The Great Ocean Road is a tourist attraction in Victoria, Australia. It starts in the city of Torquay - 38 ° 20′15 ″ S. sh. 144°19′00″ E e. H G I O, - ends at the city of Allansford - 38 ° 23′04 ″ S. sh. 142°37′21″ E d.H G I O. The Great Ocean Road mostly follows the coast, but it also curves inland where it passes through vineyards and rainforest. It has two traffic lanes (one in each direction), the speed limit is 80 km/h. Since 2005, the 45 km section from Lorne to Apollo Bay has been used once a year for a marathon.
 |
| Great Ocean Road Australia |
History
The construction of the Great Ocean Road began on September 19, 1919, immediately after the return of Australian soldiers from the war. It was these three thousand who did this, working five and a half days a week, receiving 10 shillings and 6d for eight hours for work, while food cost 10 shillings a week.
This road was conceived as a military memorial to the victims of the First World War, and at the same time was supposed to connect remote settlements of the coast, facilitate the transportation of lumber and attract tourists.
 |
| Great Ocean Road Australia |
According to calculations, the Great Ocean Road was to be built at a speed of 3 kilometers per month, construction equipment was practically not used during its construction, most of the work was carried out with the help of picks, shovels, explosives and carts. Several workers died during the work, the sections on steep rocky areas were especially difficult. Despite this, there were pianos, gramophones, fresh newspapers and magazines in the construction camps. In 1924, the steamer "Casino", carrying 500 barrels of beer and 120 drinking alcohol, landed on the reefs located near the line of the road under construction. Worker-soldiers "rescued" the cargo, resulting in an unplanned halt to work for two weeks.
The first section of the road was opened on March 18, 1922, but soon closed again for further work. Construction costs were offset by the collection of tolls: 2 shillings per car, 10 shillings for carts driven by more than two horses. After the Road paid off in full, on October 2, 1936, it was donated to the state, travel along the Road became free.
 |
| Great Ocean Road Australia |
The grand construction was completed on November 26, 1932, and almost immediately the Road was recognized as the world's largest war memorial. The organizer and inspirer of the construction, Howard Hitchcock, died three months before the grand opening.
In 1960, part of the road near Princetown was washed into the ocean by a storm; at Lorne, the road was destroyed twice by landslides, in 1964 and 1971. In 1962 and 1964 the road was closed due to wildfires. In January 2011, overhanging rocks collapsed onto the road.
 |
| Great Ocean Road Australia |
In 1962, the Tourist Development Authority recognized the Great Ocean Road as "the most scenic road in the world". Despite some improvements to the Road, associated with increasing its safety, many of its sections are still considered very dangerous for drivers, for example, it is known that in 1966 the local police ( Eng. Victoria Police) used it to train their employees.
In 2004, a walking route was opened along the Road. Great Ocean Walk 104 kilometers long.
In 2011, the Great Ocean Road was added to the Australian National Heritage List.