Anzacs built it: The Great Ocean Road 90 years on

Published on 24 April 2023

Tomorrow, we remember and honour the men and women who served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The spirit of Anzac is about courage, mateship, endurance and loyalty. And these values are quite literally cemented in the road our work at the Authority centres around.

The Great Ocean Road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 as a legacy piece to their fallen comrades and it’s often referred to as the world’s largest war memorial.

Constructed using only picks, shovels and explosives, rugged terrain and harsh weather was just the beginning of the challenges faced along the way—they also had to cope with the physical and mental scars of war.

Officially opened in 1932 with a convoy of 40 cars carrying tourists to Lorne, today the Great Ocean Road carries over two million visitors each year. To commemorate its 90th anniversary, we spoke with members of the Torquay RSL and learnt more about this remarkable piece of history from their unique perspectives.  

Lest we forget.