Great Ocean Road Anniversary Tour launched

The launch for the Celebration Tour, sponsored by the RACV, was held on October 10, with a veteran 1908 Isotta Fraschini, and vintage 1924 Vauxhall 30/98 in attendance. Event Director of the 80 Years' Great Ocean Road Celebration Tour, Charles Rogers and Executive Director of Geelong Otway Tourism, Roger Grant spoke at the launch for the Tour, which will draw dozens of pre-1939 classics to travel the famous Great Ocean Road.

Author of Lorne a Living History, Doug Stirling, who was born in 1922 and has lived his entire life in Lorne also discussed his vivid memories of the Great Ocean Roads' early days and his stories of the Road.

Originally created as a way to link remote communities along the Victorian coast, the Great Ocean Road also served as a way to put soldiers returned from the Great War to work. Today, given that much of the work was done by returned servicemen, the Great Ocean Road is recognised as the world's longest war memorial.

Surveys commenced in 1918, with the first section done by 1922, and the official opening of the completed 243km road coming a decade later in November, 1932. A motorcade of 40 vehicles were on hand for the grand opening, which was held at Lorne.

The five-day RACV 80 Years Great Ocean Road Celebration Tour will start in Melbourne on Saturday, November 24, stopping in Torquay, Lorne and Port Campbell, before ending in Port Fairy on Wednesday, November 28.

Entries for the Tour, limited to pre-1939 vehicles only, are still open, but close on October 15.

The Tour will be one of a number of community events in the region to celebrate the Great Ocean Road's 80th birthday. Further details on the Tour can be found at www.80greatoceanroad.com.au

Images: courtesy of Gemini Communications Consulting