Lorne Historical Society and history centre
Discover the rich history of Lorne, The Great Ocean Road and the people who helped shape a coastal village into a booming international tourist destination. Lorne Historical Society and the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre are a rich source of tourist information for Lorne visitors. Contact the society for more information or to inquire about membership.
Before Loutitt Bay
It is hard in the twenty first century to agree on ‘the facts’ about life in what is called the Otways before the arrival of Europeans, and during the period after 1835 when British sovereignty was introduced. Very little evidence today exists in the public arena to say precisely how life was for the Aboriginal people who have...Read more
The story of Lorne
Lorne Historical Society has documented the story of the coastal settlement. The first story of Lorne is of the Gadubanud (King Parrot) people who occupied the rainforest plateau and rugged coastal area of the Wada Wurrung to the northeast, Gulidjan to the north and Girai Wurrung to the west. Today the Gunditjmara people are the...Read more
Families of Lorne
There have been many families closely associated with the development of Lorne. Each family has its own unique story and some have shared their stories in books about the town. Lorne Historical Society has documented many of those stories for its history centre. If you wish to contribute information abut any of these families or...Read more
The history of The Great Ocean Road
A ground-breaking plan to employ returned soldiers resulted in one of the world’s most recognised and iconic tourist routes, The Great Ocean Road. Lorne Historical Society has compiled a collection of information and photographs about the road’s construction and this page provides an overview of the road’s origins and the trials and tribulations of its...Read more
The Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre
The Great Ocean Road Story is a purpose-built permanent exhibition in the new Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre. Located in the Lorne Visitor Centre, 15 Mountjoy Parade. Lorne, Victoria, Australia, the centre is open every day except Christmas Day, 9am-5pm. Phone (03) 5289 1152 or 1300 891152. The Great Ocean Road is a memorial to the...Read more
