Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road

Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road is a continuous 78.6 kilometres (48.8 mi) road route in the Toowoomba region of Queensland, Australia. Most of the road is not signed with any route number, but a short section near Cecil Plains is part of State Route 82. Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road (number 324) is a state-controlled district road, part of which is rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).^[2][3]

Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road Queensland
General information
Type	Rural road
Length	78.6 km (49 mi)[1]
Route number(s)	No shield (Newtown - Cecil Plains) State Route 82 (within Cecil Plains)
Major junctions
East end	Toowoomba Connection Road Newtown
	Gore Highway Oakey - Pittsworth Road Pampas–Horrane Road
West end	Dalby–Cecil Plains Road Cecil Plains
Location(s)
Major settlements	Wellcamp, Norwin

Route Description

The Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road commences as Taylor Street at an intersection with the Toowoomba Connection Road in Newtown, a suburb of Toowoomba. It runs west, becoming Carrington Road and turning north-west as it enters Torrington. It turns south and then west as it enters Wellcamp as Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road. It passes under the Gore Highway (Toowoomba Bypass), runs past the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, and enters Biddeston. From here the road passes through open crop-farming land for the rest of its length.

From Biddeston it runs between Aubigny and Linthorpe, crosses the Oakey–Pittsworth Road, and then passes between Purrawunda and Motley. Next it passes between Mount Irving and Mount Tyson before running through Evanslea and Bongeen. After entering Norwin the road turns south at an intersection with Bowenville–Norwin Road. It continues for a short distance before again turning west at an intersection with Brookstead–Norwin Road. It then passes through Nangwee and enters Cecil Plains. Here it passes Pampas–Horrane Road^[a] (State Route 82) where it becomes part of State Route 82 before ending at an intersection with Dalby–Cecil Plains Road (State Route 82).

State Route 82

State Route 82 follows a number of separately named roads from Tingoora (near Wondai) to Inglewood.^[4] It is not necessarily the best or the shortest or the quickest route between the two terminals. It was proclaimed as a State Route because, at the time, it was the most convenient route for many users. It is also an example of why motorists in unfamiliar territory should follow a designated route rather than rely on a vehicle navigation system, which may direct them onto less suitable alternative roads.

The route follows Chinchilla–Wondai Road west from Tingoora to Durong, where it turns south to Jinghi. Here the Chinchilla–Wondai Road turns west, while State Route 82 continues south on Jandowae Connection Road to Jandowae. In Jandowae the road name changes to Dalby–Jandowae Road, which continues to the Warrego Highway in the west of Dalby. From there it follows the Warrego Highway to the south-east until it reaches Dalby–Cecil Plains Road, where it continues south.

At a T-junction in Cecil Plains, State Route 82 turns east on Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road until it reaches Pampas–Horrane Road, where it turns south. Note that many navigation systems will suggest a turn to the west in Cecil Plains, leading to Millmerran–Cecil Plains Road. State Route 82 follows Pampas–Horrane Road to Pampas, where it meets the Gore Highway at a T-junction. From there it follows the Gore Highway south-west to Millmerran, where it turns south on the Millmerran–Inglewood Road. This road continues south to Inglewood, where it meets the Cunningham Highway at a T-junction.

Road condition

Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road is fully sealed. It has about 670 metres (730 yd) with an incline greater than 5%.^[5]

History

Main article: Cecil Plains, Queensland § History

The first roads on the Darling Downs were cut to provide access for wheeled vehicles to the pastoral runs and new settlements. Some of these radiated from Toowoomba like the spokes of a wheel. Between the north-west road (now Warrego Highway) and the south-west road (now Gore Highway) was the western road (now Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road).

Cecil Plains pastoral run was established in 1842.^[6] In 1877 8,300 acres (3,400 ha) was resumed from the Cecil Plains pastoral run to establish smaller farms.^[7] This resumption soon led to closer settlement and a demand for better roads to enable the commercial success of the new farms.

