Lorne Victoria Australia

A freestone cenotaph was first erected in the library paddock in 1923, to commemorate World War One. It has been moved three times to finally be in place at 57 Mountjoy Parade.

An Avenue of Honour for soldiers lost in World War One was constructed on the library paddock, now Stribling Reserve oval. An avenue of red gum trees was planted diagonally across the area to the cenotaph. The trees all had metal plaques on them listing the returned men, unfortunately none of these have been located.

When the Stribling Sports Reserve was constructed on the library paddock, the cenotaph was moved to the Erskine riverbank, diagonally opposite Cora Lynn, near the present day Information Centre in the mid 1950s. A few years later the Country Roads Board had a grandiose plan for a curved bridge across the river at the new site, so up came the cenotaph again and it was reconstructed on the northern end of what was then a car park beside the swimming pool.

In 2001 the cenotaph was moved yet again when the Foreshore Committee decided that the whole area, including the car park, would become a recreational complex. The cenotaph was finally at peace in Mountjoy Parade, opposite the shops and surrounded by a neat lawn.

John Hammerton, a staunch RSL man, had ended up with the four heavy cornerstones and joining chains, off the original memorial around 1975. They were mounted at the lefthand side of the entrance to his property on Minapre street for about 30 years. The memorial only had a quite plain plinth for many years, but it was understood that they belonged back with the original plinth. The RSL were informed and about 2001 when the memorial plinth made its final relocation, the cornerstones and chain were duly picked up and replaced where they belonged.

The official opening of the Lorne Anzac Memorial Park was held on the 27th March 2026. It was opened by Dan Tehan (Federal Member for Bannon), Des Callaghan, (State Senior Vice President RSL), Neil Hillard (Lorne RSL President), Caleb Hurrell, (Great Ocean Road Coast Committee), Craig Hunt (Former Lorne RSL President).

Sources:

  • Lorne A Living History by Doug Stirling
  • Lorne Historical Society photos
  • “The Lorne Cenotaph: at last a home” by John Agar
  • Email to John Agar from Leigh Hammerton, March 2026