Recent photos taken along the Victorian coast , the bottom view known as the Loch Ard Gorge , named after the three masted sailing ship which came to grief near the end of a run from England to Melbourne in 1878 , the only two survivors being Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce , who took refuge in the gorge .
Young Pearce , who rescued the girl , was the step son of Captain R.G. Pearce , skipper of the SS Gothenburg which hit a reef during a gale in Queensland waters , with the loss of life of 102 , including Captain Pearce and prominent Northern Territory and South Australian identities , on a voyage from Darwin to Adelaide in 1875.
A priceless porcelain peacock intended for display at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition carried by Loch Ard survived and can be viewed at Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Marine Village , a reconstructed 1800s port with some relics from the 30 shipwrecks along the coast . (Photos by Em Jay ).
