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Driving Along The Great Ocean Road
A traveller driving
along the road can pass through historic towns, each with its own
character and attractions; primordial forests complete with beautiful
waterfalls and plentiful wildlife; and always along the drive there is
the spectacular coast itself, with the rough pounding surf carving some
of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. The character of the
landscape changes dramatically with each twist and turn of the road, but
the route can be roughly divided into three sections: the Surf Coast,
the Otnay Ranges, and the Shipwreck Coast. Travelling Along the Great Ocean Road
The most popular section of the Great Ocean Road is undoubtedly Surf Coast, where both locals and foreigners come to take advantage of the impressive waves that sweep along the shoreline. The deep bays scattered all along the road are perfect for surfing, and the most famous of these is Bells Beach, the site of the Rip Curl Pro event of the ASP World Championship. This is the best place for both veterans and amateurs to take to the waves, or just lie on the white sands and watch other surfers wipe out. The towns along this section of road — Lorne, Torquay Portland and many others — often seem to be filled with surfers waiting to catch the swells, particularly in autumn and winter. A visit to one of these vacation spots is the best way to see the Australian outdoor lifestyle in full swing. The most stunning features along the road are the natural wonders, most of which can be found along the Otnay Ranges section of the Great Ocean Road. The most famous of these are the Twelve Apostles (pictured below), sandstone pillars standing proud against the stunning backdrop of rough limestone cliffs and rough ocean waves. They are the internationally recognized icons of the Great Ocean Road, appearing in tourism material around the world. The pillars are also a visible reminder of the ocean’s relentless
power, for they were created by the pounding of waves against the soft
limestone cliffs, which created caves that gradually grew into arches,
until finally these collapsed and left the pillars standing free. The
famed Apostles are just the most famous sight along a stretch of
coastline bless with magnificent scenery, which attracts thousands of
admirers every year. There are many other natural features that, while
not so famous, are equally breathtaking — natural wonders such as the
London Bridge, the Grotto, and many others. Exploring the Shipwreck Coast
Whatever the reason for their journey however, many of the settlers headed for eastern Australia never arrived, for they and their dreams were lost at sea when their ships were wrecked just as they entered the Bass Straits, heartbreakingly close to the end of their voyage. Hundreds of ships were lost along the northern channel of the Bass Straits, a narrow 70 km wide passage lined with destructive reefs. Slight errors in navigation could cost a captain his ship and the life of everyone on board, including his own, and the passage through the channel was known as ‘sailing through the eye of a needle.’ Sailors rightly feared it, for more than 700 lost ships are attributed to the treacherous passage, though only 200 shipwrecks have been identified. Despite the deadly reputation of the passage however, there was little choice in the matter: at the time, no practical overland route existed between the colonies, and the only communication between states was by sea in coast hugging trader vessels. It was only with the construction of the Great Ocean Road that any other means of communication was possible. Building the Great Ocean Road The idea of a coastal road was first tossed about in the 1880s, but the beginning of the first world war required the plan be shelved out of cost and defence concerns. It was only after the war that the plans were looked at again with any seriousness. The strongest force behind its construction was Geelong mayor and businessman Alderman Howard Hitchcock, who envisioned the road as a way to employ the thousands of soldiers returning from the horrors of the First World War. Hitchcock believed the work would help calm their war-shattered nerves, and help them reintegrate back into civilian life. In addition to the obvious communication and tourism benefits, he also strongly believed the road should be held as a lasting monument to the men who never returned from the war. Though not all agreed with his motivations, the project found willing hands, as in 1918 thousands of soldiers took up pick axes and shovels to begin the construction of the road. The work was back breaking, helped along only with dynamite, donkeys and drays. Sometimes the work force along a section of road numbered in the hundreds, other places the workforce was in the tens. It was dangerous work — some were killed and others couldn’t adjust to the new life. For many however, it was a simple, easy existence — the pay was decent and in the off-hours, the men could swim, surf, or entertain themselves in their camps. The men working the near Cape Patton in 1924 were slightly luckier. The trading steamer Casino ran aground on a reef off the point and was forced to jettison its cargo before it could float free. The road builders helped themselves to the abandoned cargo of beer and spirits, and a two-week break in work ensued. Despite the impromptu holidays, the road was finally opened in 1932 and has been in constant use ever since. Today, there are four memorial arches scattered along the road which honour the memory of the men who made the road possible and the story of its construction.
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Article Information
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The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic and memorable coastal
drives in the world, winding some 300 kms along the ruggedly beautiful
south-western coast of Victoria. The road passes along some of the most
breathtaking landscapes in the Australian continent. 
The Shipwreck Coast recalls the nation’s beginnings as the final
frontier for eager settlers from the old world. The country was built on
the backs of men and women who were willing to brave the dangers of the
three month voyage, and the perils of their new homes, in order to live
their dreams. Not all of the newcomers were willing immigrants: some
were convicts sent to the penal colonies, while others were fugitives
trying to escape some tragedy or another in their homeland.