A postal receiving office opened in 1890,^[8] and the first school in 1898.^[9] Over time the areas along the line of road from Cecil Plains to Toowoomba were settled as farms of various sizes. In 1916, Cecil Plains station was acquired by the Queensland Government and subdivided for closer settlement, with some parcels reserved for soldier settlers. The new settlers produced mainly wheat and dairy.^[6]

Upgrades

Taylor Street cycleway

A project to develop a business case for a cycleway on Taylor Street, at a cost of $430,000, was to complete in June 2022.^[10]

Safety upgrades

A project to plan safety upgrades, at a cost of $250,000, was completed in December 2021.^[11]

Intersecting state-controlled roads

This road intersects with the following state-controlled roads:

• Oakey–Pittsworth Road
• Bowenville–Norwin Road
• Brookstead–Norwin Road

Oakey–Pittsworth Road

Oakey–Pittsworth Road
Location	Oakey Connection Road, Oakey to Gore Highway, Pittsworth
Length	38.1 km (23.7 mi)

Oakey–Pittsworth Road is a state-controlled district road (number 323).^[2][3] It runs from Oakey Connection Road in Oakey to the Gore Highway in Pittsworth, a distance of 38.1 kilometres (23.7 mi). It intersects with the Warrego Highway in Oakey and with Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road in Aubigny.^[12]

A project to plan for the upgrade of sections of Oakey–Pittsworth Road was to be completed in September 2021.^[13]

Bowenville–Norwin Road

Bowenville–Norwin Road
Location	Warrego Highway, Bowenville to Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road, Norwin
Length	26.8 km (16.7 mi)

Bowenville–Norwin Road is a state-controlled district road (number 3203) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).^[2][3] It runs from the Warrego Highway in Bowenville to Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road in Norwin, a distance of 26.8 kilometres (16.7 mi). This road has no major intersections.^[14]

Brookstead–Norwin Road

Brookstead–Norwin Road
Location	Gore Highway, Brookstead to Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road, Norwin
Length	29.4 km (18.3 mi)

Brookstead–Norwin Road is a state-controlled district road (number 3221) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).^[2][3] It runs from the Gore Highway in Brookstead to Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road in Norwin, a distance of 29.4 kilometres (18.3 mi). This road has no major intersections.^[15]

Major intersections

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is in the Toowoomba local government area.

Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Newtown / Wilsonton midpoint	0	0.0	Toowoomba Connection Road – north – Wilsonton Heights south – Harristown	Eastern end of Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road (no shield). Road runs west as Taylor Street.
Wilsonton / Torrington / Glenvale tripoint	2.6	1.6	Boundary Street – north – Cotswold Hills – south – Glenvale	Road name changes to Carrington Road
Torrington / Charlton / Wellcamp tripoint	5.9	3.7	Troys Road – north – Toowoomba Connection Road	Road turns south as Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road
Wellcamp / Torrington / Glenvale tripoint	6.7	4.2	Hursley Road – east – Glenvale	Road turns west
Wellcamp	10.1– 10.3	6.3– 6.4	Gore Highway – northeast – Charlton, Warrego Highway southwest – Athol
Aubigny / Motley / Linthorpe tripoint	30.9	19.2	Oakey–Pittsworth Road – northeast – Oakey, Warrego Highway southwest – Pittsworth, Gore Highway
Norwin	55.2	34.3	Bowenville–Norwin Road – north – Bowenville, Warrego Highway	Road turns south
	60.0	37.3	Brookstead–Norwin Road – south – Branchview, Brookstead	Road turns west
Cecil Plains	74.8	46.5	Pampas–Horrane Road (State Route 82) – southeast – Pampas, Gore Highway Horrane Road – north – Tipton	Road becomes State Route 82
	78.6	48.8	Dalby–Cecil Plains Road (State Route 82) – north – Dalby Taylor Street – west – Cecil Plains CBD	Western end of Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road (State Route 82).
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Route transition

See also

• Australian Roads portal
• Queensland portal

• List of road routes in Queensland
• List of numbered roads in Queensland

Notes

1. Horrane was a station on the former Cecil Plains railway line. It was situated adjacent to the intersection of Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road and Pampas–Horrane Road in the locality of Cecil Plains.

References

1. "Newtown to Cecil Plains" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
2. The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
3. "Darling Downs district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
4. "Tingoora to Inglewood (State Route 82)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
5. "Map of Toowoomba - Cecil Plains Road". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
6. "Cecil Plains". Travel. Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2007.
7. "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via Trove.
8. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
9. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
10. "Toowoomba - Cecil Plains Road, Taylor Street cycleway, business case". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
11. "Toowoomba–Cecil Plains Road safety upgrades". Queensland Government. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
12. "Oakey to Pittsworth" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
13. "Oakey–Pittsworth Road, various locations, business case". Queensland Government. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
14. "Bowenville to Norwin" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
15. "Brookstead to Norwin" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 10 August 2023.