May Squares #25 The Port Campbell Discovery Walk, Part Two

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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Port Campbell 

After retracing our steps over the headland, back down the staircase and across the bridge, we continued on the path into town. At the foreshore of Port Campbell Bay the water looked calm and welcoming, and a few people were even swimming. 

But when we walked further around and on to the jetty, we saw the ocean from a different perspective. Closer to the entrance of the bay, the water was churning in a relentless rush of crashing waves. 

From the jetty we walked up the grassy hill, stopping along the way to read about Port Campbell and its people.

In the Memorial Reserve we found the Port Campbell Soldiers Memorial. Originally dedicated to local men who died in World War One, a second plaque commemorates those who lost their lives during the Second World War. 

Remember that lone figure we could see from the western headland? We found where he was standing, at Prady’s Lookout. 

After a long walk exploring both the western and eastern headlands, the Sow & Piglets Brewery was a welcome sight. There was no better way to finish the day than with local beer for Glen, a warming hot chocolate for me and freshly made pizza to share. 

Also joining Jo for Monday Walks