Pearce's bravery and the story of the shipwreck quickly spread around Melbourne and Sydney. Pearce became known as'the hero of Loch Ard'and was feted everywhere he travelled. He was awarded a gold medal from the Humane Society in Melbourne,a gold watch and £1000 from the Victorian Government,a set of nautical instruments from the people of Sydney and some new clothes from the citizens of Warrnambool. An amusing postscript:Pearce had seen Eva in her nightgown and the morality of the time insisted that he propose marriage to her. Fortunately for all concerned she declined and shortly afterwards returned to her native Ireland.
There are three self-guided walks around the Loch Ard Gorge area. One,based around the wreck,takes in a plaque at the top of Loch Ard Gorge,the cave where Eva sheltered while Tom went looking for help and the cemetery where the dead were buried. Another walk focuses on the geology of the area (including The Island Archway,The Blowhole,Elephant Rock and Broken Head) and the third contemplates the ecology of life on the cliff-tops.
If you could get an aerial view of this stretch of the coast you would notice a large and unusual island which juts out from the coast to the west of Loch Ard Gorge. It is known now as Muttonbird Island but in the past as'The Sow'- a fitting complement to the Twelve Apostles which were known as'The Piglets'. It is possible to drive to look across to the island but it is hard to get an appreciation of its size. It is only 60 metres from the mainland and is home to some 200 000 short-tailed shearwaters which migrate about 30 000 km every year passing summer in the northern Pacific Ocean and returning in the last week of September to nest in rookeries within Bass Strait. They fly in by the thousands on summer evenings to their nests on the island. They can be seen from October to April but January and February are the best times.
Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles are probably the most famous formations off the coast of Victoria. Over the years they have become the state's most potent advertising image. The reality does not disappoint. The'stacks',as they are known,are vertically jointed and flat-bedded limestone. Some of the largest stacks stand 65 metres above sea-level. They are best photographed in the early morning.
A state-of-the-art,energy efficient visitor centre is now located by the Twelve Apostles for the edification and comfort of visitors. There is a large car park and walkways which lead to the viewing areas.
For the really enthusiastic there are helicopter and small aeroplane flights over the coast which go as far west as Port Campbell and sweep across the Twelve Apostles.
Gibson Steps
Another kilometre along is another turnoff on the right to Gibson Steps which lead down 90 metres to Gibson Beach - a good fishing and beach walking area. The original steps were carved into the rock by Hugh Gibson,the original owner of Glenample Homestead (see next entry) though they have since been concreted. As a general principle it is unwise to swim in these very dangerous waters.
Glenample Homestead
Just beyond the turnoff to Gibson Steps,on the other side of the Great Ocean Road,is the turnoff to Glenample Homestead Interpretation Centre. It was to this house that Tom Pearce walked to seek assistance after the Loch Ard shipwreck. Over the years the homestead fell into disrepair but in recent times it has been restored to its original condition. Built from locally quarried sandstone in 1869 by Hugh Gibson it is an interesting remnant of a bygone era. Artefacts of the disaster are on display.
The house is open at varying times in the course of the year. Generally speaking they are open daily from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. in the school holidays while,at other times they are open from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Friday to Monday. However,hours may vary with circumstance,especially in winter,so it is strongly advisable to ring first to check,tel:(03) 5598 8209. There are picnic facilities,toilets and information boards at the site.
Princetown
Princetown is about 18 km east of Port Campbell at the mouth of the Gellibrand River which marks the eastern boundary of the National Park. There is a post office,general store and the Apostles Camping Park (tel:03 5598 8119) which has caravan facilities but no on-site vans. There are also some backpacker units. A picnic area is located beside the river which has tables and a launching area for canoes. The river offers excellent fishing opportunities.
To the West of the Town
Town Lookout and Port Campbell Discovery Walk
You can start this walk near Port Campbell Beach by crossing the mouth of Campbells Creek. Alternatively,follow the signs from the Town Lookout Carpark on the Great Ocean Road (western side of town). Instead of taking the road to Timboon,turn left,cross Campbells Creek and about 1 km further on there is a walking trail clearly signposted on the left hand side of the road. This 3.8-km trail offers excellent views across Port Campbell to the township and winds around the cost to Two Mile Bay. It is an ideal introduction to the coastal heathland and terrain which characterises the area.
The Arch,London Bridge and the Grotto
A little over 3 km from the turnoff to the Discovery Walk is the lookout over The Arch,a rock formation caused by water erosion.
About 600 metres further west,just beyond Point Hesse,is the turnoff to four viewing platforms over London Bridge. There are still plenty of photographs of London Bridge looking moderately like a bridge across the Thames in London. Historically the London Bridge formation was a natural archway and tunnel in an offshore rock formation caused by waves eroding away a portion of softer rock. However it collapsed on 15 January 1990 and became a bridge without a middle. Two people were on the bridge at the time but no one was injured. Artificial burrows have been built to encourage the nesting of fairy penguins. There is no access to the beach. It is located 7 km south of Port Campbell and has good parking facilities and plenty of vantage points where visitors can inspect the formations and take photographs.
About another 2 km west,via the Great Ocean Road,is a turnoff on the left which leads to a lookout over'The Grotto'- a geological formation created when sinkholes in the limestone cliffs met with a receding cliff line.
2 km further west is Newfield Bay which is a popular surf-fishing and beach-walking spot at the western extreme of the National Park. Just beyond the bay are Curdies Inlet,Peterborough and the Bay of Islands Coastal Park.
A Book About The Great Ocean Road
The best book about the Great Ocean Road is the remarkably cheap ($19.95 for a full colour hardback) book by Port Campbell photographer,Rodney Hyett. It is 96 pages long and has everything you could possibly want - great photographs,maps of the area,a potted history of the area,details about national parks and visitor information centres,accommodation,walking tracks,even details of the region's eight lighthouses and succinct (not as detailed as this website) pieces of information about all the major destinations from Queenscliff to Cape Bayswater. If you are planning to travel the Great Ocean Road and explore the totality of its attractions this is a small masterpiece of publishing and a great travel guide. It is available from many shops along the way and can be ordered from Port Campbell Shopping athttp://www.portcampbellshopping.com.au