Lorne Victoria Australia

Carinya guesthouse was located at 62 & 64 Smith street, opposite the Cumberland Resort tennis courts. Carinya, an Aboriginal word that means ‘happy home’ or ‘peaceful home’, was a stylish up market resort by the standards of the day.

As a guesthouse, it is reflective of the early popularity of Lorne as a tourist resort. The size of the building and the way in which it was enlarged, wing upon wing, is typical of the way in which guesthouse expanded to meet the demands of the growing industry. It is reflective of both the booms in the 1920s and the late 1940s and of the demise in the 1960s.

It may have been operating as early as 1908. It was established as a guesthouse by Mrs C. Herbert, in a house originally called Belvedere and could take 15 people. By 1926 it had been taken over by Frank Beaurepaire and would later accommodate 90 people.

c1931, Staff at Carinya with Frank Beaurepaire Senior. (LHS photo B438)

Advertisement for Caryina boasted is was only one minute from the beach, with its own electric light plant, hot water service, sewerage, billiard room, tennis courts, croquet lawns, and lock-up garages, whilst in the many bathing boxes, it had provided on the beach for the guests, there were fresh-water showers.

Stribling Cup winners. (LHS photo B445)

In 1939 Cumberland was built directly in front of Carinya. In order to facilitate quick access to the beach for his guests Frank Beaurepaire dug an alleyway down one side of the Cumberland. It was at the time nick-named ‘gun alley’, now called the Arthur Robbins Walk. It was down this alley Lil Beaurepaire would run to saving drowning swimmers on the beach. She was later to run the Cumberland.

By 1941, it was reported in Where to Go as having a capacity of 140 patrons. By the 1950s the Beaurepaires’s were taking in a maximum of 100 guests. Not surprisingly, the Cariyna of the 1950s has been described as ‘a huge rabbit warren of a place’ by the people who stayed there.

With its large dance hall it was lovely place. Every new year on lawns at the front of the house, someone would spell out Happy New Year in beer bottles.

1931, Carinya. (LHS photo B431)

In 1961 a new owner, C. Birrel is listed. Birrel was Beaurepaire’s son-in-law. He took a maximum of 80 guests. Cariyna ceased operation c1970. The house was divided into two properties. Section of original building removed to allow the remainder to be divided into separate blocks. Currently private homes.

Carina’s proprietor, Frank Beaurepaire, successfully marketed Carinya as a holiday destination for young, adventurous singles looking for a good time. In 1926 Smiths Weekly reported that on a visitors list of 160 at Carina, ‘there was just one married couple. The sexes were evenly balanced, and to all appearances there was neither man nor woman over 30 in the place.’

The 1939 advertising slogan for Carina was ‘A new happiness, a new outlook on life, a new circle of friends, new joys and a sunny holiday on a beautiful beach.’ Guests were enticed with such luxuries as electric light and sewerage throughout, hot and cold showers, free tennis, croquet, billiards, cinema, bathing boxes with freshwater showers and a dancehall, all for a moderate tariff. Daily activities such as picnics, parties, walks and games were organised. Guest reunions were even organised in Melbourne throughout the year.

Carinya in 2025

Video showing some activities at Carinya, filmed by Frank Beaurepaire.

Sources:

• Lorne – A Living History by Doug Stirling
• Lorne Historical Society Collections
• Moylan & Watt 1994