Lorne Historical Society News

Gary Allen launches the Allen and Anderson Family History

December 11, 2025 Jesse Allen’s arrived in Lorne 150 years ago to set out the market garden, in the area that we now know as the Kia Ora Caravan park, to supply fruit and vegetables to Erskine House. Gary Allen decided to launch a detailed account of the Allan and Anderson descendants and their wonderful contribution to Lorne....
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Avenue of Honour

November 14, 2025 The VCE VM students helped restore Lorne’s long-lost Avenue of Honour after learning its history from 103-year-old former student Doug Stirling. With incredible community support, they planned, planted, and created a new memorial featuring QR codes telling the stories of the 32 former Lorne students who served in World War One, which was officially opened...
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Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club Donation

September 11, 2025 The Lorne Historical Society gratefully received a generous donation of $2000 to provide shelving for storage at the back of the Community House. Photo shows Peter Spring accepting the donation on behalf of the LHS from Keith Miller, LAAC  Commodore.

Facade Stage II Finished

August 19, 2025 Thanks to Lorne & District Men’s Shed, the beautiful wooden screens have been installed to complete the façade of Lorne Historical Society room.

The Chalet

August 11, 2025 Sue Santalucia donated a painting by Rob Coy of the original Chalet to the Lorne Historical Society.

The paintings of F.M. Straw

July 11, 2025 Paula Judson, great granddaughter of Frederick Martin Straw, kindly donated the book she compiled on the paintings of  F.M.Straw (1857 – 1938) to Lorne Historical Society. He was born in Brunswick excelling as an artist at a young age, producing many beautiful paintings depicting Lorne and the Otway Ranges. As a young man he travelled...
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Cumberland Painting donated by Grace Pelag

July 4, 2025 Artist Grace Pelag, an Australian Pastel Artist, painted the original Cumberland guesthouse in 1982. Grace’s family had a holiday home at Eastern View and came to Lorne to paint the guesthouse. She now lives in Surf Beach NSW and has a great website at gracepalegart.com.au

Melba Gully State Park EST 1977

June 18, 2025 Will Beal spoke to the LHS about the fiftieth anniversary of the beginnings of Melba Gully becoming a Victorian State Park. Will’s wife Greta Beal (née Madsen) is the daughter of Annie and Axel Marsden, who donated the 48 hectare property to the people of Victoria in 1975. The photo shows the Madsen family in...
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Ricky Browne donates Medals

June 13, 2025 Ricky Browne donated Nora Crabbe’s medals to the Lorne Historical Society. Ricky’s great aunt was Nora Crabbe. She was awarded a Red Cross Medal and Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal. Photo shows President of the LHS, Jan Spring, receiving the MBE from Ricky Brown. Nora Crabbe (née Browne) was the daughter of Mary...
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Donation of Roy Coy’s painting of All Saint Church

June 10, 2025 Philip Bull donated a painting by Rob Coy of All Saints Church that was given to his father The Reverend Leslie Bull (1899-1998). Leslie was the Vicar jointly of All Saints Church Lorne and St Aidan’s Aireys inlet from 1969 to 1979. He had been ordained priest in 1924 at Port Pirie in South Australia,...
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