The Great Ocean Road, one of Australia’s most famous drives, is more than just a beautiful coastal route along Victoria’s rugged coast. It has a rich and fascinating history, being the world’s largest war memorial, built by soldiers returning from World War I. This engineering marvel is a symbol of sacrifice, resilience and vision. The road winds through coastal towns, seaside towns and pretty towns, with stunning views of rocky cliffs, limestone cliffs, dramatic cliffs and natural wonders along the southern coast. Many people take a Great Ocean Road tour to experience its beauty and history.
This route along the Victoria coast is also a major tourist attraction, with millions of visitors every year. Travelers on a Great Ocean Road tours can see spectacular coastlines, natural rock formations and historic towns. The road accesses remote towns and historic towns, so visitors can experience a piece of history and an engineering feat.
The Road’s History: A Timeline
Before 1918: The Need for a Coastal Road
Before the Great Ocean Road was built, the remote coastal towns and isolated towns of Victoria’s southwest were only accessible by rough bush tracks or by sea. The rough ocean, shipwrecks and famous shipwrecks along the rocky coast showed the need for a land connection between the settlements. Historic shipwrecks and shipwreck stories from this drive along the coast made travel hazardous. Today a Great Ocean Road tour allows visitors to see these historic shipwreck sites and learn about the journeys of early sailors.
Many of the coastal cliffs and sheer cliffs along the southern coast have the scars of extreme weather and bad weather. European settlers in the 19th century relied on coastal steamers to transport goods and people, but bad weather and limited resources made travel unpredictable. Plans for a road were delayed due to cost but the need to connect historic ports and pretty towns remained paramount.
1918: The Plan Takes Shape
After World War I, Major William T. B. McCormack, an engineer and chairman of the Country Roads Board, proposed the massive undertaking of building a road along the coast. It was to be an economic development and a job for soldiers returning from the war. A permanent memorial and utilitarian memorial for those who had served. Plans included overcoming dense bush, scrub and natural obstacles like rough weather, extreme weather and bad weather. Today, on a Great Ocean Road tour, you can see the vision and determination that went into building this iconic road.
The road was also to support the timber industry and farming communities in the area. Historic farmhouses dot the landscape, a reminder of the agriculture that was here before the road was built. Soldiers on roads would spend hours a day clearing the path, often in heavy rain and water during storms. Despite the challenges, the road was a priority for Victorian leaders who saw it as a vital link for tourism and commerce.
1919: Construction Begins
September 19, 1919, was the start of construction near Lorne. The job was hard physical work, with road workers using explosives, picks and shovels to hack the road out of the cliffs and steep cliffs. Backbreaking work cutting through dense rainforest tracks and battling water during storms, heavy rain and limited supplies. Workers were paid shillings for wagons and shillings for cars to move materials and barrels of beer were sometimes used to keep morale high.
1922: First Section Opens
By 1922 the first completed section of the road from Lorne to Eastern View was open to the public. A big milestone as it made life easier for the locals and boosted tourism in the area. Beach lovers and outdoor activity enthusiasts now had better access to the coast and the roads. Campsites, beachfront campsites and campsite lodges began to attract visitors. A Great Ocean Road tour at this time would have been a very different experience, with early travellers marvelling at the new road and unspoilt landscapes.
The first drivers on the road had a tough drive and a tough road, as the unsealed sections of the road were prone to extreme weather. Limited resources meant that road workers had to improvise with whatever materials they had, so every section of the road was an engineering challenge.
1932: Full Road Completed
After over 10 years of rough roads and major projects the Great Ocean Road was officially completed on November 26, 1932. The road went from Torquay to Allansford, 243 km’s of road. A massive engineering feat and one of Australia’s biggest. Today’s Great Ocean Road tours take you along this entire length, with stops at famous landmarks.
1936: Declared a War Memorial
In honour of the soldiers who built it and those who died in World War I the road was declared the world’s largest war memorial in 1936. The Memorial Arch at Eastern View was built as a memorial and is one of the road’s most iconic landmarks. A Great Ocean Road tour often includes a stop at this significant site, where you can reflect on the sacrifices made by those who built this road.
FAQ
Why was the Great Ocean Road built?
The Great Ocean Road was built to create jobs for returning World War I soldiers, to connect remote coastal communities and to boost tourism in Victoria. It was also built as a permanent memorial. Today it’s a major highlight of any Great Ocean Road trip.
How long did it take to build the Great Ocean Road?
The road was built over 13 years from 1919 to 1932 despite extreme weather, no resources and high construction costs.
Who built the Great Ocean Road?
Approximately 3,000 returned soldiers built the road as part of a massive employment initiative after World War I. Many were paid shillings for wagons and shillings for cars to cart materials, with barrels of beer sometimes as an extra bonus.
What challenges did workers face during construction?
Workers faced harsh weather, steep cliffs and basic tools, often just hand picks and dynamite to blast through rock and forest. Heavy rain, coastal steamer transport problems and bad weather made construction dangerous.
Is the Great Ocean Road a war memorial?
Yes, in 1936 it was officially declared the world’s largest war memorial, in honour of the soldiers who built it and those who died in World War I. Today the Memorial Arch stands as a piece of history along the coast and a reminder of the road’s fascinating history and tough construction.
