Naming the 12 Apostles
From Piglets to Apostles
Historical Background
The iconic rock formations we know today as the 12 Apostles were first referred to as the Sow and Piglets, a name mapped and noted by George Bass in 1798. Early charts recorded by Superintendent C.J. La Trobe, who passed through the area en route to Cape Otway in 1846, also reflected this name. His chart included more than 12 rock stacks between Loch Ard Gorge and the current viewing platform.
On December 25, 1897, the Melbourne newspaper The Argus described the formation as “a line of tall rocks rising out of the sea, completely cut off from the mainland, which runs sheer down to the water. These are known as the Sow and Pigs, the Pinnacles, or the Twelve Apostles.” Interestingly, despite this description, these formations are not made of sandstone. You can learn more about the geology of Port Campbell National Park here.
Tourism in the area was accelerated around reporting of significant shipwrecks including the Loch Ard in 1878 and the Fiji in 1891. When rail came to Timboon in April 1892 visitors arriving into the area were transported by horse drawn coach via the Old Coach Road which ran between Port Campbell and Princetown. Many would have been travelling to and staying at establishments including Ozone and Rivernook Guesthouses and The Fiji Coffee Palace in Princetown. During this era visitors would have been viewing the formations from the Old Coach Road not necessarily from a specific viewing area. Stacks that would have been viewable in this era include the stacks to the east of the Razorback that are not viewable from the current 12 Apostles viewing area.
We acknowledge the Kirrae Whurrong people of the Eastern Maar nation as the traditional owners of this wonderful part of country. We acknowledge a cultural story and wisdom that has survived and thrived through the shaping of this scenery for over 50 000 years and a connection that is deep and ongoing today.
A different context
- 18 000 years ago the shoreline of this region would have been 70km south of today’s coastline.
- 2000 years ago the 12 Apostles area would likely have been a series of bays and headlands with some of the headlands forming sea caves and arches.
- 130 years ago we start finding evidence of the current day naming of sea stacks which are remnants of the headlands
How Many of the 12 Apostles Are Still Standing?
From the current viewing platform, visitors can now see seven sea stacks, down from eight after one collapsed in 2005. Additionally, two other notable stacks—Gog and Magog—can be viewed from Gibson Steps Beach. Early photos and postcards referred to the larger of these, Gog, as Ironclad Rock.
Further east, sea stacks labelled Sow and Piglets on C.J. La Trobe’s 1846 chart can be seen from the Razorback viewing area at Loch Ard Gorge. These more hidden stacks were likely part of the original formations visitors once referred to as the 12 Apostles, back when they viewed the coast by foot or horse-drawn cart, long before the development of the current viewing platform.
For a unique perspective, visitors can also spot these sea stacks from the air, with 12 Apostles Helicopters offering scenic flights over the breathtaking coastline.
Discover Your Next 12 Apostles Adventure
Explore more places to stay, play, and reconnect with nature in the Great Ocean Road Region
