Lorne Victoria Australia

Aboriginal Heritage

The Indigenous custodians of the land that makes up the Otway Ranges is believed to be the Gadubanud people. Their connection to land stretches back thousands of years as evidenced by the aboriginal middens around Lorne. The Gadubanud people occupied the rainforest plateau and rugged coastline of Cape Otway covering the present towns of Lorne and...
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Foreshore

Lorne Foreshore has always been very important to Lorne. From the earliest days of Europe settlement boats were landed on the foreshore and fish were caught with nets. It was the site of the original Sea Baths as well as being used for the first aeroplanes to land. Recreational activities including cricket, football, tennis, bowls...
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Great Ocean Road

A War Memorial This magnificent project began officially on the 19th September 1919, and was opened as far as Lorne on the 18th March 1922, with much pomp and ceremony. The work was hard and the going was tough, for the first three years of construction. Small gangs of 20 to 30 labours were employed...
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Lorne P-12 College

In 1879,  John Baxter and Son of Geelong West, erected a  stone  building measuring 24 ft x 16 ft for £471, using stone quarried from the Erskine River. The building was completed with a bell tower  centrally situated on the roof. It was opened on September 16th, 1879 under Head Teacher John P Danaher, who...
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Publications

Over the years the Lorne Community and the Lorne Historical Society have published various documents that reflects the life and times of Lorne. Some of the publications include: Committee for Lorne page in The Surf Coast Times Lorne Independent CFA Fire News 1851-1998 Lorne News Maps Plaques

Louttit Bay

In 1841 Captain James Loutit (or Louttit, or Loutitt), Master of the schooner Will Watch reported sheltering from north-westerly winds in the protected bay in front of present day Lorne. He carried cargo around the Otway coastline in many different vessels like the schooner Apollo and later took the first shipload of wool to England....
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Photographers

The Lorne Historical Society is fortunate to have a collection of photographs from several photographers who ran businesses in Lorne, particularly during holiday seasons, to capture scenes that bring the times and people back for our appreciation. Some early photographers include: George Rose, 1880 John Norman, 1884 – 1900 William Anderson, 1890’s – 1948 Albert...
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Sports

Sport has historically been part of Lorne. From the earliest day Lorne has a football team that played on The Flat. During the guesthouse boom many guesthouses played inter-guesthouse sports. Some Lorne sporting clubs include: Cricket Club Football and Netball Club Golf Club Lawn Bowls Club Tennis Club

Swimming

In the early 1880s the Council was receiving complaints from Lorne’s residents about indiscreet bathing in the Erskine river and as these were times of modesty, the Lorne Sea Bathing Company was formed in 1881 by Thomas Anderson and the Mountjoy brothers. They erected sea baths and bathing boxes on the main beach so that...
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Swing Bridge

Mr Hammerton who lived just above the location of the Swing Bridge was said to have gone around the town collecting money from business men and anybody else who was willing to donate. The actual construction of the bridge took place in 1937 and was done by the Public Works Department and the Winchelsea Shire...
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The Flat

The small flat area on Lorne’s foreshore was the centre of the early town where the pioneers forged our history. The Flat as it became known, was the hub, where everyone gathered for the town’s events and it often became a soaked quagmire during heavy storms. The flat area on the foreshore was used for...
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