Lorne Historical Society Exhibition 100 Years of Disaster

On 16th February 2024 the Lorne Historical Society opened its latest exhibition, “100 Years of Natural Disasters”. The opening coincided with the 41st anniversary of Ash Wednesday.

The exhibition curated by Gary Allen, is more than bushfires. It looks at the effects on our township of floods, high seas, storms and the pandemic.

The exhibition is open every Sunday from 10.00 am until noon and the Society encourages people to record their stories. The Society wishes to thank the local CFA and Dee Stewart, in particular, for the loan of memorabilia. Also to the Anglesea Historical Society for their assistance.

 

Bushfires

Black Friday (13 January 1939)

On most sides the fire threatening Lorne. The homes of Mr. C.Inderberg, dairyman; Mr. J. Whitehead, and Mrs. Gibson were destroyed About twenty houses in Little Colac. and the swing bridge over the mouth of the Erskine River were destroyed. The foreshore was one big camp of refugees, with helpers keeping them supplied with tea and sandwiches.

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Wye River, 25 December 2015

Lorne evacuated due to bushfire threat from the West. Fires destroyed 116 homes at Wye River.

Floods

Pandemics

Spanish Flu

Spanish Flu was an early pandemic that made its mark on Lorne. “Keverell”, 16 Armytage Street owned by Mrs Topp was used as a hospital during the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1919 and was run by a local lady who was a nurse and had been authorised by the Winchelsea Shire Council to take charge.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid 19 Pandemic began in Victoria in Melbourne in 2020. The initial wave began when a man arrived in Melbourne from Guangzhou, China, as Australia’s first confirmed coronavirus case. On 16 March 2020, Victoria declared a State of Emergency. Lockdown #1 commences: stay home; masks; social distancing; hand sanitising; home schooling; home business; no leaving home except for essential services; no travel.

March 26, 2020 recorded the first coronavirus deaths in Victoria. Victoria records 671 cases and 7 deaths. Lockdown #2 followed with stage four restrictions imposed. Melbourne encased in Australian Defence Force policed ‘ring of steel’. Stage four restrictions extended until October. Victorian death toll reaches 800.

Melbourne’s “ring of steel” ends. No cases or contacts recorded in Lorne. Lorne residents exemplary with adherence to mask, social distancing, and hygiene regulations. Some people moved to live in Lorne during Civic-19 Pandemic, working from home, with children enrolled in the local school. By 30 April 2024, over 6 million confirmed cases were recorded with more than 19,000 deaths attributed to Covid-19.

“Business As Usual” was painted by Simon James Holloway during the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. The painting was acquired by the Lorne Historical Society thanks to the generous support of Auden and Allan Walls.

Shipwrecks

Storms