Bright celebration for Lorne name day

SURF Coast Shire council has added its own touch of flair to the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, lighting up the town’s iconic swing bridge as part of anniversary celebrations.

The bridge has illuminated each night from 9pm to coincide with the foreshore art show and provide a new spectacle as the creative pieces fade into darkness.

The bright lights are also part of the council’s acknowledgement of the 150-year anniversary of the naming of the coastal town.

Lorne took its current name in 1871 to honour the marriage of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise, to the Marquess of Lorne.

It was previously known as Louttit Bay, after Captain John Louttit, who sheltered in the bay during an 1841 expedition.

The lighting project follows a council decision from November last year to allocate $40,000 that would usually go towards Lorne’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show to the anniversary project, which already had a $30,000 budget from a January cash transfer.

The bridge will light up each night until Monday, April 4.