Lorne War Memorial

A freestone cenotaph was first erected in the library paddock in 1923 and has been moved three times to finally be in place at about 47 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 leading 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.  They appear to have been removed in the 1950s when the paddock was transformed into the Stribling Recreation Reserve.

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. 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 is now finally at peace in Mountjoy Parade, opposite the shops and surrounded by a neat lawn.

Sources:

• Lorne A Living History by Doug Stirling
• Lorne Historical Society photos