Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch: Eastern View Visitor Guide
The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View is one of Victoria's most recognisable road-trip landmarks. Spanning the Great Ocean Road between Aireys Inlet and Lorne, the timber arch is much more than a classic photo stop. It commemorates the returned servicemen who built the Great Ocean Road and reminds visitors that this spectacular coastal route was created as a memorial to those who served during the First World War.
Why Stop at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch?
The Memorial Arch is an easy place to add to a Great Ocean Road itinerary because you do not need hours to appreciate it. Stop, photograph the arch, read the memorial information and take in the coastal setting before continuing towards Lorne. The Eastern View is around ten minutes from Aireys Inlet and the arch is a monument dedicated to the returned service people who built the road.
What makes this landmark special is the story behind the scenery. The Great Ocean Road was completed in 1932, with returned servicemen doing the extraordinary work of cutting a route along Victoria's rugged coast. The arch at Eastern View was first erected in 1939, with memorial plaques recognising both the servicemen and W.T.B. McCormick, honorary engineer of the Great Ocean Road Trust.
The arch visitors see today has its own story of survival and rebuilding. Heritage records show that the 1939 structure was replaced in 1973, then replaced again after the Ash Wednesday bushfires destroyed the arch in February 1983. That history gives the stop extra weight. You are not simply photographing a sign over a famous road, you are looking at a memorial that has itself become part of the Great Ocean Road story.
I am an avid photographer, and this is exactly the kind of roadside stop where taking the camera pays off. One lesson from my travels is that getting out and exploring often leads to something more interesting than expected. A photography trip to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale once expanded into a whole Pyrenees adventure for me. The Memorial Arch has that same appeal. Stop for the obvious photo, then spend a few extra minutes reading the plaques and understanding why the road exists.
For photography, the classic composition is the arch with the road running beneath it and the coastal landscape around it. A wide angle or standard lens is ideal, and a light camera such as my OM-5 would be a great fit for a Great Ocean Road day trip. The scene can be busy, so patience is useful if you want a cleaner photograph without a stream of vehicles dominating the frame or your fellow abundant weekend travellers taking their own selfies.
I wouldn't sweat the small stuff here though. There is a pure tourist selfie spot more for record keeping your travels than being a beautiful scenic spot.
The Memorial Arch works particularly well as an early Great Ocean Road stop if you are travelling from Melbourne through Torquay and Aireys Inlet towards Lorne. It gives the journey some historical context before the road becomes increasingly dramatic. After reading about the returned servicemen who built it, the cliffs, bends and cuttings ahead feel a little more remarkable.
It can also serve as a great spot toy stretch your legs, gice your designated driver a bit of a rest and a mental break and keep the kids (and adults) entertained for a few minutes. You are meant to be on holiday afterall!
Allow around 10 to 15 minutes for a straightforward visit, or maybe an additional 5 minutes or so longer if you enjoy history. The attraction is free and outdoors, so it is easy to fit around the rest of your day. For me, this is one of those places where reading all the local history pays off. Knowing the historical story transforms the Memorial Arch from a quick roadside selfie into something a bit more meaningful. In this superfast information, selfie and AI age it can be good to take a quick breather. Reading the information plaques really does add a positive experience to what otherwise would just be a quick selfie with little overall meaning.
Trivia: The original Eastern View Memorial Arch was erected in 1939. It was replaced in 1973 and again after the Ash Wednesday bushfires destroyed the structure in February 1983.
Getting there
The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch is on the Great Ocean Road at Eastern View, Victoria 3231, between Aireys Inlet and Lorne. From Melbourne, travel via Geelong and Torquay, then continue west along the Great Ocean Road through Anglesea and Aireys Inlet. Use the designated roadside parking area at the Memorial Arch and take care when entering or leaving because this is an active highway.
- Good base: Aireys Inlet: Very close to Eastern View, with beaches, cafes and Split Point Lighthouse.
- Good base: Lorne: A popular coastal base west of the arch with dining, accommodation and access to Great Otway National Park.
When
The Memorial Arch is an outdoor roadside landmark and can be viewed year-round. Daylight is best for photography and for safely reading the memorial information. Weekends, public holidays and summer can be busy, so an earlier visit can make parking and photography easier.
Cost
FREE. There is no admission charge to stop at and view the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch.
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch FAQ
Where is the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch?
The Memorial Arch is at Eastern View, Victoria 3231, on the Great Ocean Road between Aireys Inlet and Lorne.
What does the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch commemorate?
It commemorates the returned servicemen who built the Great Ocean Road and the sacrifice associated with the First World War.
When was the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch built?
The original memorial arch at Eastern View was erected in 1939. The structure has since been replaced more than once, including after the Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983.
Is the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch free to visit?
Yes. There is no admission charge to stop and view the Memorial Arch.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Around 10 to 20 minutes is enough for photographs and reading the memorial information, although photographers and history lovers may want longer.
Can I take photos at the Memorial Arch?
Yes. It is one of the best-known Great Ocean Road photo stops. Stay in the designated visitor area and take care around traffic.
Is the Memorial Arch near Aireys Inlet?
Yes. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority describes Eastern View as around ten minutes from Aireys Inlet.
Why is the Great Ocean Road a memorial?
The road was built by returned servicemen after the First World War and was dedicated to those who served and to comrades who did not return.
Tourist Destinations near the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
While you are here why not visit these other great locations:
- Aireys Inlet: A relaxed coastal town with cafes, beaches and the historic Split Point Lighthouse.
- Chopstix Noodle Bar: If you love unique and eclectic venues that make an impression then Chopstix could be your in your future for your food fetish. Located in Lorne.
- Currawong Falls: A longer bushwalk near Aireys Inlet with forest, ridges and waterfall scenery. Check out more information on Currawong Falls.
- Erskine Falls: One of the best-known waterfalls near Lorne, set among lush Otways forest.
- Fairhaven Beach: A sweeping surf beach just east of Eastern View and a scenic place to enjoy the coast.
- Lorne: A major Great Ocean Road town with beaches, cafes, the pier and access to waterfalls and Great Otway National Park. Take in waterfalls such as Lower Kalimna Falls and Phantom Falls.
- Moggs Creek: A quieter coastal locality with nearby picnic and nature-walk options in the eastern Otways. Moggs Creek Picnic area is the gateway to the Ocean View Circuit Walk and Moggs Creek Nature Walk.
- Split Point Lighthouse: A classic Great Ocean Road landmark on the Aireys Inlet headland with coastal walking tracks and ocean views.
- The Chocolateries Great Ocean Road: A Bellbrae chocolate, ice cream and cafe destination with landscaped grounds and family activities. The kids will love being surrounded by chocolates, sweets and ice-creams while you can grab a coffee and chill for a bit at The Chocolateries Great Ocean Road.
- The Fives Cafe and plant nursery: Have a pitstop and enjoy a great coffee, warm up by the fireplace, scout the plant nursery and stretch your legs at The Fives Cafe as you continue your drive to the Great Ocean Road and Aireys Inlet.
Official Website
Check current visitor information here: Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority: Eastern View.
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