Timeline - Lorne Historical Society

1788

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.

1841

Captain Louttit sheltered in the bay during a storm; it was marked on his chart and became known as Louttit Bay.

1846

Assistant Surveyor G. D. Smythe surveyed the coast from Barwon Heads to Cape Otway, including the traditional lands of the GADUBANUD (meaning “King Parrot”) people, in the area now known as Lorne.

1846

The name Louttit Bay appears for the first time on record in Surveyor G. D. Smythe’s report. George Coppin, actor and owner of the sloop “Apollo” whose Master was Captain Louttit, had the names Apollo Bay and Louttit Bay registered at Superintendent La Trobe’s office.

1849

The first European settler William Lindsay granted a Splitters License.

1850

Monday January 28th, William Firth Lindsay, aged 8, and his brother Joseph Southwell Lindsay aged 4, were buried and died in a sand cave collapse on the banks of the Erskine River, near the Swing Bridge, and later buried on the bank above the river.

1853

The Louttit Bay “Cattle Run” was established by Mr. Herd, succeeded by Mr. Asplin, then Mr. Short.

1854

Friday June 16th, Schooner “Osprey” wrecked in heavy seas.

1855

Saturday, February 17th, Schooner “Rebel” ran aground on main Lorne beach but was later refloated.

1859

A telegraph line linked Louttit Bay to Melbourne.

1862

Schooner “Otway” driven ashore in gale force winds and wrecked.

1864

Louttit Bay added to the Winchelsea Shire.

1865

Mountjoy family erects a two-room dwelling.

1865

The “Sanctuary” on Erskine River first used for church services.

1868

Mountjoy’s erect a Temperance Hotel (now Erskine House).

1869

Silk started the Louttit Bay sawmill (near the heath beds, Deans Marsh Road).

1871

Louttit Bay Township was renamed Lorne in honour of the marriage of Princess Louise (Queen Victoria’s daughter) to the Marquis of Lorne.

1871

Mr. George Darbyshire laid out the main township of Lorne.

1872

Deans Marsh to Lorne track surveyed.

1874

The first Post Office opened at Erskine House (Thomas Mountjoy as Postmaster).

1876

Lorne Hotel built for Joseph Duncan and Theodore Hancock.

1878

Anthony Kelly’s tender was accepted for the erection of the long-awaited jetty.

1878

The Lorne Cemetery Gazetted.

1878

August, Ketch “Henry” wrecked on main Lorne beach.

1878

Mr. John Stirling opened Lorne’s first Bakehouse and Store.

1879

Tuesday, 16th September Lorne State School opened. Mr. P. Danaher first Headmaster.

1879

Grand Pacific Hotel built for Mr. Henry Gwynne.

1880

The first church services were held at Erskine House.

1880

The “FOAM” overturned and sank.

1880

Cobb & Co. and Mountjoy coaches ran from the Railway Station at Winchelsea to Lorne, taking 6 hours for the journey.

1880

Rotunda at Teddy’s Lookout built during the 1880’s.

1881

All Saints Church of England

Sunday, 14th November, All Saints Church of England opened. Built on the corner of Charles and Albert Streets.

1881

First burial in Lorne Cemetery, Mrs. Martha Snowden, aged 36 years.

1882

Lorne Sea Bathing Company erected sea baths on the Main Beach near the present swimming pool. A few years later they were destroyed by easterlies.

1884

All Saints Church of England shifted to its present site by horse and bullock team. (190 Mountjoy Parade).

1884

Friday March 20th, the American Ship the “Paul Jones” caught fire and sank 12 miles out to sea off Lorne. Captain and crew were rescued by the mail ship “Liguria”.

1884

Library hall built on the corner of Smith and William Streets.

1887

Queens Park established.

1887

First meeting of the Lorne Water Trust.

1888

The installation of electric light by J. S. Norman, November.

1888

The Lorne Water Scheme built. Water was reticulated to residents from a basin above the town.

1889

November, Post Office foundation stone laid at 152 Mountjoy Parade.

1889

Lorne Post Office opened.

1889

A water supply was connected to the Lorne township.

