Loveridge Lookout draws closer to heritage listing

ANGLESEA’S Loveridge Lookout is a step closer to gaining long-term protection after the Surf Coast Shire council formalised their approval of it being placed on the Victorian Heritage Register at last week’s council meeting.

The Heritage Council of Victoria is presently advertising the recommendation for the lookout to be placed on their registry, and are accepting written submissions to help inform their decision until July 20.

At their June 23 meeting, councillors resolved to send a written submission themselves.

Anglesea Ward councillors Margot Smith and Tony Revell moved and seconded the motion respectively.

Cr Smith said she hoped the council’s submission would help “get protection for such a significant place.”

Along with shire mayor Rose Hodge, Cr Smith and Cr Revell also noted the contribution of former councillor Jim Tutt in ensuring the lookout’s survival

Mr Tutt was on the council in 2010 when the lookout was quickly deteriorating and taking it down altogether seemed the likely option.

Mr Tutt said he believed the lookout was worth saving and managed to convince fellow councillors likewise.

“It was very close to being torn down. It actually took a bit of an act of faith to commit to restoring it.

“The repair technology with concrete is quite good. They cut it back to the point where the crumbling concrete was removed, and they put stainless steel reinforcing mesh back in place and then patched it up with new concrete.

“It’s easy to say ‘It’s derelict we’ll just discard it and toss it aside,’ but it’s important to preserve some parts of history.”

After its restoration, the Anglesea and District Historical Society also placed several signs at the lookout detailing its history.

The lookout was built in 1940 by Bertha Loveridge, who had it constructed to honour her late husband, James Loveridge, a carpet importer who had lived in Anglesea.

Anglesea and District Historical Society president Jan Morris said Mrs Loveridge may not have fully understood her husband’s love for the lookout’s location.

“The story goes he was supposedly going down to look at the view, but we believe that he had some alcohol he stashed there because his wife was very strict about how much he was allowed to have.”

Ms Morris said the lookout’s purpose became more functional than sentimental as World War II progressed.

“It was used as a lookout for planes and it was manned by volunteers for three years, 24 hours a day.

“They had a phone there that connected to Geelong and they immediately reported any planes that they saw.”

The Anglesea and District Historical Society has lobbied for the lookout to be placed on the Victorian Heritage Registry in the past, and Ms Morris said they were glad to see this close to becoming a reality.