Road routes in Western Australia assist drivers navigating roads in urban, rural, and scenic areas of the state.[1] The route numbering system is composed of National Highways, National Routes, State Routes, and Tourist Drives. Each route has a unique number, except for National Highway 1 and National Route 1, which mark Highway 1 in Western Australia. Routes are denoted on directional signs and roadside poles by appropriately numbered markers, the design of which varies according to route type.[1]
National Highways and National Routes are designated by the Federal Government along roads of national importance, whilst State Routes and Tourist Drives are designated by the State Government. Highways and some arterial roads are controlled and maintained by Main Roads Western Australia.[2][3] The remaining roads are generally the responsibility of local governments, though there are also some private roads and Department of Environment and Conservation roads.[2]
Many major roads in Perth[4] and in rural Western Australia[5] are not assigned a route number. Not many routes have been added since the 1990s; exceptions include the Graham Farmer Freeway (2000), Mandjoogoordap Drive (2010), Port Gregory Road/George Grey Drive (2016) and the Manuwarra Red Dog Highway (2021).[citation needed]
Western Australia is the only remaining state to use the 1950s system in full (other than there being 1 National Route), while other states have either discontinued it in favour of an alphanumeric system or switched to a cheaper hybrid system, followed by phasing out the National Highway system. There are no definite plans to stop using it, with the most recent addition to the network being State Route 101 in October 2024 which has been assigned to the Wilman Wadandi Highway in Bunbury.
National Highways and Routes
National Highways are designated with gold numbers on a green shield.[1] These are the most direct routes between Perth and other Australian capital cities. Black on white shields indicate National Routes that are not part of the National Highway system.[1] Highway 1 is a route that circumnavigates Australia, joining all mainland state capitals, via roads numbered as National Highway 1 or National Route 1 (or as M1, A1, or B1 in states with an alphanumeric route numbering system).
State Routes
State Routes in Western Australia are designated by a white number on a blue shield.[1] Single digit routes travel completely or partially along urban freeways or highways. Two digit route numbers that end in zero are the major road routes out of Perth, except for Route 10, which designates rural highway connections in the South West region. Other two digit routes connect the urban centres of Perth, while three digit routes connect regional and remote areas of Western Australia.
Route | Component roads | From | Via | To | Length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Route 2 |
Alkimos | Perth | Lake Clifton | 151 km (94 mi) | [lower-roman 7] | |
State Route 3 |
North Beach | Middle Swan | Bibra Lake | 58.6 km (36.4 mi) | [lower-roman 8] | |
State Route 4 |
Muchea | Perth Airport | Oakford | 81.5 km (50.6 mi) | [lower-roman 9] | |
State Route 5 |
Fremantle | Perth | Victoria Park | 20.3 km (12.6 mi) | [lower-roman 10] | |
State Route 6 |
Fremantle | Applecross | Victoria Park | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) | [lower-roman 11] | |
State Route 7 |
Fremantle | Brentwood | Perth Airport | 23.1 km (14.4 mi) | [lower-roman 12] | |
State Route 8 |
West Perth | Wattle Grove | Carmel | 24.7 km (15.3 mi) | [lower-roman 13] | |
State Route 10 |
Bussell Highway | Bunbury | Karridale | Augusta | 141 km (88 mi) | [lower-roman 14] |
