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Loch Ard Gorge is an infamous landmark on the Great Ocean Road, not far from the
Twelve Apostles. In 1878 an iron clipper, The Loch Ard , was driven into the sheer
cliff walls of the Gorge during one of the frequent storms that affect the Southern
Ocean. Of the fifty-three people on board only two, both teenagers, survived...
apprentice crewman Tom Pearce and passenger Eva Carmichael, both eighteen.
According to Tom's account, the ship was making its way through the weather when
it was discovered they were off course were about to crash into the cliffs. Captain
Gibb ordered the anchors dropped in an effort to slow the boat, but this failed
and the ship hit the rocky coastline and rolled, taking water on both sides. Tom
and five others struggled to get a lifeboat free of the now tangled lines, an
managed to get it along side the ship, but a huge wave swept them away. Tom was
eventually washed into the Gorge and landed on the small sandy beach that was
the only gap in the cliff line. Eva was also lucky to survive. Swept off
the rapidly sinking deck she managed to stay afloat by holding onto a chicken
coop. She made it half way into shore before Tom noticed here and herocially dove
back into the boiling seas, eventually pulling her to safety. They crawled up
the beach to a cave where they consumed a bottle of brandy from a box washed up
from the wreck, then 'collapsed into insensibillity.' Below is another famous
Ocean Road landmark, The London Bridge. On a school trip many years ago our entire
class crossed the bridge. We asked our tour guide if it was safe, if London Bridge
would ever 'Fall Down'! He replied that if it wasn't safe they wouldn't allow
tourists to cross it. A few years later the middle span did collapse, trapping
two people on the far side, who were rescued by helicopter.
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