Much-loved Lorne beachfront stay listed by founders after 43 years
Set opposite the surf on one of the Great Ocean Road’s most celebrated seaside strips, a long-running family-owned accommodation business in Lorne has been listed for sale for an undisclosed sum, opening a rare window into one of the nation’s most tightly held coastal markets.
Anchorage Lorne, a 16-key beachfront stay with a difference – bundled with four shopfronts and two owner’s residences – is being offered as a freehold going concern with ResortBrokers after 43 years in the hands of its founding family, a tenure that now spans a second generation in one of Victoria’s most sought-after seaside towns.
Lorne’s high-end appeal has been underscored in recent years by Sydney-based hospitality group Merivale’s $38 million acquisition of the iconic Lorne Hotel in 2021, adding the coastal pub to its national portfolio of boutique restaurants, pubs and nightlife venues.
Marketed as a studio, villa and apartment-style coastal stay, Anchorage Lorne offers a mix of self-contained accommodation with kitchens, private balconies and access to a solar-heated pool, placing guests just steps from Lorne’s beach, cafes, boutiques and dining strip.
Occupying a substantial 2244-square-metre parcel in the thick of Lorne’s main promenade, the property blends lifestyle appeal with diversified income and long-term redevelopment optionality, with the existing accommodation and retail operations providing valuable holding income should a developer seek to reimagine the site, conveniently located adjacent to the Lorne Visitor Information Centre.
“Assets of this calibre and location on the Great Ocean Road simply don’t come up very often,” said ResortBrokers listing agent Hugh Thomas.
“Freeholds here are tightly held, making this a rare chance to secure a long-established accommodation business with more than 40 years of operating history in one of the region’s most sought-after destinations.”
The accommodation offering is divided into two distinct components – Anchorage Motel and Anchorage Villas – together comprising 16 self-contained accommodation units catering to couples, families and extended holiday stays. Many rooms enjoy ocean views, while onsite amenities include a solar-heated swimming pool, barbecue facilities and undercover parking.
The property also includes two generously sized owner’s residences – a three-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment – providing flexibility for owner-operators or investors to live on-site while adding the second residence as inventory.
Reliable holding income is further underpinned by four street-level retail shops fronting Mountjoy Parade, each earning on average about $45,000 per annum excluding GST, delivering approximately $180,000 in combined annual rental income.
The flagship tenant is Bendigo Bank, alongside local operators that contribute to the strip’s vitality, including Brunch Box Lorne, Tastes Lifestyle and Blue Meanies.
“That additional income stream adds another layer of appeal,” Thomas said.
“It provides passive income alongside the accommodation business, or a valuable buffer for developers during redevelopment of the site.”
For developers, the asset’s scale and configuration add further appeal. The landholding spans Commercial 1 and General Residential zoning and is one of the few properties on Mountjoy Parade to benefit from dual street access, via Smith Street at the rear.
“For developers, the existing income stream provides an advantage, offering holding income prior to redevelopment and potentially during construction,” Thomas said.
“Anchorage Lorne is also one of the few properties on Mountjoy Parade with dual access, which opens up the possibility of operating part of the site as accommodation while redevelopment is underway.”
In lifestyle terms, the location is difficult to rival. Lorne, which sits about two hours south-west of Melbourne, is situated in a natural amphitheatre where the Southern Ocean meets the forested slopes of the Otways, and remains one of the Great Ocean Road’s most fashionable destinations, buoyed by strong year-round visitation, major events such as the Pier to Pub, and limited developable land.
“In terms of position, it really doesn’t get better than this,” Thomas said.
“You’re on Lorne’s main street, opposite the beach, and within walking distance of everything Lorne is known for.”
Anchorage Lorne is being offered for sale via expressions of interest, closing at 5pm on Friday, March 20, unless sold earlier.
