Lorne Victoria Australia

Charles Beal (1821-1888) constructed a home called Varna at 101 to 103 Smith Street Lorne in 1881. Varna is thought to have been named after a battle of the Crimea War. The house was reported at the time to be a neat villa brick residence erected on Marine Parade (Mountjoy Parade), for Mr Beal, of Mount Gellibrand, after he had built the property known as “Bleak House” at Warrncoort. The garden at Varna was said to have been laid out by Baron Von Meuller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens fame.

Varna, home of Mr Charles & Mrs Amy Beal, later home of  Mr Ben Dunlop. (LHS photo 7060)

A charming view of the bay and coast scenery was possible from the house. It was not generally known, that very excellent brick earth may be found in considerable quantities on almost the whole of Lorne. Varna was built of these bricks as was a cellar built into the bank behind the house to act as a cool store. Mr Richard Anderson and son’s built the underground well which is now used as a storage cellar. The bricks used in the construction were all locally made in Lorne by the Anderson family. Varna was the first house to have electricity privately installed, driven by an oil engine and a dynamo to charge batteries.

The trees in front of Varna on the ocean side of Mountjoy Parade are believed to have been planted by Charles Beal.

Varna

2026, Varna Gully, photo taken from Beal Street.

A Mr H Hunt and family were installed as caretakers for a few months, then later a Mr Arthur Warner took over as caretaker. Mr Beaurepaire then bought Varna and leased it to the Police Department as a Police Station. Constable Walker and family were stationed there. Later Mrs Mcintyre bought the property and lived there till shortly before her death. The Executors then left it lay idle until it was subdivided and sold.

Sources:

• Lorne Historical Society Collections