victoria Australia
Lorne, has a history involving many homes, hotels and buildings. The Mountjoy family built the first real dwelling in Lorne consisting of just two rooms. As interest in Lorne grew, the Mountjoys extended their premises to cater for visitors whose numbers continued to increase as the word spread about the beautiful scenery and abundance of fish and game. They called their first building The Temperance Hotel as no alcohol was sold. Eventually the Mountjoy family renamed their hotel Erskine House.
(from Lorne A Living History by Doug Stirling)
Arab
The Arab coffee lounge was opened in 1956 by the brothers Graham, Alistair, and Robin Smith. The Arab was modelled on European coffee bars and its espresso machine was only the third in Victoria. It was a bohemian style coffee shop, a refuge for beatniks (the coolest thing a teenager could be called in those...Read more
Churches
There are currently three churches in Lorne. All Saints Anglican Church, 188 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 33-37 Smith Street, Lorne St Cuthberts Uniting Church, 86 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne Early Church Services Edward Hall a temperance missionary from Birregurra, an Englishman, was affectionately called The Bishop because he fancied himself as...Read more
Cinema
Lorne’s original galvanized iron picture theatre on the foreshore land near Mantra, then Erskine House, was built after an itinerant picture-show man visited Lorne in 1915. He was in financial trouble and offered his equipment for sale. Jack Stirling, Bill Dorman, J T Anderson and A.E. Jarratt, formed the Lorne Picture Company, bought the gear...Read more
Hospital
First Hospital (1919) Spanish Flu leads to the first hospital to be established in Lorne in 1919. The Geelong Advertiser of February 1919, reported that the Lorne Hotel was quarantined, when five Melbourne visitors contracted influenza and Dr Kirkpatrick of Birregurra, health officer for the district, 0rdered it to be quarantined. Two constables were sent...Read more
Guesthouses
At the beginning, sawmill workers who lived rough, often in tents, came into town for their night off on Saturdays. They wanted a good meal and somewhere to stay overnight. The families in town, the Stewarts, Clissolds, etc, had many children as well as taking these workers in, and so began to add more bedrooms....Read more
Jura
Built in 1919 as the family beach house for Western District grazier Clive Campbell, Jura’s size and prominence reflects the success of the pastoral family, the Campbells, who have connections with the the Scottish Isle of Jura. Jura is significant at State level as one of the largest remaining known examples of Knitlock construction in...Read more
Kincraig
“Kincraig” 1888, 236 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne This splendid villa designed by Geelong architect, Joseph Watt, takes a prime site with considerable panache. The verandah that sweeps around with widely-spaced, iron columns with interlocking leaf pattern lacework (“rinceau”), has fretwork ‘Chinese Chippendale’ balustrading. One can study two elements from two eras. The charming bay window and...Read more
Library Hall
The Library Hall was a gathering place for the Lorne community for many decades of the twentieth century for social events, including parties and drama productions. The Library Hall began as the Lorne Free library in 1885. Amy Miss Gaynor was the town librarian who retired in 1926 after 31 years’ service. It was reported...Read more
Lorne Community Connect
Lorne Community Connect, formerly Lorne Senior Citizens Centre Lorne Community Connect took over the Lorne Citizens Centre, around 2020, as the Lorne Senior Citizens building was being under-utilised. The Surf Coast Shire, as owners, agreed the building would become Lorne Community Connect and be used to encourage arts in Lorne, including exhibitions and an artist...Read more
Lorne Hotel
The site of the Lorne Hotel was where the second house in Lorne, Walton Lodge, with a municipal value of £200 in 1873 was located. After addition of an observatory it was renamed St. Peters by owner Edward Hall. In 1876, Joseph Duncan and Theodore Hancock built the Lorne Hotel on the site and the...Read more
Pacific Hotel
In 1879 Henry Gwynne built the impressive three-storey Grand Pacific Hotel on land adjacent to the pier. Architecturally designed in the Gothic style, this magnificent structure had two ornate balconies heavily decorated in iron lace, complete with a bell tower and flagstaff. Naturally the hotel became a magnet for early tourists. Henry Gwynne suffered a...Read more
Post Office
The first Post Office in Lorne opened on 28 April 1874, under the management of Thomas Mountjoy³, whose annual salary was £10, located at Erskine House. Mail at that time was conveyed twice a week. Telegraph facilities were provided at Lorne Post Office in January 1876. The Post Office was transferred from Erskine House in...Read more
Ravenswood
“Ravenswood” c 1890s, 70 Smith Street, Lorne. The late 1890s house with its spreading verandah and fine timber work, as well as its major frontage to what would have been one of the great sea views, shows the advantage taken of one of Lorne’s choice locations. The square, flagpole-topped tower set to one side with...Read more
Stribling Reserve
Stribling Reserve is located between Williams Street and Grove Road. It was originally on a piece of land knows as the Library Paddock or recreation reserve. An Avenue of Honour with red flowering gum trees were planted in the recreation reserve, now Stribling Reserve oval, where each tree had a brass plaque with the name...Read more
Varna
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Charles Beal constructed a home called Varna at 101 to 103 Smith Street Lorne in 1881. Sources: Lorne Historical Society CollectionsWaverley House
Waverley House property has had several owners, and it has been rebuilt and refurbished several times. Early photos of Lorne show Waverley as the only house north of the Erskine River. Approximate Timeline of ownership: 1881 John Elkington recorded in Winchelsea Rate Book 1881 – 1908 Waverley bought by S.F. Staughton 1908 E.H. Lascelles reported...Read more
Wild Colonial Club
In 1957 Lorne residents and tourists got their first taste of what has become the town’s modern cosmopolitan character. Alistair and Robin Smith rented the ‘dance hall’ and ran a spectacularly successful club they called The Wild Colonial and did they pack them in. The Smith family infused a lot of character into the town...Read more
