Lorne - Sought For Its Sun, Sand, Surf And Swimming
The Age
Wednesday January 12, 1994
THE feeling of relief and optimism about the property upturn among real estate agents from Queenscliff along the surf coast and the Great Ocean Road, is also shared by Mr Ken Smyth of Smyth Real Estate in Lorne.
``For the past two years, we have been listing houses but not selling them; now we are selling faster than we can list" he says.
Mr Smyth says the town is busy and a new subdivision is currently seeking planning permits, while 34 units are scheduled for construction behind the Lorne Hotel. He also refers to a Winchelsea Shire Council initiative to re-develop the Lorne foreshore. Chris Danse Land Design has been commissioned to prepare a streetscape design for Lorne's main shopping street, Mountjoy Parade, and the foreshore. According to reports in the local newspaper, `The Echo', the emphasis will be on maximising use of the foreshore as a focus for the town.
The Queensland-style Cumberland development, on Mountjoy Parade, which stands out from the turn-of-the-century holiday homes overlooking the foreshore and Louttit Bay, divided the town when it was built, Mr Smyth says. However, he concedes that it helps Lorne's economy in winter and provides year-round employment for some residents.
The proposed Surf Coast Council, to be run jointly by Barrabool and Winchelsea shires, would have jurisdiction over the coastal areas, finishing at the Cumberland river just west of Lorne.
There are 1500 ratepayers in Lorne, and a permanent population of around 1000, which suggests that about one-third of the houses are holiday houses.
A weatherboard two-storey house in North Lorne, with views across Louttit Bay from Aireys Inlet to Lorne pier, is up for sale. It has a wide second-storey timber deck, ideal for watching the sun go down over the sea. With four double bedrooms, three showers and three lavatories, it has plenty of room for guests.
Living areas are open to the kitchen, in keeping with the relaxed character of the house and there is a rumpus room for children. A double lock-up garage provides secure boat storage if required and the house is surrounded by low maintenance native trees. The property overlooks Crown land so the view is not likely to be built out. For private sale through Smyth Real Estate (052 89 1278), the asking price is $297,500.
In a more central position, at 25A Williams Street, two streets back from Mountjoy Parade, is a two-bedroom pine log cabin with a very large open plan kitchen and living room complete with an open fireplace. As it is built on a concrete slab, with appropriate planning permission, it would be possible to put more rooms beneath the existing first floor accommodation. This property is also being privately sold by Smyth Real Estate for $220,000.
Mr Ian Stewart, of Lorne Real Estate, is the fifth generation in his family to be born and brought up in Lorne, so he knows what Lorne has to offer residents and visitors.
The first place to be designated an area of Special Significance and Natural Beauty by the Victorian Government, it is not just the magnificent Great Ocean Road sweeping through and beyond Lorne, or its naturally sheltered bathing beach that attracts people, but the combination of surfing, fishing and country town life, with the grandeur of the Otways waterfalls, lush vegetation and bushwalks.
Sought for its sand, sea and sun in summer, when seafood dinners and early morning runs on the beach are punctuated with warm evenings at outdoor cafes and pubs, Lorne is equally relaxing in winter.
Mr Stewart is confident that the town is now going ahead with the recession well behind it. For many people, Lorne is a tempting place to retire, with its year-round community of residents and opportunities for healthy swimming, golf and fishing recreations.
Ashley's Tea House, 22 Great Ocean Road, Lorne, might well interest a couple wanting to retire, but too energetic to give up working completely. Ashley's has been operated as a road-house since the early 1900s and now has a 50-seat dining room and a four-bedroom residence, all of which is freehold.
The recently renovated residence has high ceilings, an open fireplace and a large foyer adjoining the restaurant. Both the tearooms and the house have ocean views from the large garden site on the high side of the road.
Known for its Devonshire teas, the Victorian-style tearoom has potential for development as bed and breakfast accommodation. The property will be auctioned by Lorne Real Estate (052 891214) on Saturday 12 March at 2pm when they expect it to fetch $350,0000-plus.
For those who prefer the bush, a two-storey house at 15 Alsop Street, Lorne, offers tranquil outlooks, four bedrooms, main one with en suite bathroom, tasteful modern decor, a large, well-lit kitchen open to the combined living and dining room, a spa bath, downstairs dual accommodation and spacious outdoor decks and barbecue. This house is for private sale with an asking price of $375,000 through Lorne Real Estate.
© 1994 The Age
