GREAT OCEAN ROAD
The Great Ocean
Road is a 243-kilometre (151 mi) stretch of road along the
south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of
Torquay and Warrnambool... It is an important tourist attraction in
the region, which winds through varying terrain alongside the coast,
and provides access to several prominent landmarks; including the
nationally significant Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations.
These formations alone make the trip worthwhile.  
The
Great Ocean Road was first planned towards the end of the First World
War, when chairman of the Country Roads Board, William Calder asked
the State War Council for funds be provided for returned soldiers to
work on roads in sparsely populated areas in the Western district. By
the time of World War 1, the rugged south-west coast of Victoria was
accessible only by sea or rough bush track. Besides being dedicated as
a memorial, it was also envisioned that the road would connect
isolated settlements on the coast, and become a vital transport link
for the timber industry and tourism.
In 1962, the
road was deemed by the Tourist Development Authority to be one of
the world's great scenic roads. And, was added to the Australian
Heritage List just this year (2011).
The
Cape Otway Lighthouse is about midway along the route. It also had
sections widened between the Lorne Hotel and the Pacific Hotel to
improve traffic, while aiming to preserve its character. Despite
improvements, the road was still considered a challenging drive.
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