Lorne Bushfires

Lorne has been threatened by bushfires numerous times. Even the grounding of the Hinemoa in 1908 was largely due to poor visibility caused by fires in the Otways. The most destructive fires were the Black Friday fire in 1939 and the Ash Wednesday fire in 1983.

The Rural Brigade log Friday January 1, 1939 is quite understated.
“Summary. Bushfire.Town enclosed by fire. Turnout time 9 am to 11 pm. Attending 4 officers, 14 members. Captain Ernie Allen. George Huxley, Fred Howard, Charlie Brown, Marshall Smith, Don Alsop, Neil and Harry Fletcher, George Holliday, Bert Love, Eric and Allen Schram, Norm and Eric Allen, Percy Matthews, Keith Zierk, Lyn Jarrett, Lindsay Dayton and Eddie Ridgeway. Remarks Lorne completely surrounded.”

There was no possible hope of saving the houses that were destroyed, no water was available. Several people were saved from burning buildings by firemen who did gallant work all day. Six firemen had to be attended to for burns and exhaustion.

The Geelong Advertiser reported “almost surrounded by flames in a narrow track in the bush country N Smith and E Allen had a terrifying experience as they rode for their lives on horses for a distance of four miles to avoid destruction…. The scene on the beach, river and foreshore resembled an earthquake, for residents and visitors to Lorne expected to see the entire township devoured by the terrifying blaze.” At least 23 houses, mostly in ‘Little Colac’ North Lorne were destroyed.

What became known as the Otway Ash Wednesday fire began at 14.56 on the 16th of February 1983 in the old railway reserve in Dean’s Marsh. By 17.56 it had swept through the bush to the coast at Lorne where 60 houses mostly in north Lorne were burnt. The golf club house was also destroyed. Most residents were forced to shelter on the beach. A south westerly wind change at 18.40 with gusts of 100 to 160 km per hour fanned the inferno along the coast almost to Jan Juc. The near cyclonic winds created an unstoppable fire storm. The heat of the fire rose to 2000º C, exceeding the record heat created by the Allies bombing of Dresden. 217 houses were lost in Moggs Creek , Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet. A further 120 houses were destroyed in Anglesea. Tragically three people lost their lives; Colin Barton, Llyod Venables and Ille Mierra.

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, and helpers kept them supplied with tea and sandwiches.

During the morning First-Constable Mills and a number of Lorne residents went about five miles into the bush and evacuated a number of women and children from the mill areas. The mills, however, were not destroyed. By noon the position at Lorne became serious and a call for volunteers to fight the fire was made at Gcelong, and hundreds of men and many motorists immediately reported at the police station. The Ford Motor Co. despatched 50 men and a number of vehicles to Lome, and other large businesses also made available some of their employes. in addition, about 100 volunteers were despatched by the police. At about 3 p.m. the position at Lome was desperate. The fires having reached almost to the back of the residential area. Household goods of every description were packed on the beach, and motor cars were parked in the shallow water of the river. The houses destroyed at Little Colac included the beautiful two-story stone residence, Waverley House, of Miss Cecily Lascclles. The damage is estimated at about £3000. Other houses destroyed were those of Mr. J. Doyle (Geelong), ond the following Colac residents: — Messrs. T. Reeves. Wilcox, Wally Gaylard, S. Samson, Les Swayn, G. Wallace, Lebat and McLcod.. Several camps were destroyed and the Country Roads Board camp near She Oak River was wiped out. This camp had accommodated between 30 and 40 men. Mr. L. Smithers last his house on the Ersklne-road.

(Source: The Age, Saturday 14 January 1939, page 26)

Because of the heavy pall of smoke over the township, the fires were not a brilliant spectacle. In fact, it was impossible to ascertain where a fire began or where it was until it emerged from the shroud of smoke. Outbuildings at the rear of the “Chalet” caught alight, and for a period there was danger of the main building being involved.

The wind developed into a gale and constantly chopped around from north to west, making the efforts of the beaters most difficult. Roaring along the Erskine the fire soon caught the dairy farm of Mr C.Inderberg, the pressure of water available being quite inadequate to save the buildings. Within a few minutes, the whole property was alight and the houses around were menaced for an hour after midday.

Just after “Kia Ora” was evacuated, the fire had reached Mrs Gibson’s home and reduced it to ruins. Very little of Inderberg’s or Gibson’s properties was saved. By 2 pm Lorne North was a blazing mass of fire. All the outbuildings at “Waverley” the beautiful two-storey residence of Miss Cecily Lascelles, developed into an inferno and the home was destroyed.

Ash Wednesday 1983

The fire broke out approximately 3 pm at Deans Marsh and moved towards Lorne, and eventually onto the ridges above the town. The fire then moved to the beach, where many people took refuge in the sea. The fire continued to burn towards Aireys Inlet, where houses were hit with a wall of flame and immense firestorm. Moving at extraordinary speed, the fire moved through Anglesea, houses were lost, but main part of town was saved. The fires burnt on through the night towards Jan Juc and Torquay and was eventually contained early morning near Bellbrae. Three people were killed and 578 houses and other buildings were lost.

(Source: knowledge.aidr.org.ar accessed 22 April 2024)

Wye River, 25 December 2015

On Christmas Day 2015, 98 homes in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek were destroyed by a fire that started from a lightning strike on the Jamison Track on December 19. Mercifully no lives were lost. The pub, store and SLSC were saved. 60 tankers, 13 aircraft, and over 500 firefighters fought the blaze. The fire continued to burn until 21 January. In all 2500 hectares were burnt. Lorne was evacuated on Christmas Day but fortunately the fire did not reach the town. Those remaining watched the palls of smoke rise like thunder heads into the sky to the south.