1890

Wymbooliel School opened. Closed 1904. This school was situated seven miles off the Colac-Lorne Road, west of Benwerrin.

1891

March 3rd, Barque “Godfrey” wrecked near Godfrey Creek, Great Ocean Road with no loss of life. In three separate boating accidents five men drowned during salvage operations.

1892

St. Cuthberts Presbyterian Church opened. In 1977 it became part of the Uniting Church.

1895

Queens Park was gazetted.

1895

“Ravenswood” built at 70 Smith Street for James Buick.

1896

Lorne Football Club formed.

1896

Friday 29th May, Lorne Foreshore Committee first meeting.

1897

Railway extended from Birregurra to Deans Marsh.

1898

Coal discovered 16km inland, transported to Deans Marsh by the Benwerrin Coal Mining Company.

1904

Armistead Brothers erected a sawmill on the ridge between the Henderson Creek and the St George River, and constructed a 2’ 3” tramway to Lorne.

1904

September, further extensions to the pier.

1904

Actual Library Building added to Library Hall.

1905

Teachers residence cnstructed in Swiss Chalet style.

1905

Pier restructured as L shape.

1906

Lorne State School extended.

1908

Tuesday January 21st, the Barque “Hinemoa” ran around at Point Grey. She was floated off the next day and towed to Melbourne by the tug “Eagle”. In 1917 she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat off the English coast.

1914

First Red Cross meeting held.

1917

April 23rd, St Cuthberts Church established.

1917

Lorne Picture Company, on the foreshore, began showing silent pictures.

1917

The Council introduced fees for camping on the Foreshore.

1918

The Great Ocean Road Trust was formed, and plans commenced for the Great Ocean Road.

1918

The first Hospital in Lorne opened. It was at “Keverell” (16 Armytage Street) at the time owned by Mrs. Topp. It was opened to deal with the Spanish Flu epidemic.

1919

An Avenue of Honour, with Red Flowering gum trees, were planted in the Recreation Reserve (now Stribling Oval). Each tree had a brass plaque with the name of the soldier from Lorne who served in World War 1.

1919

Friday 28th November, Lorne Hotel destroyed by fire. Rebuilt 1920.

1919

Jura built for Clive Campbell. It was constructed with Knitlock which was patented by Sir Walter Burley Griffin in 1917.

1920

Surfing at Lorne

Louis Whyte from Geelong, filmed by Frank Beaureapaire in 1920, surfing at Lorne, using a redwood surfboard bought from the famous Duke Kahanamoku, Waikiki beach, Hawaii. Whyte is believed to be the first person to ride a stand up surfboard in Lorne.

1920

A power generating plant is built on the Erskine River near what is now the Tourist Information Centre.

1922

A tollgate installed on the Great Ocean Road to help with construction expenses. Relocated to “The Springs” in 1929.

1922

The Great Ocean Road officially opened as far as Lorne.

1922

Bi-plane lands on Lorne Foreshore

Pioneer aviator R.G. Carey landed on the beach near the mouth of the Erskine River in a Maurice Farman Shorthorn bi-plane and gave the locals joyrides.

1923

The freestone Cenotaph was first erected in the old library paddock, now in Mountjoy Parade.

1924

First passenger road service between Geelong and Lorne.

1924

Deans Marsh – Lorne Road surveyed and declared a public road in 1929.

1927

Thursday 30th June, Benwerrin Tea Rooms and Post Office closed.

1927

Old coach road replaced with the current alignment.

1930

The first Bush Nursing Service commenced in Lorne.

1932

The Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay was officially opened.

1935

Roller skating rink built, bottom of Grove Road. Demolished in 1964.

1936

Babington’s sawmill at Benwerrin started operations.

1936

Armstead, Clissold and Allen formed the A.C.A. Mill on the Little Erskine River.

1936

The fishing industry commenced in Lorne with 2 boats. In the 1940’s 25 boats were working.

1936

Lorne was connected to the state electricity grid The SEC.

1936

Thursday 23rd July, the Lorne Fire Brigade was formed.

1936

The toll gate on the G.O.R. was closed Friday, October 2nd.

