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Loch Ard Gorge

Shipwreck and Tale of Survival

 

 

THINGS TO DO
GREAT OCEAN ROAD
Great Ocean Road Day Trip
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3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour
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3-Day Tour: Road Trip Between Melbourne and Adelaide Including Great Ocean Road and the Grampians
Private Tour: Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road 2-Day Adventure Tour
Melbourne Super Saver: Great Ocean Road plus Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Attraction Pass
 
Melbourne Super Saver: Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island plus Melbourne Attraction Pass
 

By Richard Moore

Images of the Loch Ard Gorge
Warrnambool Hotels
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Loch Ard Gorge, VictoriaAfter The Apostles I reckon Loch Ard Gorge is the place to visit when you are in the area.

It is a lovely little cove, terrific for spending a summer's day on its sheltered sands and cooling off in its waters, but it also has a dark past.

The Loch Ard was a sailing ship that came to grief on the rocks near Muttonbird Island, just outside the entrance to the gorge, and all but two of its 54 crew and passengers died in the storm.

The survivors - cabinboy Tom Pearce and Irish woman Eva Carmichael, both 18, - took shelter in one of the gorge's caves. Pearce had heard her cries and braved the heavy seas to rescue her from the spar she was clinging to.

Pearce eventually made his way up the cliffs and went to get help at a nearby homestead. Eva was rescued and then returned to Ireland. Tom was awarded first bravery medal by the Victorian Government. He stayed at sea, which was to prove cruel to him as it later claiming two of his three sons in shipwrecks. He himself survived another sinking.

Loch Ard Gorge, VictoriaAs a matter of interest the wreckage and cargo that washed up from the Loch Ard covered the beach in the gorge to a depth of two metres.

Around Loch Ard Gorge there are a number of other natural sights - magnificent limestone structures such as the Island Arch, Muttonbird Island, Thunder Cave and Broken Head.

And trust me it is well worth walking down to overlook the ocean near Sherbrooke River where waves of stunning power roll into the shore.

We stood there for quite a while amazed at how large and fast they were. I've not seen such waves before.

Loch Ard Gorge, VictoriaParks Victoria seem to have done alot of work near Loch Ard Gorge since the last time I wa there in the mid-2000s and the pathways are terrific. They are good to walk on, allow you to keep to safe areas and lead you directly to great scenic views.

One place that is not scenic, but moving, is the Loch Ard cemetery.

At the cemetery there are three poignant markers to those who died in the disaster.

A large memorial to the Carmichaels, Eva family, a smaller one to the Arthur Mitchell and Reginald Jones and a general plaque naming all the victims.

On a visit in May 2013 I have to say the mob looking after the site are pretty woeful as the graves are overrun and needy tidying - both for those of the Loch Ard and the early pioneers also buried there.

Loch Ard Gorge, VictoriaLift your game Parks Victoria.

And, while we are having a little moan, what is with the Kiosk at The Apostles?

You could buy a coffee there - and souvenirs if you wanted - but there were no tables to sit at and no brochures about what to see in the area.

But if you are travelling through and die from lack of food or getting lost you can blame the local council and the folk of Port Campbell who, it is said, whinged and bleated and fought to stop those traveller-friendly services being set up at the Apostles Kiosk.

Seems they thought having a proper little eatery and tourist centre would stop tourists travelling on another 12km to spend money in their town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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