HISTORY OF THE ROAD
History Of The Great Ocean Road brought to life
The Great Ocean Road is not just a tourist road. Its so much more than that. It is in fact, the world's largest war memorial. At different points along the tour, your guide will point out interesting historical sites as you pass, which have helped shaped the road to what it is today.
Why was The Great Ocean Road Built?
The predominant purpose was create a monument to those who had sacrificed themselves for their country. The road also brought about additional benefits, such as connecting isolated coastal communities and encouraging a new wave of tourism into the region through better accessibility.
Who built The Great Ocean Road?
The road was constructed by returning soldiers from World War 1. These hard workers toiled in difficult conditions, to honour their fallen mates who sacrificed themselves during the war.
How was the road built?
The road was built through back-breaking work to mould the hard-stone cliff tops until a narrow ledge was created. There was no heavy machinery to help, with only picks, shovels and horse-drawn carts used.
Lorne museum
We make an (optional) stop in Lorne at the Great Ocean Road Story Museum where you can hear stories from first hand accounts, view original items from the period and get a general sense of how much of a difficult challenge the building of the road actually was.
Toll Road
Tolls were used on the Great Ocean Road from 1912. Toll gates were installed at Eastern View and in the township of Lorne. Money collected was used to help pay for the construction and maintenance of the road. There has been heated debate in more recent times, as to whether the tolls should make a return once more.
Hear the stories
Aside from hearing the stories detailed in the Lorne Museum, your guide will give you some interesting stories of the roads construction as you pass along. Some sad, but also some inspiring tales of comradery amongst the workers, and how these tales have shaped the local communities.
Community
100 years on, the small towns dotted along the Great Ocean Road still have a very strong sense of community. Not felt any greater than during the annual Anzac dawn services, where residents from each town gather at their town's individual memorial to honour the fallen from within the towns they now call home.
Lest We forget
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. Lest we forget.