|
Karridale | Nannup | Shannon | 340 km (210 mi) | [lower-roman 15] | |
State Route 12 |
|
Fremantle | Henderson | Naval Base | 20.7 km (12.9 mi) | [lower-roman 16] |
State Route 13 |
Fremantle | Canning Vale | Haynes | 25.2 km (15.7 mi) | [lower-roman 17] | |
State Route 14 |
|
South Fremantle | Bibra Lake | Armadale | 27.3 km (17.0 mi) | Rerouted after road upgrades and extensions[lower-roman 18] |
State Route 18 |
|
East Rockingham | Safety Bay | Baldivis | 20.3 km (12.6 mi) | [lower-roman 19] |
State Route 19 |
Stake Hill | Meadow Springs | Mandurah | 6.3 km (3.9 mi) | [lower-roman 20] | |
State Route 20 |
Armadale | Bunbury | 153 km (95 mi) | [lower-roman 21] | ||
State Route 21 |
Kwinana Beach | Oakford | Byford | 22.4 km (13.9 mi) | [lower-roman 22] | |
State Route 22 |
|
Rockingham | Baldivis | Jarrahdale | 49 km (30 mi) | [lower-roman 23] |
State Route 26 |
Manning | Bentley | Cannington | 6.8 km (4.2 mi) | [lower-roman 24] | |
State Route 27 |
Shelley | Riverton | Lynwood | 5.5 km (3.4 mi) | [lower-roman 25] | |
State Route 30 |
Victoria Park | Armadale | Albany | 403 km (250 mi) | [lower-roman 26] | |
Alternate |
Beckenham | Kenwick | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) | Section bypassed by Kenwick Link[lower-roman 27]
Once mistakenly signed as Alternate National Route 30, Alternate National Highway 30 and briefly Alternate National Highway 94 | ||
State Route 31 |
Cannington | Forrestdale | Oakford | 21.6 km (13.4 mi) | [lower-roman 28] | |
State Route 36 |
|
Langford | Thornlie | Gosnells | 7.8 km (4.8 mi) | [lower-roman 29] |
State Route 40 |
|
Kelmscott | Brookton | Ravensthorpe | 521 km (324 mi) | [lower-roman 30] |
State Route 41 |
|
High Wycombe | Kalamunda | Karragullen | 23.4 km (14.5 mi) | [lower-roman 31] |
State Route 50 |
Middle Swan | Jane Brook | Toodyay | 62.5 km (38.8 mi) | [lower-roman 32] | |
State Route 51 |
|
Perth | Guildford | Bellevue | 18.2 km (11.3 mi) | [lower-roman 33] |
State Route 52 |
|
Belhus | Middle Swan | Guildford | 15.3 km (9.5 mi) | [lower-roman 34] |
State Route 53 |
Perth | Morley | Whiteman | 18.5 km (11.5 mi) | [lower-roman 35] | |
State Route 55 |
|
Dianella | Ascot | Hazelmere | 23.9 km (14.9 mi) | [lower-roman 36] |
State Route 56 |
Landsdale | Dianella | West Perth | 16.6 km (10.3 mi) | Ends at Bulwer Street (State Route 72)[6][lower-roman 37] | |
State Route 60 |
|
West Perth | Arrowsmith | 320 km (200 mi) | [lower-roman 38] | |
State Route 61 |
|
Crawley | West Perth | Yokine | 8.4 km (5.2 mi) | [lower-roman 39] |
State Route 64 |
|
Balcatta | Osborne Park | Subiaco | 11.9 km (7.4 mi) | [lower-roman 40] |
State Route 65 |
|
City Beach | Floreat | Perth | 12.7 km (7.9 mi) | [lower-roman 41][lower-roman 42] |
State Route 66 |
|
Mount Lawley | East Perth | 2.3 km (1.4 mi) | [lower-roman 43] | |
State Route 71 |
|
Cottesloe | Hillarys Merriwa |
Yanchep | 55 km (34 mi) | [lower-roman 44] |
State Route 72 |
|
Perth | Leederville | City Beach | 11.5 km (7.1 mi) | [lower-roman 45] |
State Route 75 |
|
East Perth | Osborne Park | Scarborough | 13.2 km (8.2 mi) | [lower-roman 46] |
State Route 76 |
|
Trigg | Morley | Caversham | 22 km (14 mi) | [lower-roman 47] |
State Route 77 |
Gwelup | Balcatta | Warwick | 8.4 km (5.2 mi) | [lower-roman 48] | |
State Route 81 |
Duncraig | Girrawheen | Ballajura | 11.4 km (7.1 mi) | [lower-roman 49] | |
State Route 82 |
Hillarys | Madeley | Cullacabardee | 18 km (11 mi) | Route number extended from Wanneroo Road to Tonkin Highway in 2019[lower-roman 50][lower-roman 51] | |
State Route 83 |
