Lorne, The Wild Colonial Club
In 1957 Lorne residents and tourists got their first taste of what has become the town’s modern cosmopolitan character. Alistair and Robin Smith rented the ‘dance hall’ and ran a spectacularly successful club they called The Wild Colonial and did they pack them in. The Smith family infused a lot of character into the town and their style really caught the imagination of the public.
The Wild Colonial Club was established in the dance hall, the site of the old picture theatre. It was a significant cultural icon in Lorne during the 1950s and 1960s. It was located on the foreshore at the end of Grove Road. It was known as a beatnik and jazz venue for its live music and parties. It had a mezzanine floor that looked out through cypress trees to the surf.
- 1960, cast of the production of West Side Story in front of the Wild Colonial Club
- Rock and Roll at The Wild Colonial Club
- The Spinning Wheels, photo by Trevor Leake
Sources:
- Google search 2024
- Lorne Community Facebook site 2024
- https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/the-arab-cafe/#
- https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/the-arab-cafe/
- Generative AI Gemini response, April 2024
- Lorne A Living History by Doug Stirling
- https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10227344651295644&set=gm.6418221798205594&idorvanity=2457799027581244
- Gary Joseph Oreo post, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/66518
- Facebook comments by John Agar