May Squares #13 Beacon of Hope

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world.  

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Cape Otway

Cape Otway Lightstation, located on 90 metre high sea cliffs at the point where the Southern Ocean meets the waters of Bass Strait, is Australia’s oldest working lighthouse. A light has shone continuously here since  1848, first from a beacon inside the building and, since 1994, from a solar powered light on the front. Also known as the Beacon of Hope, the lighthouse was built after several ships were wrecked on this dangerous section of coast.

Other heritage buildings on the site include the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and the historic Telegraph Station.

It was blowing a gale and bitterly cold the day we visited Cape Otway Lightstation. 

After climbing the steep spiral staircase to the lantern room we stepped out on to the gallery deck where the southerly wind, gusting up to 40km/h, nearly blew us away. It was worth the buffeting to see these views of the rugged coast, west over the Southern Ocean

south towards Antarctica

and eastwards over Bass Strait. 

The view was just as nice, and much warmer, from inside the Lightkeeper’s Café.  

May Squares #12 Searching for Snails

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

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Maits Rest, Great Otway National Park 

After reading about the Otway Black Snail at the start of our walk, we were hoping to see them in the rainforest. The damp weather would surely increase our chances as the snails are more active on cool wet days. 

We spent as much time looking down at the path as we did admiring the forest of tree ferns.

And, after walking almost all the way around the circuit, we got lucky. We spotted two snails, just a few metres from each other, slowly making their way across the gravel beside the track. I’ve never thought of snails as beautiful before, but with the golden spiral on their shiny shells, these two were beauties. 

May Squares #11 Maits Rest Rainforest Walk

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Maits Rest, Great Otway National Park

Step back in time at Maits Rest, where an 800m walking track through cool temperate rainforest takes you past towering myrtle beeches and mountain ash up to 300 years old, and tree ferns whose ancestors lived in the time of the dinosaurs.

The rainforest is dominated by majestic trees, some record breakers and others so rare they are heritage listed. 

Beneath the canopy hundreds of tree ferns filter the light, casting lacy shadows on the forest floor.

And at ground level ferns, mosses and fungi flourish in the permanent damp. 

The average annual rainfall here totals more than 1,800 mm. With so much rain, it’s no surprise to find the forest in a constant state of renewal.

Also joining Jo for Monday Walks

May Squares #10 Halfway at Apollo Bay

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Apollo Bay

We may only be a third of the way through May Squares but at beautiful Apollo Bay we’re already at the halfway point of the Great Ocean Road. Never fear – there is plenty more amazing scenery and fascinating history to come!

May Squares #9 Great Ocean Road Brewhouse

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Apollo Bay

When it’s time for refreshments after a big day of walking, call into the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse where you can sample the range of Prickly Moses handcrafted beer, locally brewed at the nearby Otway Estate. 

May Squares #8 Marriners Lookout

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring square images which represent moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning. #SquaresRenew

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Apollo Bay

A 10 minute uphill walk through private farm land leads to a vantage point high on a hill behind Apollo Bay. Marriners Lookout has 180° views of the town, the bay for which it is named and the Great Ocean Road, which follows the coastline all the way eastwards to Cape Patton. 

Also joining Jo for Monday Walks

May Squares #7 Lorne Swing Bridge

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring square images which represent moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning. #SquaresRenew

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Lorne

The Lorne Swing Bridge crosses the Erskine River Estuary not far from where the river flows into Louttit Bay. Built in the same style as the original 1937 bridge, this new version was completed in 2013. 

May Squares #6 The Story of the Road

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring square images which represent moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning. #SquaresRenew

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Lorne

The Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre at Lorne hosts a permanent exhibition about the construction of the road. The Great Ocean Road Story: Building Australia’s Most Famous Road features historic photos, artefacts and personal stories of those connected with the project, which spanned 13 years from 1919 to the road’s opening on 26th November 1932.  

May Squares #5 The Diggers

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Eastern View

A sculpture next to the Memorial Arch was unveiled on the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Great Ocean Road. The Diggers depicts two roadworkers, returned servicemen whose employment on the road helped them to rebuild their lives. The sculpture commemorates the 3,000 men who built the road in memory of the 416,809 Australians who served in World War One.

May Squares #4 The Memorial Arch

Postcards from The Great Ocean Road ~ Joining Becky for May Squares, featuring scenes along Victoria’s  iconic Great Ocean Road.

#SquaresRenew ~ moving forward, reconstructing, renewing or burgeoning

The heritage listed Great Ocean Road follows the coast of south-eastern Victoria from Torquay to Allansford for 241 kilometres, past beautiful sandy beaches and bays, through lush rainforests and over rugged limestone cliffs. Built by soldiers returned from World War One between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Construction of the road provided employment for more than 3,000 returned servicemen, giving them purpose and providing much needed rehabilitation after the horrors of war. The Great Ocean Road linked towns along the coast previously only accessed by sea or tracks through the bush and created a route now acknowledged as one of the most scenic tourist drives in the world. 

~

Eastern View

The Memorial Arch at Eastern View is the fourth to have stood sentinel over the Great Ocean Road.

The first was built in 1929 beside the tollgate at The Springs but, when tolls were removed in 1936, the arch and the tollgate were both demolished. A second arch was constructed at Eastern View in 1939 and lasted until 1970. It was destroyed when hit by a truck. In 1972 a third arch was built, only to be lost in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.

The present arch stands in the same location and honours chief engineer Major W.T.B. McCormack, Australians who served in the Great War and the men who worked to construct the road. 

While this version of the arch is new, the Great Ocean Road sign hanging from the centre is the same sign which adorned the original arch back in 1929.