1937

The tollhouse building was moved to 4 Minapre Street Lorne, its present site.

1937

The Swing Bridge at the mouth of the Erskine River was built.

1937

The Chalet guest house in Smith Street was built and opened for business on Christmas eve.

1937

Lorne Theatre built on the corner of Grove Road and Mountjoy Pde Saturday 18th December, Lorne Theatre opened.

1939

Thursday 12th October, Lorne Red Cross re-organised.

1939

Stone Comfort Station built on the Foreshore.

1939

13 Jan Black Friday Bushfire, 7 houses destroyed in North Lorne, Mills threatened.

1940

By the 1940’s Lorne had changed from a town with 2 hotels to a town with 2 hotels and 21 guest houses.

1940

The Lorne R.S.L. Sub-branch was formed.

1941

The hut at Queens Park used by the volunteer Air Observers Corp as a Spotters Hit to check for enemy activity.

1943

People Evacuated from Malaya to Lorne

British citizens were evacuated from Malaya and billeted at Argyll House, children attended Lorne School. (See Argyll House for more information.)

1944

Camouflage Nets made by Lorne Volunteers

Mrs Kenrick received a letter from Commonwealth of Australia, signed by the minister for the Army, F. M. Forde. The letter acknowledges the production of camouflage nets for the Army.

1946

New bridge opened over the Erskine River.

1946

Otway Street constructed to create a Lorne bypass.

1947

Lorne Life Saving Club reformed after closing in 1939 due to World War 2.

1948

The Lorne Fishermen’s Co-Operative was formed.

1950

During the 1950’s the Lorne Surf Club started.

1950

In the early 1950s Lorne School changed its name to Lorne Central School.

1951

Lorne acquired its first ambulance, using volunteer drivers.

1952

“Scotchman’s Hill” named by Mr. Frank Jackson, President of the Lorne Life Saving Club.

1952

Lorne Kindergarten opened in Library hall, corner Smith and William Streets.

1952

The second Surf Life Saving Club was built.

1953

Infant Welfare Centre opened in Church of England hall, corner of Smith and William Streets.

1953

The Kindergarten was held in the Church of England hall, teacher Mrs Hilda Huxtable, assistant: Mrs Betty Cornford.

1954

Kindergarten went to Library hall, teacher Mrs Rita Carmichael, assistant: Mrs Les Watson.

1954

Cenotaph moved from the paddock (now Stribling Oval) to the top bank of the Erskine River near the present site of the Lorne Visitor Information Centre.

1954

The Lorne Freemasons Lodge began with 56 founding members. A Masonic Temple was opened in 1967.

1954

Jarratt’s Laundry opened. Closed 1982.

1954

S. L. Hall built. Sold to the Education Department in 1996.

1954

The Lorne Bowling Club was formed on the foreshore at the end of Bay Street.

1954

Lorne Golf Club formed, playing at “Allenvale”.

1956

Sunday, January 15th, “Our Lady of Fatima” Catholic Church opened.

1956

Friday 26th October, first Masonic Lodge meeting held in the RSL Hall.

1956

The Smith brothers Graham, Alistair and Robyn opened the “Arab” coffee shop and cafe in Mountjoy Parade. It had the third espresso machine in Victoria.

1957

The Smith brothers opened the Wild Colonial Club a dance and live music venue in the Beach Hall.

1957

Lorne School fire.

1958

The towns rock seawall was undermined and collapsed in a heavy storm.

1958

Town flagpole erected by the Lorne Red Cross in memory of Mary Allen.

1958

Groyne on beach built to prevent soil erosion.

1959

Sunday 8th March, the Lorne Community Hospital opened in a refurbished home previously owned by Mrs. Edward Manifold.

1959

Sunday 15th November, new Ambulance Station in William Street opened.

1960

February, Lorne Aquatic Club opened.

1961

Saturday 10th June, Lorne Infant Welfare Centre and Kindergarten reopened in Smith Street.

1961

Football Oval moved from the foreshore to the Stribling Oval.

1961

The Lorne Angling and Aquatic Club began. A boat ramp was built in 1962.

1962

The CBA bank began operating in Lorne, was formerly SSB.

