The original arch was made of wood and spanned the road in 1939 to facilitate the collection of tolls for the road's initial construction costs.
The current structure was unveiled in 1983 following the Ash Wednesday bushfires which destroyed the previous version.
It is specifically dedicated to the soldiers of the 31st Battalion who returned from World War I and built the road as a memorial to their fallen comrades.
The bronze statues were added to the site in 2015 to honor the physical labor of the construction crew.
The arch is officially registered on the Victorian Heritage Register.
The Memorial Arch at Eastern View serves as the official gateway to the Great Ocean Road, commemorating the 3,000 returned servicemen who constructed the route between 1919 and 1932. The current structure is the fourth iteration of the monument, replacing previous wooden versions destroyed by bushfires or road widening projects. The arch spans the width of the road, marking the site where the original construction began. It sits at the coastal boundary between Eastern View and Lorne. The site features bronze statues depicting two laborers working with tools to build the road. Interpretive signage nearby details the history of the returned soldiers and the engineering challenges of the coastal construction. It serves as a primary stop for travelers entering the Great Ocean Road from the east.
From the grass verge on the ocean side of the road to capture the arch with the coastline in the background.
Visit during low-traffic periods to capture photos of the arch without vehicles in the frame.
Read the historical plaques on the ocean-side of the road for context on the construction history.
Park in the designated gravel pull-offs on the roadside rather than attempting to stop under the arch itself.
Do not attempt to walk across the active roadway to take photos, as this is a busy highway with limited visibility around the bend.
