Brand Highway
Encyclopedia
Brand Highway is a 362 kilometre main highway linking the northern outskirts of Perth
, the capital of Western Australia
, to the port city of Geraldton
in Western Australia's Mid West region. Together with North West Coastal Highway
, it forms part of the Western Australian coastal link to the Northern Territory. The highway is a part of Australia's Highway 1
, and is about 369 kilometres (229 mi) in length. As with many Australian roads, it is for the most part a single carriageway
with one lane in each direction.
The highway was completed in 1975 and opened in 1976 by then-Premier
Charles Court
, who named it in honour of former premier Sir David Brand
. It replaced the old alignment from Dongara to Perth (Midlands Road).
, kangaroo paw
, grass tree
plus various national parks. Dongara
, as well as the off-highway settlements of Jurien Bay
and Cervantes
are popular tourist destinations. En-route, there are several roadhouses. The downside of being a fairly monotonous and featureless stretch of road is that parts of the highway have seen serious accidents, with fatigue often being identified as the cause.
For the last 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of its length, it serves as the main road for the southern suburbs of Geraldton, including Wandina
, Tarcoola Beach
, Mount Tarcoola
and Mahomets Flats
.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the capital of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, to the port city of Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
in Western Australia's Mid West region. Together with North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway
North West Coastal Highway in Western Australia is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the fishing town of Geraldton with the iron ore port of Port Hedland. It is long, and constructed as a sealed 2-lane single carriageway with overtaking lanes in some parts. It was...
, it forms part of the Western Australian coastal link to the Northern Territory. The highway is a part of Australia's Highway 1
Highway 1 (Australia)
Australia's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway...
, and is about 369 kilometres (229 mi) in length. As with many Australian roads, it is for the most part a single carriageway
Single carriageway
A single carriageway is a road with 1, 2 or more lanes arranged within a single carriageway with no central reservation to separate opposing flows of traffic. Two-lane road or two-lane highway are single carriageway with one lane for each direction...
with one lane in each direction.
The highway was completed in 1975 and opened in 1976 by then-Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Charles Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
, who named it in honour of former premier Sir David Brand
David Brand
Sir David Brand KCMG was the 19th and longest serving Premier of Western Australia and a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1945 to 1975.-Early life:...
. It replaced the old alignment from Dongara to Perth (Midlands Road).
Description
The highway passes through agricultural areas. Among its attractions are the unique WA wildflowers such as Western Australian Christmas treeWestern Australian Christmas tree
Nuytsia floribunda is a hemiparasitic plant found in Western Australia. The species is known locally as the Christmas Tree, displaying bright orange flowers during the Christmas season.-Description:...
, kangaroo paw
Kangaroo paw
Kangaroo paw is a common name for a number of species, in two genera of the family Haemodoraceae, that are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. These perennial plants are noted for their unique bird attracting flowers...
, grass tree
Xanthorrhoea
Xanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae, being the only member of subfamily Xanthorrhoeoideae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.-Description:All are...
plus various national parks. Dongara
Dongara, Western Australia
Dongara is a town located 351 km north-northwest of Perth on the Brand Highway. The town is located at the mouth of the Irwin River. In recent years the area has been marketed as the 'Rock lobster capital of Australia'....
, as well as the off-highway settlements of Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay, Western Australia
-Demographics:At the ABS 2006 census, Jurien Bay had a population of 1,175, which represented over one-third of the total population of the Shire of Dandaragan...
and Cervantes
Cervantes, Western Australia
Cervantes is a town in Western Australia. The town is located just off Indian Ocean Drive about north north west of the state capital, Perth in the Shire of Dandaragan Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Cervantes had a population of 503. The town was named after a ship that was wrecked...
are popular tourist destinations. En-route, there are several roadhouses. The downside of being a fairly monotonous and featureless stretch of road is that parts of the highway have seen serious accidents, with fatigue often being identified as the cause.
For the last 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of its length, it serves as the main road for the southern suburbs of Geraldton, including Wandina
Wandina, Western Australia
Wandina is an outer southern suburb of Geraldton, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Geraldton.The suburb was gazetted in 1985.-Geography:...
, Tarcoola Beach
Tarcoola Beach, Western Australia
Tarcoola Beach is a southern coastal suburb of Geraldton, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Geraldton.The suburb was gazetted in 1985-1986.-Geography:...
, Mount Tarcoola
Mount Tarcoola, Western Australia
Mount Tarcoola is a southern suburb of Geraldton, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Geraldton.The northern part of the suburb was gazetted in 1972 by the Town of Geraldton, and the southern part was gazetted in 1979 by the Shire of Greenough.-Geography:Mount...
and Mahomets Flats
Mahomets Flats, Western Australia
Mahomets Flats is an inner southern coastal suburb of Geraldton, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Geraldton.The suburb was gazetted in 1972.-Geography:...
.
Towns
- GinginGingin, Western AustraliaGingin is an agricultural town in Western Australia. The town is located north of Perth along the Brand Highway.The town is well suited for agriculture with a mild climate and available water sources...
- Badgingarra
- Badgingarra National ParkBadgingarra National ParkBadgingarra National Park is a national park in Western Australia , 190 km north of Perth off the Brand Highway adjacent to the town of Badgingarra, Western Australia....
- CatabyCataby, Western AustraliaCataby is a tiny settlement located some 170 km north of Perth, Western Australia on the Brand Highway. The area was apparently once called West Dandaragan , with the town of Dandaragan located 17 km to the east....
- EneabbaEneabba, Western AustraliaEneabba is a town on the Brand Highway located 278 km north of Perth, Western Australia.The area is famous for its spectacular display of wildflowers in the spring. It is also home to the Iluka Resources mineral sands facility....
- DongaraDongara, Western AustraliaDongara is a town located 351 km north-northwest of Perth on the Brand Highway. The town is located at the mouth of the Irwin River. In recent years the area has been marketed as the 'Rock lobster capital of Australia'....
- GreenoughGreenough, Western AustraliaGreenough is a historical town located 400 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and 24 kilometres south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway. The historic buildings are controlled by the National Trust of Australia...
- GeraldtonGeraldton, Western AustraliaGeraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
See also
- Highways in AustraliaHighways in AustraliaThis is a list of highways in Australia, listed alphabetically along with each highway's route number and location. Note that some highways service more than one state or territory.-Route numbering systems:...
- List of highways in Western Australia