1962

The first Lorne Opportunity Shop opened in late 1962, under the old Cumberland Hotel.

1962

First houses were connected to the new sewerage system.

1962

Tuesday, 16th October, American B-57 bomber crashed into the sea near Aireys Inlet.

1963

July 8th, Lorne Opportunity Shop moved to vacant SSB premises, open 11-2 pm every Friday.

1964

The Lorne Central School became the Lorne Higher Elementary School . Students could now enrol in Form 4.

1965

Thursday 1st July, Lorne Senior Citizens Club was formed.

1966

Friday, 26th October, first meeting of the Lorne Planning and Preservation League.

1967

Saturday, 15th July, Masonic Temple opened in Smith Street.

1967

Australian Surf Riding Championships held in Lorne.

1967

Lorne Memorial Swimming Pool opened in December as the “Lillian Beaurepaire Memorial Swimming Pool.”

1968

6 February a bushfire burnt 1215 ha on the north side of a Lorne. A number of outbuildings were also destroyed.

1968

Cenotaph moved to beside the Lorne Memorial Swimming Pool.

1968

Masonic Temple in Smith Street officially opened, and first meeting held.

1968

Tuesday 5th March, Lorne Historical Society held its first Meeting.

1969

February, Lorne Opportunity Shop moved to Mrs Ivy Baldry’s premises on east side of Mountjoy Pde.

1969

Lorne Opp. Shop purchased land for $5,000 at 98 Mountjoy Pde. to build their current premises.

1969

Thursday, 14th August, the RSL held a tree planting ceremony at the Memorial Swimming Pool.

1969

Tuesday, 26th November, Lorne School fire.

1969

December, Lorne Golf Club opened on its present site in Holiday Road. Destroyed by fire on Ash Wednesday 8th Feb. 1983, reopened 1st April 1984.

1970

“Kia Ora” Caravan Park opened on what was originally Erskine House vegetable garden and orchard.

1970

Library Hall demolished.

1970

The World Surfing Championships were held at Lorne and Bells Beach. The opening ceremony was in Lorne and many of the surfers were quartered here.

1970

March, formation of Lorne Lions Club.

1970

All bathing boxes were permanently removed from the Lorne beach.

1971

Lorne Opportunity Shop moved into their own premises, officially opened June 4th.

1972

Lorne Telephone Exchange went automatic.

1973

The State Government bought Erskine House from Mr. Hector Stribling. It was run under a Committee of Management.

1973

The township of Lorne declared “AN AREA OF NATURAL BEAUTY and SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE”.

1973

The last of the bathing boxes removed from the foreshore.

1975

Sunday, 11th May, the Uniting Church was classified by the National Trust.

1978

The first stage of the Lions Elderly Citizens Village in Clissold Street opened.

1979

The Lorne Higher Elementary School enrolled students in Years 11 and 12 for the first time.

1980

Lorne Leisure Centre opened.

1981

Wednesday, 5th August, first edition of the Lorne Mercury. Last edition Thursday, 31st March 1983.

1981

First “Official” “Pier to Pub” event.

1981

Six more units opened at the Lions Village.

1981

October 15th, Andrew’s Chicken Joint established, at the current address.

1981

Laundry Service Closed

1982

The first section of the Lawn Section of the Lorne Cemetery was completed.

1983

Wednesday 16th February “Ash Wednesday”. Fires devastated the coast with 76 houses destroyed in the Lorne area.

1983

Buildings on the “Cumberland” Guest House site were demolished, and the new “Cumberland” Resort was opened in 1989.

1983

The Lorne Fisherman’s Cooperative was sold to a private enterprise, Lorne Fisheries( the Katos brothers Christos and Bill and Henry Love).

1985

April 14th Bert Alsop Walking Track opened.

1985

The Lorne Nursing Home was opened in February.

1985

Post Office Demolished

1986

Lorne Surf Life Saving Club was extended.

1986

Sunday 19th October, first Meeting of “Friends of Queens Park”.

1986

Senior Citizens building opened in Otway Street.

1987

The Leisure Centre was constructed. Designed by Morris and Parotta , built by KA Purdy.

