The war memorial
The world’s biggest (and greatest, I think) war memorial is located in Western Victoria. It is 243 kilometres long and spans from Torquay to the City of Warrnambool. Of course it’s the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road was built by soldiers returning from World War I between 1919 and 1932. The entire Great Ocean Road is dedicated to the soldiers who were killed during the Great War making the Great Ocean Road the world’s largest war memorial.
As World War I was coming to an end, the Victorian Government started planning the road project to connect the small coastal towns in Western Victoria. These towns were only accessible either by a bush track or by the ocean so not only would the road connect people it would also make the transfer of goods, like timber, a whole lot easier.
The Great Ocean Road Trust, a private company, was established to fund the road and build it, with the funds being recovered through tolls on road users. The toll? Two shillings for cars and 10 shillings for wagons with more than two horses. The tolls would remain until the road was handed to the Victorian Government in 1936.
The Great Ocean Road was completed in stages- it’s bloody huge. The first from Eastern View to Lorne and then from Lorne to Apollo Bay. There is a memorial arch across the road at Eastern View acknowledging both the start of the road and the returned servicemen that built it.
The mammoth effort to build the road can’t be understated. The southern coast is not known for being easy country and the road twists and turns through cliffs and creeks. Even the advance survey team for the road could only move about 3 kilometres a month through the incredibly dense rainforest and wilderness of the area.
The soldiers that built it were paid just over 10 shillings for their work. They would sleep in tents and used communal dining facilities. They even had access to a piano and games at camp.
Because of its location and climate change the Great Ocean Road is being challenged. Parts of it have been washed away during storms, sections are eroding away and also the occasional cliff just crumbles into the sea below or onto the road itself.
The Great Ocean Road is beautiful, it’s often noted as one of the world’s greatest drives, with good reason. Parts of it are quite narrow and there are some really prickly turns on the road, so much so that Victoria Police used it to train their drivers in the 60s. So if you’re driving on it, take good care, follow all markings, respect and care for your fellow road users and the many, many, many animals that live along it.
In 2004, the Great Ocean Walk was established which connected 104km of walking trails from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles Visitor Centre. The Great Ocean Walk runs parallel to the Great Ocean Road but you very rarely cross over with it.
We’ve just come back from doing the Great Ocean Walk (my third time in less than two years- believe me when I tell you I love the Great Ocean Road). I’ve put some photos below in care you’re interested.
