The hidden history between Parker Hill and Cape Otway
The Great Ocean Walk from Parker Hill to Point Franklin is one of the most fascinating stretches of the entire trail. Not only is it known for its spectacular ocean views and coastal forests, but for the secrets hidden beneath its sands.
If you’re looking for information on how to enjoy this stretch of the Great Ocean Walk safely, we have written a blog to help you plan your hike along this wonderful and diverse section of the trail.
Local Insight from Walk91
This guide is written by the Walk91 team, locals based in Apollo Bay who live and work on the Great Ocean Walk. We support walkers on this trail each walking season and share practical, first-hand knowledge to help you plan safely and confidently.
Read on to learn about some of the Great Ocean Walk’s shipwreck heritage between Parker Hill and the Cape Otway Lighthouse. If you would like to experience the Great Ocean Walk for yourself, explore our Self-Guided Tours of the Great Ocean Walk.
Why this stretch became known as the Shipwreck Coast?
Before modern navigation, ships sailing toward Melbourne from the west relied on limited charts, dead reckoning and visual landmarks — many of which were hard to distinguish along this exposed coast.
The Otways are known for:
- frequent strong winds
- high rainfall and sudden weather changes
- heavy swell and powerful coastal currents
Cape Otway itself juts sharply into Bass Strait, forcing ships closer to shore than expected. Offshore reefs and rock platforms lie just below the surface, invisible in poor light or rough seas. In fog or bad weather, many captains believed they were safely offshore — until it was too late.
The Eric the Red: a shipwreck hidden in the sand
One of the most remarkable shipwreck stories connected to this section of coast is that of the Eric the Red.
The Eric the Red was an American wooden barque launched in 1871. On her final voyage, she was bound for Melbourne carrying cargo for the 1880 International Exhibition. After more than 80 days at sea, tragedy struck.
In the early hours of 4 September 1880, the Eric the Red struck reefs near Cape Otway. Within minutes, the ship broke apart in heavy seas. Of the 25 people on board, four lost their lives. Survivors clung to wreckage through the night before being rescued by a passing vessel.
A rare moment at Parker Inlet
What makes the Eric the Red particularly fascinating is that parts of the wreck can still be seen today, buried in the sands of Parker Inlet. (See the photo below marked with an X!)
The inlet is constantly changing. Sand shifts with storms, swell and tides, sometimes revealing the ribs of the ship’s hull, only for them to disappear again beneath the sand weeks or months later. Many walkers pass through Parker Inlet without realising they are walking across a historic wreck site — unless conditions are just right.
Spotting the Eric the Red at Parker Inlet (when conditions are right)
If you look at the marked photo below, we’ve highlighted the general area where parts of the Eric the Red may appear when the tide is low and the sand has shifted.
Have a good look as you arrive on the beach — sometimes you’ll only see a small section peeping out of the sand.
A simple reference point is this: stand roughly in the middle of the beach facing the ocean, then look slightly to your left. The wreck is generally buried in that zone of the inlet/beach area when it is visible.
Important: visibility is rare and unpredictable, and the shoreline can change quickly. Always keep a safe distance from the waterline and never put yourself at risk to look for it.
When did we last see Eric the Red?
During the COVID period, when very few people were able to travel, the sands at Parker Inlet shifted enough to expose part of the Eric the Red’s hull. Seeing the timbers emerge from the sand was extraordinary. They rose like a rib cage, with massive bolts and screws still holding fast more than a century later, giving a powerful sense of the ship’s true scale. We have not seen the Eric the Wreck emerge again since 2020.
It was a remarkable experience to witness such a clear glimpse of history — but also a sad one. The wreck lies so close to shore, a reminder that for some on board, the end of a long journey came just moments before safety.
A Ship from New York Bound for Melbourne
The Eric the Red was a U.S. wooden barque, launched in 1871, originally built for the coal trade between Britain and South America. On her final voyage, she was chartered to deliver a cargo of American goods to Melbourne for the 1880 International Exhibition — a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship from around the world.
Her holds were packed with sewing machines, pianos, furniture, carriages, fine tobacco, wine, kerosene, ironmongery, medical instruments, toys, and even astronomical globes — a floating exhibition of American industry.
Memories of The Night of the Wreck
In the early hours of 4 September 1880, after 85 days at sea, Captain Jaques Allen misjudged his course near Cape Otway Reef. At around 1 a.m., the ship struck the reef three times and broke apart in the heavy surf.
Within twelve minutes, the Eric the Red was gone.
Of the 25 people onboard, four perished — including a passenger named Mr. Vaughan and three crew members. The survivors were rescued by the steamer SS Dawn, which heard their cries and hauled them from the freezing water.
