The Great Ocean Road is more than just a means of whizzing past the increasingly inaccurately named Twelve Apostles. It’s also the largest – and only drivable – war memorial in the world.
The Great Ocean Road is more than just a means of whizzing past the increasingly inaccurately named Twelve Apostles. It’s also the largest – and only drivable – war memorial in the world.
Dedicated to fallen WWI soldiers, work began on it in 1919 by returning war veterans. Extraordinarily, it was built by hand, with the serviceman labouring eight hours a day for ten shillings and sixpence, before spending their nights in camp with the very men they fought alongside in the war.
The road’s completion took 3000 Diggers (in both senses of the word) and 13 years. The GOR celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007 and remains a hugely popular tourist destination.
Where // Stretching many hundreds of kilometres between Warrnambool and Torquay in southern Victoria. (03) 5237 6529, www.greatoceanroad.org
Did you know? // Three interestingly named parts of the GOR, Sausage Gully, Shrapnel Gully and Artillery Rocks, were named for corresponding parts of Anzac Cove at Gallipoli.
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