1988

The Cumberland Guest House was demolished. The new Cumberland Timeshire Resort opened in 1989.

1989

Saturday, January 28th, new Lorne Water Board building opened on the corner of Polwarth Road and William Street.

1989

Babbington’s sawmill at Benwerrin closed.

1989

Teddy’s Lookout Compass

Compass was donated by Friends of Queen’s Park

1991

The State Savings Bank became the Commonwealth Bank.

1992

A 50 tonne adult male Blue Whale was washed ashore at Cathedral Rock near Lorne, believed to have died from malnutrition.

1993

First “Rock Above the Falls” concert.

1994

The Winchelsea Shire ceased to exist. On Wednesday, 9th March; Lorne became part of the newly established Surf Coast Shire.

1995

The front veranda of “Allenby” at 46 Mountjoy Parade was removed and a two-shop development built on the site. One known as “Louttit Bakery” and the other “The Ovenhouse Café and Pizza Shop”.

1995

In June the Stribling Oval used for the first time by the Lorne Football Club.

1996

The house named “Waverely” at 5 Deans Marsh Road, built by Staughton’s then owned by Mrs. Lascelles, then Miss Cecily Lascelles, and after her death Miss Hilda Lascelles who died in 1995. In 1996 it was bought by Mr. & Mrs. St John Sutton who converted it into studio apartments.…
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1997

Henry Love was the Mayor of the Surf Coast Shire.

1997

The original old butchers’ shop at 112 Mountjoy Parade, built by Dormans and later owned by Alsop brothers, also the adjoining building which had been used by Mr. George & Mrs. Ann Burton as a clothes shop and later the TAB, finally became the “Clothes Machine” shop. This was finally…
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1997

During 1997, “Cora Lynn” Guest House at 22-28 Mountjoy Parade, was rebuilt and new units added beside the original building as well as a row of units on the rear boundary.

1998

The Western Coast Regional Board’s Lorne Coastal Action Plan was published. It led to major changes on the foreshore. The land between the SLSC and the pool was to be used for passive recreation and water based activities only. The tennis courts, toilets, bowls club and car park were all…
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1998

April 26th, Lorne Historical Society unveiled plaque commemorating ‘Spotters WW2’.

1999

Friday 9th April, “Fig Tree” Community House opened by the Hon. Ian Smith and Surf Coast Mayor Julie Hansen.

1999

In May, Lorne Beach Books opened at 108A Mountjoy Parade by Meryl and David Bartak.

1999

Lorne Historical Society moved from 56 Mountjoy Parade to “Fig Tree” Community House, 16 Mountjoy Parade.

1999

The Lorne Health Centre was moved to Fig Tree Community House.

1999

Monday 9th August, new sewage treatment plant opened, Deans Marsh Road, by Deputy Premier Pat McNamara.

1999

Saturday, 8th January, the third Lorne Surf Club House opened by the Hon. Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria. Operational for 2000 season.

2000

New Police Station opened in Smith Street.

2001

Friday 30th March, opening of the Lorne Emergency Services Complex by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services the Hon. Andre Haermeyer MLA.

2001

The first edition of the Lorne Independent was published in November.

2001

GORC leased the Lorne Memorial Swimming Pool to a private consortium. It reopened as the Lorne Sea Baths with a gym, restaurant, cafe, spa and shops added.

2001

April Cenotaph moved from beside the pool to up opposite the hardware store.

2001

Tuesday, 17th April, new board walk opened along the northern banks of the Erskine River.

2001

New “Paddle Boat” kiosk opened.

2002

Lorne Bowls Club relocated from the common.

2003

Wednesday, 16th April, drug ship “Pong Su” came to Lorne.

2003

The merged(1997) Lorne and Aireys Schools became known as Lorne – Aireys Inlet P-12 College.

2003

Sunday 23rd November. New Bowling Club opened at Erskine House after being moved from the Lorne Common. It was opened by Mr. Stewart Stribling on behalf of Mr. Hector Stribling.

2003

The crane on the pier was condemned.

2003

May: first meeting of the Combined Probus Club of Lorne.

