Getting to Lorne

Travel back to the late 1800’s and you will see what a struggle getting to Lorne really was. Hours of jolting and swaying had to be endured over a dusty track from the railway station at Winchelsea, on a coach drawn by horses. The ‘road’ followed part of the track the enterprising Mountjoys blazed when they first brought cattle to graze on their run at Louttit bay in the 1860’s.

Cobb & Co also ran coaches over the Otway ranges from Deans Marsh and had stables behind the Pacific Hotel. They had to transport feed for their horses to Lorne, and so were at a competitive disadvantage to Mountjoys, who had land in Lorne and so were able to grow food for their horses. The Mountjoy family had their own stables near the present site of The Chalet, consisting of ten horse stalls, a large feed loft above and room for several coaches. The photo shows Oscar Mountjoy leaving the Mountjoy stables.

 

In the early days coaches collected Lorne-bound tourists from the Winchelsea Railway Station. After 1891 passengers were transferred at Birregurra onto a smaller train to travel a branch line to the new Deans Marsh Station. The Mountjoys built more stables at the rear of the new station, and before the trip to Lorne, the travellers were taken to the Deans Marsh Hotel where they were served huge three course meals for only eight pence.

The horses struggled with up to 26 passengers plus luggage. You can imagine how relieved the horses were when all the men got off on the hills to do the pushing. When descending a slippery steep section of the roadway during the wet weather, the driver would sometimes have to drag a large log of wood behind the coach on the way down the hills to slow them down.
Coaches stopped at the Benwerrin post office and soon refreshment rooms opened to cater to the passing tourists. The Benwerrin Refreshment Rooms was a popular place for tourists to break their coach trip to Lorne, and sample strawberries and cream. James and Mary Henderson ran the refreshment rooms for many years in the early 20th century and were the last owners before it closed in 1927. The closure was put down to falling clientele brought about by the increasing number of motor cars and the opening of the Great Ocean Road in 1922. The photo, taken in 1910, shows Benwerrin Refreshment Rooms.

Before the opening of the Great Ocean Road, visitors to Lorne could travel by boat and land at the Lorne Pier. A tall pole was erected on Bald Hill, above the pier at Pt Grey, upon which a flag was raised to alert passing vessels, such as the Manawatu and the Moonah sailing from Warnambool to Melbourne, to stop and pick up passengers. Henry Gwynne built the Grand Pacific Hotel near the Lorne Pier. His daughter Gracie was a regular passenger to Melbourne or Warnambool, apparently mostly for shopping. Gracie was often seen standing at the helm of the Moonah in her sou’wester and was affectionately known as ‘Sailor Gwynne’. The Gwynnes were keen travellers, and it was on a trip to California that they were inspired to build their elegant American style Grand Pacific Hotel, next to the Lorne pier. The photo shows passengers on the Lorne Pier with the Manawatu, showing the Pacific Hotel in the background.

 

Once the Great Ocean Road and the Deans Marsh Road were completed, before car ownership was common, travellers to Lorne had a few ways to travel to Lorne. They could leave Melbourne by the afternoon train, disembark at Geelong, then take a car via the Great Ocean Road arriving at Lorne about 9 pm. Alternatively they could depart from Spencer Street Station, Melbourne, at 6:30 am and travel to Birregurra by train. Then take a car and do the trip over the Otways to Lorne, via Benwerrin, at an altitude of about 1500 feet (457 metres), before arriving around noon at Lorne.
We should be very grateful that getting to Lorne is not as challenging as it once was.

Sometimes the traffic on the Great Ocean Road is slow but do enjoy the beautiful view and reflect on our good fortune.

Compiled by Linton Ferguson for the Lorne Historical Society

This article was made possible by accessing various sources including:
• Lorne Historical Society collections
• “Lorne A Living History” by Doug Stirling
• “It’s Never Been Easy Getting to Paradise” by Chris Cairns, Lorne Independent March 2025.

John Agar

Feature Writer

 

A word from the chairman

LoveLorne: I doubt anybody reading this column will disagree. The re-invigorated Lorne Business and Tourism Association (LBTA) will ensure this is front of mind.

John, I hope you and Janet are enjoying your holiday in Fiji and thank you for the chance to step into your big shoes for a week.
During COVID and the couple of years following, the LBTA was very quiet. Bryce Newcombe and Leon Walker with encouragement from a few others in Lorne made a decision to restart.

We have a new committee – President: Bryce Newcombe (Lorne Central), Vice President: Riley Laredo (Lorne Hotel), Secretary and Treasurer: David Worth, Edwin Erftemeyer (Mantra Hotel), Caroline Hirzel-Bryant (Lorne Books) Katie Walker (HAH Café) Janet Boland (Passionfolk/our communications specialist) and Ann McCormack (Admin). All were appointed at our overdue Annual General Meeting on April 1.
Our purpose is simple.

Facilitate Business Networking – Organise three annual networking functions to connect businesses within the Lorne community.
Enhance Communication – Share updates on events, issues and relevant information with members and the broader community where applicable.

Advocate For Lorne Businesses – Represent local businesses by engaging with regional authorities on key issues affecting the community.
Two networking events have been held. Big thank you to Grand Pacific Hotel and Lorne Hotel. Both well attended by members and we have received terrific feedback. We are continuing to seek new members who run businesses in Lorne and the surrounding region. Importantly, we have signed up the critical service providers that are needed to support our community – (School, Health, Police, CFA and SES).
Our Town is considered a Tourism destination along the Great Ocean Road (GOR). It must operate as an integrated, sustainable destination on the GOR. We need to understand what our community needs. The LBTA will advocate to ensure Authorities hear.
Recently Great Ocean Road Network Communities Network (GORCN) has run a series of webinars with an Agenda that the GOR must move away from our current Extractive/Industrial model to a Regenerative Tourism model. Personally, I was not clear what that really meant, but I admit it was informative in raising big issues and small issues that affect our community.

The LBTA recognises that change is required to ensure our community will continue to be sustainable and viable. To start we must define what we see is a sustainable tourism/visitor model which supports our whole community. Our opportunities, issues and challenges are different to other communities along the GOR. We need this to be heard by Authorities and this requires genuine consultation (two ways).
The LBTA is working with Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) and Surf Coast Shire (SCS) to develop Lorne’s Destination Plan. Through our networking functions and other discussions with businesses we will provide input to what our community sees as a Sustainable Plan. It must consider: our community’s well-being, financial viability of our businesses and the impact on the environment.

There is a lot more I could talk about as to how we ensure Lorne remains a destination of choice for our locals, non-permanent holiday house owners and visitors/tourists wanting a great family experience.
Until next time enjoy our community and LoveLorne.

David Worth
LBTA

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

April

17 – Photographic Exhibition Opening night, @ Lorne Community Connect Thursday 17 April 6 pm – 7.30 pm.             

18-28 – 2025 Photographic Exhibition Routine and Ritual. Info: lornecommunityconnect.com.au

19 – Lorne Market, 9-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/

20 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club – Major Fishing Competition No 3, Weigh cut off 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.

May

4 – LAAC Winter Comp No 1. lines down after 6am, weigh in at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club at 12:30 followed by BBQ lunch.

17-18 – Great Ocean Road Running Festival, Running, music, wellness, adventure.

June

8 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club – Major Fishing Competition No 4, Weigh cut off 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.