What is Loch Ard Gorge?
Loch Ard Gorge is a dramatic coastal gorge in Port Campbell National Park on the Great Ocean Road. It is named after the ship Loch Ard, wrecked nearby in 1878.
The Loch Ard was sailing from England to Melbourne when it struck Mutton Bird Island in June 1878. Of the 54 people on board, only two survived: Tom Pearce, a young crew member, and Eva Carmichael, a passenger.
Tom Pearce was washed into the gorge and then saved Eva from the water. They sheltered in a cave before he climbed the cliffs to get help. The story made both of them famous.
Visiting the gorge
Steps lead down to the sheltered beach inside the gorge, surrounded by tall cliffs. Walking tracks link nearby lookouts, including the Razorback and Tom and Eva stacks.
A cemetery on the clifftop holds graves of some victims. The coast became known as the Shipwreck Coast because of many wrecks.
Interpretive signs along the walks tell the story of the wreck and the area's geology.
Did You Know?
A peacock made of Minton porcelain survived the wreck and is displayed at Flagstaff Hill in Warrnambool.