Loch Ard

Tuesday, April 3

Today we went to Loch Ard Gorge.
This is important to Australia because it was named after a boat wreck that happened here.
In 1878, the boat named "Loch Ard" was sailing off the coast of Australia, only 100 km from Melbourne (their destination). They were sailing through some low fog and mist when suddenly the fog lifted and the boat's lookout shouted 'BREAKERS AHEAD!'
In front of them were huge limestone rock cliffs. Before they could do anything the boat smashed into the closest cliff.
Back then many people didn't know how to swim so most people drowned in a wreck. This area is known as the "shipwreck coast!" There were only 2 survivors on this boat out of 54 people. These 2 lucky people were Eva Carmichael, 19 and Tom Pearce, also 19. Tom had swam to the shore and was surrounded by more of the steep cliffs with no where to climb to land where people would be. As he stood there he heard someone crying. He soon found Eva and helped her to shore. Tom set out to find help but had to climb up the steep, crumbly cliffs. He held on for life as he climbed up the Limestone hand over hand over hand. He soon came upon a couple of farmers who found help for them and Eva and Tom were rescued.
Today Loch Ard gorge is named after that ship that Tom and Eva were on. Also, at Loch Ard Gorge there are 2 steep cliffs that go from the small beach in Loch Ard out to the Southern Ocean.
If you go to Loch Ard Gorge today you can see some parts of the boat sticking out of the water.
This accident was horrible, but if it wouldn't have happened maybe this beautiful gorge would never have been discovered.

-Marin-

Location:Port Campbell, Australia