134-489: Albany Highway links Western Australia 's capital city Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany , on the state's south coast . The 405-kilometre-long (252 mi) highway travels through the southern Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions, and is designated State Route 30 for most of its length. Outside of Perth the highway is predominately a sealed , single carriageway with regular overtaking lanes in some undulating areas. Albany Highway commences at The Causeway ,
268-473: A Mediterranean climate on the south-west and southern coastal areas. As of 2021, the state has 2.91 million inhabitants—11 percent of the national total. Over 90 percent of the state's population live in the south-west corner and around 80 percent live in the state capital Perth , leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated. The Trans-Australian Railway and the Eyre Highway traverse
402-696: A brown shield. 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. In addition to the Tourist Drives, there are unnumbered routes such as the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail , and local governments may designate and maintain local scenic drives, generally unnamed and unnumbered. Kings Park Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 200 ,
536-633: A bypass, Kenwick Link . Albany Highway has a folded diamond interchange with Tonkin Highway in Gosnells, and continues south for seven kilometres (4.3 mi) past commercial and residential properties in Kelmscott and Mount Nasura . The highway has a T junction that is the western terminus of Brookton Highway , at the boundary between Kelmscott, and Mount Nasura. Further south in Armadale ,
670-683: A capacity of 23,200 cubic metres per day (146,000 barrels per day) until its closure in 2021, producing most of the state's petrol and diesel. Kwinana also hosts alumina and nickel processing plants, port facilities for grain and other bulk exports, and support industries for mining and petroleum such as heavy and light engineering, and metal fabrication. Shipbuilding (e.g. Austal ) and associated support industries are found at nearby Henderson , just north of Kwinana. Significant secondary industries include cement and building product manufacturing, flour milling, food processing, animal feed production, automotive body building and printing. Western Australia has
804-527: A comparative advantage in resource extraction and processing. As a consequence: In 2019 Western Australia's overseas exports accounted for 46% of the nation's total. The state's major export commodities included iron-ore, petroleum, gold, alumina , nickel, wheat, copper, lithium, chemicals and mineral sands. Western Australia is the world's largest iron-ore producer (34% of the world's total), and extracts 66% (6.9% of world production) of Australia's 306 tonnes (9.8 million troy ounces) of gold in 2022. It
938-459: A further 1,196 species currently recognised but unpublished. They occur within 1,543 genera from 211 families ; there are also 1,276 naturalised alien or invasive plant species, more commonly known as weeds. In the southwest region are some of the largest numbers of plant species for its area in the world. Western Australia's ecoregions include the sandstone gorges of the Kimberley on
1072-430: A heavy ocean swell blasts air through cracks in rocks above the caves), Jimmy Newhill's Harbour (a natural harbour in the otherwise rugged coast), and Salmon Holes (a popular fishing spot for the native salmon). Karri Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 259 , is a scenic route through the karri forest south of Manjimup . In addition to the giant karri, which can reach a height of 85 metres (279 ft),
1206-403: A lack of storage and refrigeration facilities favour live animals over imports of processed meat. About half of Australia's live cattle exports come from Western Australia. Resource sector growth in recent years has resulted in significant labour and skills shortages, leading to recent efforts by the state government to encourage interstate and overseas immigration. According to the 2006 census,
1340-479: A large group of Albany settlers to Perth in 1840, via Kinunup, Yarenup, Joseph's Wells, Balgarrup and Mandalup; whilst in the same year Edward John Eyre shepherded 550 sheep and 70 cattle from Albany to York, and then over to Perth. A monthly mail route was set up in June 1841, travelling from Albany to Perth via Kojonup and Williams . The following year, a service through Guildford commenced. The tough conditions of
1474-599: A loop. Porongurup Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 252 , is a scenic route from Mount Barker to Porongurup and the Porongurup National Park . The 30-kilometre-long (19 mi) east–west route travels between Albany Highway and Chester Pass Road , along Oatlands Road and Mount Barker–Porongurup Road. The national park is described as having "many walks, spectacular views, interesting drives and abundant wildlife". Avon Historic Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 254 ,
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#17327878123841608-416: A north-easterly direction along Wheatley Coast Road, to return to South Western Highway near Quinninup where the route ends. There are many wildflowers and picnic spots along the route. Australind Bunbury Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 260 , is a 14-kilometre-long (8.7 mi) historic route from Leschenault to Bunbury via Australind, Western Australia . From Forrest Highway (at
1742-517: A result, the South West region of the state has a higher concentration of rare, threatened or endangered flora and fauna than many areas of Australia, making it one of the world's biodiversity "hot spots". Large areas of the state's wheatbelt region have problems with dryland salinity and the loss of fresh water. The southwest coastal area has a Mediterranean climate . It was originally heavily forested, including large stands of karri , one of
1876-472: A river crossing that connects to Perth's central business district . The highway heads south-east through Perth's metropolitan region, and continues through the southern Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia . Albany Highway is generally a two-lane single carriageway road, but with additional lanes and dual-carriageway sections in Perth and Albany. The highway
2010-489: A river crossing that connects to Perth's central business district . The highway heads south-east through Perth's metropolitan region, bypassed in part by Shepperton Road and Kenwick Link , and continues south-eastwards through to Albany. It intersects several major roads in Perth, including the Leach , Tonkin , Brookton , and South Western highways. The rural section of Albany Highway connects to important regional roads at