Duncraig | Woodvale | Landsdale | 8.4 km (5.2 mi) | Shortened after road upgrades and extensions[lower-roman 52] | |
State Route 84 |
Ocean Reef | Mullaloo | Henley Brook | 27.1 km (16.8 mi) | Rerouted after road upgrades and extensions[lower-roman 53] | |
State Route 85 |
|
Edgewater | Joondalup | Bullsbrook | 34.3 km (21.3 mi) | [lower-roman 54] |
State Route 87 |
Burns Beach | Kinross | Neerabup | 4.8 km (3.0 mi) | [lower-roman 55] | |
State Route 101 |
Australind | Picton East | Gelorup | 27 km (17 mi) | ||
State Route 102 |
Manjimup | Rocky Gully | Mount Barker | 162 km (101 mi) | [lower-roman 56] | |
State Route 104 |
Busselton | Jarrahwood | Nannup | 60 km (37 mi) | [lower-roman 57] | |
State Route 107 |
|
East Bunbury | Wagin | Lake King | 408 km (254 mi) | [lower-roman 58] |
State Route 115 |
Northam | Wongan Hills | Pithara | 152 km (94 mi) | [lower-roman 59] | |
State Route 116 |
Bindoon | Mingenew | Dongara | 326 km (203 mi) | [lower-roman 60] | |
State Route 120 |
Toodyay | Cranbrook | 382 km (237 mi) | [lower-roman 61] | ||
State Route 123 |
Geraldton | Mount Magnet | 335 km (208 mi) | [lower-roman 62] | ||
State Route 136 |
Nanutarra | Wittenoom | Munjina | 416 km (258 mi) | Nanutarra-Wittenoom Road is mostly unsealed[lower-roman 63] | |
State Route 138 |
Newman | Marble Bar | Port Hedland | 434 km (270 mi) | Approx 230 km is unsealed road[lower-roman 64] | |
State Route 139 |
|
Northampton | Port Gregory | Kalbarri | 100 km (62 mi) | Route signposted in March 2016[7][lower-roman 65] |
|
Manuwarra Red Dog Highway | Karratha | Tom Price | 25 kilometres (16 mi) + 137 kilometres (85 mi) | Not yet completed, signposted at each end. |
Tourist Drives
Tourist Drives, designated by white numbers on a brown shield, are routes through areas of scenic or historic significance.[1] Tourist Drives were introduced into Western Australia while Eric Charlton was the state government Minister for Transport in the 1990s. The 28 numbered routes collectively traverse more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) across the state.[8] In addition to the Tourist Drives, there are also unnumbered routes such as the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail,[9] and local governments may designate and maintain local scenic drives, generally unnamed and unnumbered.[10]
Route | Component roads | From | Via | To | Length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kings Park Tourist Drive 200 |
|
Kings Park Road / Malcolm Street |
|
State War Memorial | 7 km (4.3 mi) | Kings Park circular route[8]: 5 Decommissioned [according to whom?] |
John Forrest Tourist Drive 201 |
|
Great Eastern Highway, Darlington |
|
Great Eastern Highway, Glen Forrest | 10 km (6.2 mi) | Route through John Forrest National Park[8]: 9 |
Rockingham Coastal Tourist Drive 202 |
|
Kwinana Beach | Warnbro | 24 km (15 mi) | Rockingham coastal route[8]: 13 | |
Swan Valley Tourist Drive 203 |
|
Guildford | Guildford | 31 km (19 mi) | Swan Valley circular route[8]: 8 | |
Sunset Coast Tourist Drive 204 |
|
Stirling Bridge, North Fremantle | Cottesloe | Swanbourne | 38 km (24 mi) | Route along Perth's northern beaches[8]: 6 |
|
City Beach | Ocean Reef | ||||
Heritage Country Tourist Drive 205 |
|
Armadale |
|
Armadale | 44 km (27 mi) | Darling Range dams circular route[8]: 11 |
Kingsbury Tourist Drive 206 |
|
Jarrahdale |
|
Jarrahdale | 45 km (28 mi) | Jarrah forest circular route[8]: 12 |
Darling Range Tourist Drive 207 |
Mundaring | Mundaring Weir | Kalamunda | 25 km (16 mi) | Mundaring Weir route[8]: 10 | |
Caves Road Tourist Drive 250 |
|
Cape Naturaliste | Cape Leeuwin | 123 km (76 mi) | Cape Naturaliste–Cape Leeuwin coastal route[8]: 26–27 | |
