New lease of life for Lorne Pier staple

LORNE’S beloved pier restaurant will become a pop-up art market for summer in a revival of the community asset.

Local art enthusiasts Ian Lovell and Judi Kenneally will open a Lorne Pier Art Bazaar in the former seafood restaurant in coming weeks to sell low-cost art, craft and music products to passers-by at the popular precinct.

The couple has experience running art galleries and emporiums in Melbourne and will bring their expertise to Lorne Pier later this month, with an opening expected between Christmas and the New Year.

Once up and running, the art bazaar would provide a space for local artists and collectors to sell products such as artwork, photos, vinyl, plants and drinks at affordable prices for pier users, while avoiding competition with more established, specialist galleries in the region.

The idea came to the couple as they helped the Lorne Pier Seafood Restaurant owners vacate their long-term home earlier this year and faced the prospect of remaining deserted for the peak tourism season.

 

Lorne Pier Seafood Restaurant closed its doors earlier this year following COVID impacts and lengthy negotiations with land manager GORCAPA about a long-term lease for the site amid an imminent redevelopment of the Point Grey precinct.

“Judi was helping Sammy disperse all the various things they’d accrued to run the restaurant, and it just occurred to us,” Lovell said.

“We sent a proposal to GORCAPA saying that it’s a shame for this to be vacant over summer… so many people go on the pier every day and we could take it over for a short period of time. They kindly agreed.

“For me, having grown up in Lorne, its simply one of the best sites in Australia.

“We only expect to be here for a short period of time, and we’re very grateful to have the opportunity in this very special, incredible place.”

Lovell and Kenneally are using old-fashioned elbow grease to fit out, clean and prepare the space for its new use, with the building to soon get a new paint job to signal its change.

Kenneally, who is an artist herself, said she expected the site to provide a boost to the local art community while also improving the space for visitors and locals during summer.

“There’ll be a bit of an art sale in January, some of the local artists will have some of the work they’ve had kicking around their studios,” she said.

“It’s got to appeal to the people passing by.

“It’ll be good for the locals and tourists alike.”