2003

Ridgeways supermarket became FOODWORKS.

2004

Boardwalk completed along main beach from William Street to Grove Road.

2004

The Great Otway National Park was declared. It combined a number of Crown Land reserves, the Otway National Park, Angahook Lorne State Park, Carlisle State Park and Melba Gully. It was gazette in 2005.

2004

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee was formed to manage coastal crown land from Point Impossible to The Cumberland River. The Lorne Foreshore Committee of Management ceased to exist.

2005

Tuesday 28th June, Kay Langan Lorne Skate Park opened by Sports Minister Justin Maddern. It as sponsored by the Lorne Lions Club.

2005

End of timeshare at the Cumberland Resort.

2005

Inaugural Great Ocean Road Marathon, 44 km from Lorne to Apollo Bay and half marathon Kenner River to Apollo Bay.

2005

Removal of the wooden groynes from the main beach to create a safe running track for the World Surf Life Saving Championships.

2006

Saturday, 4th February the new Lorne Hospital opened. It was rebuilt on the site of the old hospital. The Premier the Hon. Steve Bracks, MP officiated.

2006

World Surf Life Saving Games held in Geelong and Lorne.

2006

March, new Lorne Visitors Information Centre opened.

2006

Re-opening of the Grand Pacific Hotel after a $2m. renovation.

2006

“The Chalet” Guest House in Smith Street, demolished, replaced by “Mirvac” apartments.

2006

Hospital Auxiliary “Wishing Well” demolished. Replaced by the “Lions Wishing Well” in the following year (2007).

2007

Saturday, 24th March the new Lorne Pier was officially opened.

2007

The Tramway Walking Track from Lorne Pier to St. George River opened.

2007

Additional lookouts and paths installed at Teddy’s Lookout.

2007

First Sculpture Exhibition in November.

2007

November, Jean Graham ends 19 years as Secretary of the Lorne Historical Society Inc.

2007

Monday, 26th November: 75th Anniversary of the opening of the Great Ocean Road.

2009

Monday, 9th February, the Victorian State Government gave over to the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee the running of Erskine House.

2009

Lorne Streetscape commenced.

2010

Monday, 2nd August, the maintenance of the Lorne Cemetery was turned over to the Geelong Cemetery Trust.

2011

Great Ocean Road was Heritage Victoria listed.

2011

Masonic Temple in Smith Street officially closed.

2011

Last meeting of the Lorne Probus Club.

2012

First combined service of the Anglican and United churches.

2012

August, the first Performing Arts Festival held.

2012

Reverend Lynton Wade inducted as the first minister of the combined churches.

2012

October 26th, Clive Goldsworthy elected as council representative for Lorne Ward of the Surf Coast Shire.

2012

Cumberland Guest House marketing began as private apartments.

2012

November 25th, 80th anniversary of opening of the Great Ocean Road at Pacific Hotel.

2013

Opening of the View Room at the Lorne Hotel.

2013

Ivy Baldry Walk opened June 14th, by President Merv Rice.

2013

Lorne Swing Bridge removed for repairs, November.

2014

Lorne Recreation Reserve re-leveled and resown in March.

2014

Lorne Historical Society membership reaches 50 on March 14th.

2014

March … Lorne netball courts refurbished and shed erected.

2014

March … Extensions to Lorne Visitor Centre.

2014

March 21st, Re-opening of Lorne Swing Bridge after removal for extensive repairs.

2014

Opening of the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre at Lorne Visitors Information Centre, November 26th.

2015

Henry Love honoured with the inaugural Doug and Mary Stirling Community Award. Sponsored by the Lorne Lions Club.

2015

June 30th, The Tea House, operated by Cam Rust, closed.

2015

Lorne Cinema building sold to the Cohen family of South Yarra.

2015

November 4th, Lorne Historical Society website established.

2015

April 25th, Commemorative stone installed at Cenotaph.

2015

December 25th, Lorne evacuated due to bushfire threat from the west. Fires destroyed 116 homes at Wye River.

2016

June 21st. Lorne Men’s Shed officially opened in William Street with 200 guests. Project funded by Lorne Op Shop, SCS, Vic. Govt., Geelong Foundation, donations.

