- Source: Thord Lorich
Thord Ingemar Thorstensson Lorich (March 27, 1918 - November 17, 2006) was an Australian architect and design consultant. His firm, Thord Lorich & Associates, were behind the design of numerous commercial and industrial buildings in the Melbourne area. Born at Fredrikstad, Norway, he served as a Master Sergeant in the Swedish military during World War II before migrating to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1940s.
In 1966, the Forest Hill Heights corporation contracted his company to design a theatre, executive offices building, sports centre, restaurant, and a strip of shops for their Forest Hill Shopping Centre, completed 1967-69. His company also designed 'Beneficial House' for Rochalie Industries c. 1974. Lorich was a timekeeper for the Hawthorn Football Club and became a life member in 1985. He was also an avid golfer and member of the Victorian Veterans Golf Association, who named a trophy competition after him in recognition of the work he did for the club. His son, Robert Lorich, worked and trained as an architectural draftsman in the 1970s and began a long and successful partnership with John Coghlan AM in 1990, which eventually became Buildspect & Co, a building consultancy practice. Thord passed away at age 88 on November 17th, 2006 and is buried at the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery.
