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<\/p>\nThe size of Lorne is approximately 104.7 square kilometres with the population of Lorne recorded at 1,393 in 2011 and by the 2016 Census the population was 1,120 showing a population decline of 19.6 per cent in the area during that time.<\/p>\n
Lorne has been, and is more than ever, the great escape destination for Melbourne families who have a holiday home in this popular resort town.<\/p>\n
Traditionally the town was also very popular place for Western District pastoralists to have their holiday home, with some families still holding properties here after generations.<\/p>\n
Pre-COVID, numbers could swell to over 10,000 people during the summer holiday season and the Easter period, placing a lot of pressure on infrastructure but great for local businesses.<\/p>\n
As Barwon Heads is to the Bellarine, so is Lorne to the Surf Coast, both the jewel in their crown when it comes to premium beachside living and a holiday destination.<\/p>\n
Although Lorne has seen a declining permanent population there has been an increase in housing stock as every inch of the landlocked town is put to use.<\/p>\n
Many old beach houses have been replaced with grandiose holiday homes pushing property prices through the roof in this popular resort town.<\/p>\n
Lorne\u2019s origins began with a small pastoral holding being established there in 1852 when the Mountjoy family acquired the run in 1874 and built a permanent homestead.<\/p>\n
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Known as Loutitt Bay, the area had the appeal of tree fern gullies, the Erskine River and falls, the river estuary and a beach.<\/p>\n
In 1868 the Mountjoys opened a guest house for the increasing numbers of visitors.<\/p>\n
The following year a town was surveyed and named Lorne in honour of the Marquis of Lorne, the husband of Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria.<\/p>\n
A road from Deans Marsh to Lorne was built in 1872 and Erskine House, the grand Pacific Hotel and the Lorne Hotel were built by 1878.<\/p>\n
Lorne\u2019s census population doubled between the mid-1930s and 1947 and the provision of camping and caravan grounds brought different crowds.<\/p>\n
By the 1980s seven guest houses were closed, leaving only Erskine House and the Chalet.<\/p>\n
In 1984 a Colac property developer, David Marriner, acquired the Cumberland guest house.<\/p>\n
Multi-storey time share units were built on the Cumberland and adjoining sites, despite local resistance which considered the development an intrusion in the tree-lined amphitheatre.<\/p>\n
CoreLogic data indicates that predominant age group in Lorne is 60-69 years with households in Lorne being primarily childless couples and are likely to be repaying $1,800 \u2013 $2,399 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Lorne work in a managers occupation.<\/p>\n
In 2011, 69.4 per cent of the homes in Lorne were owner-occupied compared with 65 per cent in 2016.<\/p>\n
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