Captain Allen’s later account told of hanging onto wreckage while being battered by waves — even losing his trousers in the chaos! He described being “black and blue from head to foot,” lucky to have survived the ferocious sea that night.
Cape Otway Lighthouse Cemetery
The body of one sailor was later found and buried in the Cape Otway Lighthouse Cemetery, where visitors can still pay their respects today. Another was seen stranded on an unreachable ledge, forever lost to the sea.
The crew of the SS Dawn were later honoured with medals and rewards from the U.S. Consul for their bravery.
What Happened to the Wreckage?
Much of Eric the Red’s cargo and timbers washed up along the coast — from Apollo Bay to Peterborough, and even as far as New Zealand. Locals salvaged what they could, and soon, fragments of the ship began a second life across Apollo Bay.
- Timbers were used to build and extend local homes and sheds.
- The Milford House guesthouse famously used the ship’s teak and Oregon timber for its ballroom floor and cabin doors.
- A smaller boat, aptly named Apollo, was built from its wood in 1883 — the first ship ever constructed in Apollo Bay.
- Bales of tobacco from the wreck were traded locally for years — one of the most popular “rescues” of all!
An anchor from Eric the Red still rests on the rocks at Point Franklin, and another is on display at the Cape Otway Lighthouse.
The Martha: another Shipwreck Coast tragedy
The Martha was a British sailing vessel wrecked along the Shipwreck Coast in the late 19th century, during a period when Cape Otway had already gained a grim reputation among mariners.
Like many ships approaching Victoria from the west, the Martha was navigating a coastline with few clear reference points. Weather conditions in the Otways were often deceptive — strong winds, squalls and rain could arrive quickly, reducing visibility and making accurate navigation extremely difficult. Even experienced crews could misjudge their position by just enough to bring them dangerously close to shore.
When the Martha was lost, it reinforced what sailors already feared: that this coastline allowed very little margin for error.
A Lasting Legacy: Safer Seas at Cape Otway
The loss of Eric the Red and the Martha were not in vain. In 1881, a year after the Eric the Red tragedy, a new warning light was installed below the Cape Otway Lighthouse, shining low over the ocean to warn passing ships that they were too close to shore.
This additional light — invisible unless a vessel came within three miles — helped prevent countless future disasters along the Shipwreck Coast.
🚶♀️ Walk Through History with Walk91
When you walk the Parker Hill to Point Franklin section with Walk91, you’re not just following a scenic trail — you’re retracing the footsteps (and wake) of history.
We share stories like that of Eric the Red in our walking notes, emailed to you before your self-guided adventure. And if you join one of our self-guided Great Ocean Walk tours, we’ll meet you in person for a private walk briefing to answer your questions and share insider local knowledge before you begin. Our 3 Day Hike the Cape Walk, 5 Day, 6 Day, 7 Day and 10 Day walks all pass Parker Inlet.
So whether you’re walking for the views, the solitude, or the history — this is one section you won’t forget.
Parts of the Eric the Red shipwreck can occasionally be seen at Parker Inlet when shifting sands expose sections of the hull. Visibility depends on tides, swell and recent weather. We have not seen the wreck emerge again since 2020, and it may remain buried for long periods.
When the wreck is visible, it is typically seen in the Parker Inlet beach area. A simple guide is to stand roughly in the middle of the beach facing the ocean and look slightly to the left, where shifting sand sometimes exposes parts of the hull. Visibility is rare and conditions change quickly, so do not take risks near the waterline.
The Eric the Red wrecked near Cape Otway in 1880. Remains of the ship are associated with the Parker Inlet area, where sand movement can sometimes reveal parts of the wreck.
Cape Otway was extremely dangerous to ships due to strong winds, high rainfall, heavy swell, poor visibility and hidden reefs. Before modern navigation aids and warning lights, many vessels misjudged their position and struck the coastline.
The Martha was a British sailing vessel wrecked along the Shipwreck Coast near Cape Otway in the 19th century. Like many ships of the era, it was lost due to hazardous weather, limited navigation aids and the dangerous nature of the coastline.
Cape Otway Lighthouse was built in response to repeated shipwrecks along the coast. It became Australia’s first permanent mainland lighthouse and was designed to warn ships of dangerous reefs and headlands near Cape Otway.
Yes. Walkers pass through areas closely linked to shipwreck history, including Parker Inlet and Cape Otway, where landscape features and occasional remains reveal the coast’s maritime past.
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About the Author
Walk91 is a locally owned Great Ocean Walk operator based in Apollo Bay, Victoria. Our team lives and works on the Great Ocean Road and provides self-guided Great Ocean Walk support throughout the walking season, drawing on first-hand knowledge of trail conditions, logistics, and safety planning.