Blackwood River Tourist Drive 251 |
|
Balingup | Nannup | Bridgetown | 87 km (54 mi) | Blackwood River route. The direct route from Balingup to Bridgetown is along South Western Highway.[8]: 23 |
Porongurup Tourist Drive 252 |
|
Mount Barker | Porongurup | Chester Pass Road east of Porongurup | 30 km (19 mi) | Porongurup National Park route[8]: 19 |
Avon Historic Tourist Drive 254 |
|
Toodyay | Beverley | 98 km (61 mi) | Avon River route[8]: 16–17 | |
Scotsdale Tourist Drive 255 |
|
Denmark | Scotsdale | Greens Pool | 35 km (22 mi) | [8]: 22 |
Lake Argyle Tourist Drive 256 |
|
Victoria Highway near WA/NT border | Lake Argyle | 34 km (21 mi) | [8]: 38 | |
Albany Historic Tourist Drive 257 |
|
Middleton Beach |
|
Western Australian Museum – Albany | 6 km (3.7 mi) | Albany coastal route[8]: 20 |
Frenchman Bay Tourist Drive 258 |
|
Torndirrup | Frenchman Bay | 7 km (4.3 mi) | Route through Torndirrup National Park[8]: 21 | |
Karri Tourist Drive 259 |
|
Manjimup | South Western Highway near Quinninup | 88 km (55 mi) | Karri forest route[8]: 24–25 | |
Australind Bunbury Tourist Drive 260 |
|
Leschenault | Bunbury | 14 km (8.7 mi) | [11] | |
Geikie–Windjana Tourist Way 350 |
|
Geikie Gorge National Park | Derby Gibb River Road near Lennard River | 166 km (103 mi) | Only accessible in the dry season, from April to November[8]: 37 | |
Cossack Tourist Way 351 |
|
Burrup Peninsula | Point Samson | 77 km (48 mi) | North West Shelf coastal route[8]: 36 | |
Cape Range Tourist Way 352 |
|
Learmonth | Exmouth | Yardie Creek in Cape Range National Park | 121 km (75 mi) | North West Cape coastal route[8]: 35 |
Shark Bay Tourist Way 353 |
|
Overlander Roadhouse | Monkey Mia | 155 km (96 mi) | Shark Bay route[8]: 34 | |
Batavia Coast Tourist Way 354 |
|
Dongara | Kalbarri National Park (south of Kalbarri) | 244 km (152 mi) | [8]: 32–33 | |
Collie Tourist Way 355 |
|
South Western Highway near Roelands | Collie | Collie River in Muja | 57 km (35 mi) | [8]: 28 |
Great Southern Tourist Way 356 |
Beverley | Albany | 381 km (237 mi) | Great Southern Railway route[8]: 18 | ||
Goldfields Tourist Way 357 |
Coolgardie Camel Farm, 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Coolgardie |
Coolgardie | Kalgoorlie | 45 km (28 mi) | Goldfields route.[8]: 30 Superseded by the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail.[9] | |
Esperance Tourist Way 358 |
|
Esperance |
|
Pink Lake | 30 km (19 mi) | Route along the Esperance coast and Pink Lake; forms most of a loop route (Pink Lake Road joins the two ends)[8]: 29 |
Chittering Valley Tourist Way 359 |
|
Ashby (north of Wanneroo) | Bullsbrook | Chittering | 70 km (43 mi) | Gnangara-Moore River State Forest and Chittering Valley route[8]: 7 |
Midlands Tourist Way 360 |
|
Upper Swan | Watheroo National Park | 204 km (127 mi) | [8]: 15 |
Decommissioned routes
Whilst the following routes are decommissioned, the component roads generally still exist as physical roads, but without route signposts.
Route | Component roads | From | Via | To | Length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Route 34 |
|
Rivervale | Kewdale | 8.1 km (5.0 mi) | Replaced by State Route 8[1][12][13][lower-roman 66] | |
State Route 35 |
East Victoria Park | Welshpool | Carmel | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) | Replaced by State Route 8 (east of Roe Highway only).[1][12][13][lower-roman 67] | |
State Route 86 |
|
Ashby | Mariginiup | Bullsbrook | 28 km (17 mi) | Replaced by Tourist Drive 359 (entire length) and State Route 85 on all but Pinjar Road.[1][12][13][lower-roman 68] |
See also
References
Further reading
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