2016

August 5th, Riverbank Cafe opened by Tess Morrisey/Jo Hughes.

2016

August, “The Pack” sculpture installed.

2016

Lorne Central Cafe opened at Cumberland building by Bryce Newcombe.

2016

Lorne Fishing Cooperative closed after thirty-six years.

2016

December, Lorne Foodworks extensions and update completed.

2017

Mrs Joan Wheal, a founding member of Lorne Historical Society, died at Lorne Hospital.

2017

Lorne Aireys Inlet P-12 College de-amalgamated. Lorne Campus renamed Lorne P-12 College.

2017

Nov. 3rd Jan and Peter Spring honoured as winners of the 2017 Doug and Mary Stirling Cup for Exceptional Community Service.

2018

April 1st, Fiftieth anniversary of first committee meeting of the Lorne Historical Society.

2018

September, Lorne Football Club and Lorne Netball Club both achieve premierships.

2018

November 25th … Lily Pond Walk renamed commemorating Michael ‘Camel’ Callahan.

2019

June. Stribling Reserve electronic scoreboard installed, new lighting, oval rejuvenation.

2019

June 10th … first ‘World Sausage Roll Championship’ held in Lorne at the Lorne Aquatic Club. Event won by Emily Miller and Ric Addison.

2019

June 21st, Regional Roads Victoria present the Lorne Historical Society with two metal rods, and gelignite remnants, used during the construction of the Great Ocean Road.

2019

July 1st, Lorne Community Hospital becomes ‘Great Otway Road Health’. New CEO is Sandy Chamberlain.

2019

Nov… Carly Enticott winner of 2019 Doug and Mary Stirling Cup for Exceptional Community Service.

2019

Regional Roads Victoria install Asphalt mix to 1.5 km section of Lorne Road, a mix saving the equivalent of 300,000 plastic bottles from landfill.

2019

December: Four new, AFL standard, lighting poles installed at Stribling Reserve.

2020

Doug and Mary Stirling Cup for 2020 awarded to Carly Enticott for services to the Lorne Community Hospital.

2020

December 10th Lorne Care twentieth anniversary.

2020

The Arab ceased trading.

2020

Corona Virus (Covid-19) dates: Jan 19: A man arrives in Melbourne from Guangzhou, China, as Australia’s first confirmed coronavirus case. March 16: Victoria declares State of Emergency. LOCKDOWN #1 commences: Stay home; masks; Social distancing; hand sanitising; home schooling; home business; no leaving home except for essential services; no travel.…
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2021

January 25th Gary Allen succeeds Clive Goldsworthy as Lorne Ward councillor.

2021

January… Lorne Ward in Surfcoast Shire extended to include Deans Marsh and Bambra.

2021

February, Lorne Men’s’ Shed membership reaches 100.

2021

Friday February 12th – total 5-day state-wide lockdown. LOCKDOWN #3 begins after new UK Covid variant escapes from quarantine.

2021

April: VCAT hearing re community objection to Pier Precinct Re-development.

2021

Deadwood Knee

Discovery of large 3-4m ‘Deadwood Knee’ – North Lorne Rocks … presumed from old sailing ship. Wood identified as Eucalyptus – suggesting an Australian built ship.

2021

Doug and Mary Stirling Cup for 202I awarded to Lorraine Griffiths for service to the community through foster-parenting.

2021

Covid-19 Variant Delta escapes quarantine in Victoria. LOCKDOWN #4 (Victoria only) begins 4/6/21.

2021

June: 4-day re-emergence of wreck on main beach (map coordinates 38 32’ 7.368” S : 143 58’43.812” E) after severe easterly.

2023

Plaque for Martha Snowden

The Geelong Cemetery Trust donated a plaque to commemorate the first burial in 1881 in the Lorne Cemetery.

2024

Hooded Plovers

For the first time in recorded history, Hooded Plovers have chosen to breed and raise two chicks on Lorne’s famous beach. The chicks were protected by an exclusion zone between the rock groyne and Erskine river estuary.

Lorne Historical Society Timeline