Early Lorne Settlement

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. Subsequently in 1846, surveyor George Smythe had the names of Louttit Bay and nearby Apollo Bay, registered at Superintendent Latrobe’s Office in Melbourne. No objections were raised and these names remain today.

1846, Ship “Rodney” commanded by Captain Loutitt (LHS photo)

Henry Noon, Master of the cutter Mary, identified Louttit Bay as a safe place for sailing vessels to shelter in the event of extreme Westerly wind. As reported by the Argus newspaper of 26 December in 1848. Louttit Bay was described as about one mile north-east of Flat Top Point, with a fine sandy bay with two fresh water rivers, five miles (8 km) from Split Point (Aireys Inlet) and about 9 miles (15 km) from Cape Patton.

Mitchell Library NSW, sketch showing Louttit Bay by Captain Noon, c.1848

In the above sketch you can see a profile of the hills from Cape Patton to Split Point. You can see Mt George drawn, now Teddys Lookout. Fresh water is marked, now being St George River and the Erskine river.

On the left side of the Erskine river is marked as Hurds Station. It was later reported in 1853 that John Herd established the Louttit Bay Cattle Station.

On the right side of the Erskine is marked huts, believed to be those of William Lindsay who was granted a Splitters License to harvest timber in 1849, and known to have built just above the Swing Bridge, near a small creek.

Also visible on the sketch are the rocks of Point Grey and numbers showing the depth of the water, from 3 to 7 fathoms. A jetty is marked on the sketch.

Text of the above image

Loutit Bay Lat 38.5 Long 144 to East

and 31 miles NE from Cape Otway and about the same distance
WSW from point Nepean and is framed by flat toped point to the south and
Split point to the NE and is a fine spacious bay ??? five miles
long and one and a half deep. Deep water from 3 to 7 fathoms
and good holding grounds and sheltered from all westerly winds
from SSE west about to ENE. Coasters bound to the Westerly
would find it a good ??stone from westerly winds with the
opportunity of obtaining fresh water fire wood beef and
abundance of fish.

H Noon

 

 

 

Sources:

  • Lorne A Living History by Doug Stirling
  • Lorne Historical Society Collections
  • Mitchell Library NSW
  • Ian Walding conversation February 2025
  • TROVE searches
  • Loutit Bay drawing