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Statistics:

• Length: 927 km (Coober Pedy to Northern Territory Border: 392 km)
• Northern Terminus: Northern Territory Border, 157 km northwest of Marla
• Southern Terminus: Eyre Highway, Port Augusta West
• Miscellaneous: Continues as NH87 in Northern Territory
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Mount Willoughby, Cadney Park and Marla

Route Numbering:

• Current: A87

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: 01000 1

General Information:

The Stuart Highway is named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. 2

It is a rural highway, which is very isolated, and acts as part of the main road link between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

History:

• 1944: Completion of the Stuart Highway as a dirt track / gravel road as the main road link from SA to Darwin. 3
• 1978: Work to upgrade the Stuart Highway started. The conditions along the series of tracks that led from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border were so severe that work could only done between April and October each year. Survey work took five years. Conditions for the road gangs were of concern and small towns sprang up which enabled families to live together. Aboriginal advisers were consulted on where the road could cross their lands. During construction of the Stuart Highway, road gangs had semi-permanent camps at Lake Hart, Baker’s Well and Bon Bon. While the road-work moved along the highway, survey work and the search for materials and water for construction was also in progress. 4
• 24 March 1987: Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris opened the upgraded Stuart Highway. Three plaques were unveiled on a rock to commemorate the completion of the Highway. 3

Coober Pedy to NT Border			NT Border to Coober Pedy
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Services Sign: Sign at Mt Willoughby showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			SA Welcome Sign: Crossing from NT into SA, southbound. This sign shows South Australia for southbound traffic and Northern Territory for northbound traffic. Marla, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Pootnoura Rest Area at Pootnoura, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Direction Sign: Southbound approaching Mintabie Road at Marla. September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Pootnoura Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes Pootnoura Rest Area at Pootnoura, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the Oodnadatta Track intersection at Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Services Sign: Sign showing distance to next services, Pootnoura, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign Assembly: Signage facing roadhouse traffic on the Oodnadatta Track in Marla, near the Stuart Highway, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Services Sign: Services sign at Cadney Park, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign Assembly: Signage facing traffic on the Oodnadatta Track in Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Approaching Painted Desert Road: ID sign for Painted Desert Rd at Cadney Park being used as an AD sign, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign as you leave Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Painted Desert Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Painted Desert Rd at Cadney Park, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Cadney Park showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Intersection Directional Sign: Black ID sign at the entrance to Cadney Park Homestead, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Wintinna Station: Sign at Cadney Park as Stuart Hwy (A87) crosses the property boundary for Wintinna Station, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Welbourne Hill Station: Sign at Marla as Stuart Hwy (A87) crosses the property boundary for Welbourne Hill Station, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Marla, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the Oodnadatta Track (D95) intersection at Marla, November 2016. Click here for a photo of this location by Kate Pilling from August 2008. Image © Paul Rands
	Oodnadatta Track: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Oodnadatta Trk (D95) at Marla, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Marla, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Marla, approaching Mintabie Rd, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mintabie Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Mintabie Rd at Marla, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	De Rose Hill Station: Sign at De Rose Hill as Stuart Hwy (A87) crosses the property boundary for De Rose Hill Station, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at De Rose Hill showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching The Marryat Rest Area at De Rose Hill, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Pootnoura Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes The Marryat Rest Area at De Rose Hill, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign showing distance to next services, De Rose Hill, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Ayers Range South approaching the SA / NT Border, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	State Border: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses from South Australia to Northern Territory, November 2016. A87 becomes NH87 at this point. Image © Paul Rands
	State Border: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses from South Australia to Northern Territory, 2001. A87 becomes NH87 at this point. Image © Jamie Scuglia
Click here for the continuation of the Stuart Highway as NH87 in the Northern Territory Click here for the continuation of A87 between Pimba and Coober Pedy

1 Transport SA
2 NT Government Chief Minister's Office
3 Government of South Australia
4 History Trust of South Australia

Last updated: 05 Oct 2019 14:45

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