Lorne's local legend turns 104

One of Lorne’s most beloved residents celebrates his 104th birthday today.

Doug Stirling has lived in Lorne for almost his entire life, and his handiwork still runs through many of its buildings following a long career as an electrician.

He has also helped shape Lorne through decades of community service, contributing to at least 15 organisations.

His roles have included almost 30 years on the foreshore committee, more than 20 years on the planning and preservation committee, and involvement with the chamber of commerce, cemetery trust and historical society.

Stirling’s selfless commitment to the town was recognised in March when he was named one of the Surf Coast Shire’s Local Legends for 2026.

“I love Lorne very much because I was born here and grew up here and knew every inch of the place,” Stirling said.

“I maintain that Lorne is unique in that it’s got the very popular coast and lovely beach which attracts most of the tourists, and then you’ve got the hinterland with the waterfalls and fern gullies and rivers that provide different attractions.”

His proudest achievements include helping stop soil being dumped beside the Erskine River canal, opposing high-rise developments and protecting trees threatened with removal by the former State Electricity Commission.

Doug Stirling has been part of at least 15 different community groups in Lorne. Photo: Peter Marshall.

Born in Lorne in 1922, Stirling has only lived away from the town while completing his electrical apprenticeship in Melbourne and serving in the Australian Army during the second world war.

He returned in 1947 to take over Lorne’s cinema from his father, running it for the next 40 years. He later opened a steam laundry while continuing to work as an electrical contractor.

Stirling remains a long-standing member of the Lorne and District Men’s Shed and is believed to be Australia’s oldest men’s shed member.

“Luckily I’ve been blessed with good health, so that I’m still active and OK ‘up top’, meaning that I can have a very good interest in the men’s shed and the nursing home, and I’ve got my all-weather scooter which gets me around the place,” he said.

“I’m quite mobile with it and go downtown and have a meal every now and then, so I’m a very happy chappy.

“Having lived here all of my life and seeing what’s happening and being involved in my earlier days, it has been a great ride.”