It is impossible to stand upon these shores and remain untouched by the enormity of the emigrant experience. Tales of Shipwreck and a strong maritime connection are woven into the very fabric of this region. Today our coastal towns look to the sea for inspiration and respite from the summer heat. In winter tempest we are reminded in bold clarity of those in peril at sea; of men women and children that undertook an open ocean crossing 90 days and a world away from familiar faces and certainty.
Find out more about our local shipwrecks. Where did they occur? What can you expect to see? Museums, sound and light shows, lightstations and where can you go for more information? Specific information about wrecks including the Loch Ard, Schomberg, Fiji, Newfield and Falls of Halladale.
The wrecks along these shores (with the exception of the Napier) are all of long haul passages some of which had yet to sight land on the Australian continent. Speed at sea in this era was a common denominator for economic return. The captains of the day were bestowed celebrity status for carving days and weeks off the average 90 day passage.
The wrecks along these shores (with the exception of the Napier) are all of long haul passages some of which had yet to sight land on the Australian continent. Speed at sea in this era was a common denominator for economic return. The captains of the day were bestowed celebrity status for carving days and weeks off the average 90 day passage.
Visit the Historic Shipwreck Display at Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre. Find out more about the wrecks that many of the local beaches and formations are named after. Newfield Bay, Halladale Point, Schomberg Reef and of course Loch Ard Gorge are all named after the wrecks that occured in their vicinity
As you tour the Great Ocean Road, look for the signs which link the sites of many wrecks along the stormy coast of Western Victoria.Each of the 25 sites reveals more about our fascinating maritime history. Allow yourself to go back in time to the days of sail when Bass Strait was the route to the riches of Victoria.