Did any of your ancestors work on building the Great Ocean Road? If so, you’ll be interested to know about a Project that the Portland Family History Group is working on, that is recording details of all of those who worked on, or even those who helped the workers along the way, to enable them to build this iconic part of Australia.
Now Iain Grant from the Group was kind enough to inform me about this Project, and he can tell you about it better than I can …
THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD: WHO BUILT IT?
The year 2007 saw the 75th Anniversary of the opening of the Great Ocean Road, and marked with many celebrations as befitted this iconic road. Many speeches were given, as were thanks to the ex-servicemen and others whose toil, sweat, blisters, hardships, heat, cold and adversity resulted in such an astonishing memorial to those who fought for Australia during World War One.Commenced in August 1919, the 400 kilometre stretch of road from Lorne in the east of Victoria, to Allansford in the west, it was not until 29th November 1932 that the road was officially opened by Victoria’s Lieutenant Governor, Sir William Irvine.
This had the advantage of opening up this vast coastal area so that farmers were more able to get their produce to market. Timber mills were more able to get sawn timber to the markets in Melbourne where it was desperately needed as the population grew. Previously they had to rely on coastal steamers plying the coast. Inland tracks were only passable during the summer months and with great difficulty; indeed most travel was confined to horseback.
During the intervening years some 2400 ex-servicemen and 600 civilians laboured on this massive project, initially earning 10 shillings and sixpence a day in sustenance payments. This was shortened to “susso” and was the forerunner of the “Dole” as we know it today. Many other projects in Victoria were undertaken with this scheme.
The men lived a life of hardship in tent cities situated along the length of the road; often in wet and boggy areas of the only flat land near the mouths of the various creeks.
Most records of the Great Ocean Road Trust were destroyed deliberately during World War Two leaving historians with absolutely no idea who formed to workforce that built the road. Who bent their backs to earn their “susso?” Who built the bridges? Who engineered the roads that hug the hills? Who surveyed the trackless wastes to forge ahead and open up the land to farmers and graziers? Who supplied this army of men with their daily provisions? The Salvation Army was of course there to support the men as they had in wartime, but who else supplied pastoral and other care? Who supplied the nursing that injured men might need? Who provided the entertainment in the camps at night, as men parted from their loved ones yet again, sought relaxation and succour?
Was your grand-dad, father, uncle, or brother, a worker on the road? Did an aunt, great grandma, mother, or sister assist with the feeding, cooking and other care for these men?
The Portland Family History Group is currently attempting to compile as complete a list as is humanly possible of those who had a connection with the road, and they would appreciate ANY and ALL information about your relatives or friends that you may be able to supply.
Anything at all such as names, age, where from, service in the armed forces, how long employed on the road, what job they had, which camp they were allocated to, copies of photos, or other memorabilia, written anecdotes or other stories, how they coped with the work, in fact even the smallest piece of information would be of assistance in collating a list so that they can keep a small biography on all the names before this important knowledge is lost to all of us forever.
Contact details:
Portland Family History Group
Phone: (03) 5522 2266
Email: historyhouse@glenelg.vic.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 409, Portland, VIC 3305
Iain Grant
Phone: (03) 5523 4550
Email: ij.grant@bigpond.com
Follow them:
For those into social media, go ahead and ‘like’ the Great Ocean Road Workers Facebook page to keep up with their news, and while you’re there, you might like to also ‘like’ the Portland Family History Group’s own Facebook page.
Spread the word:
They are asking us all help spread the word about this Project. So go on, tell your friends, relis, neighbours, Facebook buddies and those in your local genie groups. The more who know about it, the more people they are likely to find connected to the building of the Great Ocean Road.
The photos below a just a few from their collection.
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for the extra publicity. Such a worthwhile project and we desperately need more names before their heroic deeds are forgotten. We will remember them!! Regards Iain
I am 87 years old and was with my father David Webster of Colac, as representative of Vacuum Oil Company, at the opening if the Great Ocean Road, the only child there. The picture is very clear in my mind, as are the terrifying car trips I took with him along it – once in a petrol tanker that had only a hessian flap for a door. I still have his Yearly Pass, issued November 1932, permitting him to travel on the road.