History

Below is a chronological timeline of historical events depicting how Loch has evolved over the years. The details and images have been contributed or obtained from many sources without warranty. If you know of an event that shaped Lochs past, please email the details to hello@lochvillage.com and it will be added to the timeline.

Below are links to stories and information of Loch’s past …

• Loch and District Historical Group Facebook page is full of amazing stories and information, so if you are interested, please request to join

• ‘The Township is a Rising one’ by Lyn Payne is a very interesting account of the establishment of Loch through the history of the school.

• Victorian Places - Loch

• The Man from Allsops Creek - authors Grieg Barry, Paul Knox and Roly Jones - apologies to Banjo

The story of Loch begins ….

Prior to the establishment of the township of Loch, the Boonwurrung people inhabited this area.

1862 - McDonalds track was cut, from Lang Lang to Poowong. 

1876 - surveyors, Bruford and Braim were engaged to survey a town as part of the planning for the Great Southern Railway which would run from

Dandenong to South Gippsland. The town was named Loch, in honor of the Governor of Victoria (1884-89), Sir Henry Loch.

1887 - on 22 November, the sale of the first 50 town allotments was held at 2pm at the auction rooms of G W Taylor & Co, 20 Collins Street, West

Melbourne. The sale exceeded everyone’s expectations as there were only nine lots that did not sell. 

1888 - the first general store was built by James McLean, and the Anglican church was constructed and began holding services. 

1889 - a school was constructed, Francis William Clarke was appointed the Head Teacher, he remained in Loch for 28 years.  The school is still being

used today.

- a hotel opened

- the railway was being extended from Tooradin to Loch, as the railway got closer to Loch, the town’s population grew.   

- Railway workers and their families began setting up homes in tents

1890 - on 11 November, the railway reached Loch, and the railway station was built. 

1891 - livestock sale yards were established near the railway

1892 - on 7 March, the Loch Racing club held their first horse racing event

1900 - the Loch Butter Factory opened, unfortunately is closed 1914

- a eucalyptus factory was established in Mary Street

1902 - the iconic two-story Union Bank building was built (now the Loch Brewery)

1903 - Loch had two banks

- a Mechanics Institue

- a public library

- the Loch Express newspaper was established and published

- the population of Loch township was 200 with another 750 living in the district

1911 - a livestock trucking yard was built

1920 - kerosine lamps were used for street lighting

1924 - the Masonic Hall was built

1930 - on 18 August, electricity was turned on in Loch

1939 - An infant welfare centre was established

1972 - the Loch Bowling Club was established. The land was gifted to the community by the neighbouring property owner and farmer.

1982 - Loch entered a float in the Moomba Parade

1983 - a seedling from the Lone Pine at Gallipoli was planted at the Memorial Reserve

1990’s - the railway line was closed

1993 - on 24 July, the VLine coach service replaced the rail service that ran between Melbourne and Yarram. 

1999 - publishing of the Loch Express began again, and is still being published bi-monthly

2000 - the suspension bridge to the Memorial Reserve was built

- ‘Something in the Air’ ABC’s drama aired from 2000-2002, it was filmed in Nyora, and the Loch Bowling Club was one of the locations used

- The Olympic Torch Relay came to Loch

2001 - on 8 June, Loch held 125 years celebration

2002 - the Loch Rocks (located in front of the primary school) was created by local volunteer gardeners

2007 - the Loch Food and Wine Festival began. An initiative of the LCDA to show case local produce, with all money raised going back into the

community

2008 - VicRoads built a new road that bypassed Loch

2016 - the new town sewerage system installation to all properties was completed in July. 

2021 - 23 October was the launch of the Loch and District History Facebook page, as of February 2025 it has 1.1k members

2022 - the mural to the underpass tunnel southern side was painted and the northern face was completed in 2023

2023 - on 2 March, the Village Post Office began operating with volunteers, this was an initiative of the LCDA

2025 - a committee of volunteers led by Paul Knox was formed to plan the celebrations for the 150-year anniversary