2144-708: A road requiring reconstruction, the most costly option, would save money. From the 1980s Main Roads began planning for the future needs of Albany Highway within the City of Canning in Perth, in conjunction with the City and the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority. A three-kilometre (2 mi) section between Leach Highway and Nicholson Road was subsequently upgraded between November 1992 and June 1994. The four-lane undivided road had been one of
2278-553: A scientific paper, General view of the botany of the vicinity of Swan River . It discusses the vegetation of the Swan River Colony . Europeans began to settle permanently in 1826 when Albany was claimed by Britain to forestall French claims to the western third of the continent. Perth was founded as the Swan River Colony in 1829 by British and Irish settlers, though the outpost languished. Its officials eventually requested convict labour to augment its population. By
2412-628: A significant fishing industry. Products for local consumption and export include western rock lobsters , prawns, crabs, shark and tuna, as well as pearl fishing in the Kimberley region of the state. Processing is conducted along the west coast. Whaling was a key marine industry but ceased at Albany in 1978. Western Australia has the world's biggest plantations of both Indian sandalwood (northern WA) and Australian sandalwood (semi-arid regions), which are used to produce sandalwood oil and incense . The WA sandalwood industry provides about 40% of
2546-464: A single carriageway and dual carriageway, and between a four- and six-lane capacity. This part of the highway is dominated by commercial shopping precincts in Bentley , Cannington , Maddington , Gosnells and Kelmscott , with numerous sets of traffic lights . The section of Albany Highway through Beckenham and Kenwick is allocated Alternate State Route 30 , while State Route 30 follows
2680-449: A ten-year period, $ 49 million was spent on repairing Albany Highway. The techniques used in this process were then formalised into the 4R Program, which aimed to alleviate a growing maintenance problem – based on a thirty-five-year pavement lifespan, the amount of reconstruction required would be more than double the actual rate of reconstruction. "4R" abbreviated the options that could be used keep roads serviceable: Interventions to prevent
2814-479: A total trip of eight to nine hours instead of two days. In 1938, a total of eight miles (13 km) had been sealed, and the following year the whole route had been completed. In 1935, a town planning report for the City of Perth noted traffic congestion on Albany Road in Victoria Park. As widening the existing road would have left the council liable for compensation from affected businesses and properties,
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#17327878123842948-560: A truck route, was considered by the state government in 1940. The existing Causeway , from which Albany Road commenced, had experienced almost a doubling of traffic volume between 1930 and 1939. However, the new Causeway was eventually constructed adjacent to old Causeway, which was then demolished. The cooperation of the Canning Road District would be required to continue the Berwick Street bypass south-east beyond
3082-490: Is 1,862 km (1,157 mi). There are 20,781 km (12,913 mi) of coastline, including 7,892 km (4,904 mi) of island coastline. The total land area occupied by the state is 2.5 million km (970 thousand sq mi). The bulk of Western Australia consists of the extremely old Yilgarn craton and Pilbara craton which merged with the Deccan Plateau of India, Madagascar and
3216-806: Is a 121-kilometre-long (75 mi) scenic route along the coast of the North West Cape . From Learmonth , the route travels up the eastern side of the cape to Exmouth via the Minilya–Exmouth Road. It continues along Murat Road, Laermonth Minilya Road, and Yardie Creek Road to the Vlaming Head Lighthouse, and then follows Yardie Creek Road down the western side of the cape, through the Cape Range National Park , until it reaches Yardie Creek Gorge. Shark Bay Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 353 ,
3350-591: Is a 155-kilometre-long (96 mi) scenic route around Shark Bay , in the state's Gascoyne region. The route travels along Shark Bay Road and Monkey Mia Road, from North West Coastal Highway near the Overlander Roadhouse , via Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve and Denham , to Monkey Mia , which is famous for its wild but friendly bottlenose dolphins . Batavia Coast Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 354 ,
3484-413: Is a 244-kilometre-long (152 mi) scenic route from Dongara to Kalbarri National Park , along the coast of the state's Mid West region. The route travels along Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway to the national park, turns inland to Kalbarri along Kalbarri Road. Within the townsite the route follows Clotworthy Street and Grey Street. It departs southbound on Red Bluff Road, adjacent to
3618-691: Is a 70-kilometre-long (43 mi) scenic route across the Gnangara-Moore River State Forest and through the Chittering Valley. The route starts on Pinjar Road in Ashby (just north of Wanneroo ), at its intersection with Wanneroo Road . It then heads east through the state forest on Neaves Road to Bullsbrook, travelling for a short distance on Railway Parade, Rutland Road, and Great Northern Highway . The route continues along Chittering Road to Chittering , following
3752-660: Is a historic route through the Darling Range near Mundaring . The 25-kilometre-long (16 mi) route travels along Mundaring Weir Road , between the Mundaring and Kalamunda town sites. The drive's main attraction is the historic Mundaring Weir , a component of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme , which has been described as "Western Australia's greatest engineering feat". Caves Road Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 250 ,
3886-698: Is a historic route through the Avon Valley and surrounding countryside. The 98-kilometre-long (61 mi) route travels alongside the Avon River, from Toodyay to Northam and York , and finishing at Beverley . The tourist drive follows a number of different roads: Toodyay Road , Northam–Toodyay Road, Katrine Road, Taylor Street, Fitzgerald Street, Burlong Road, Spencers Brook Road, Spencers Brook–York Road, Avon Terrace, Balladong Street, York Road , Top Beverley Road, Great Southern Highway . Scotsdale Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 255 ,
4020-450: Is a major world producer of bauxite, which is processed into alumina at four refineries providing 11% of total world production. Until 2020 diamonds were extracted from the world's largest diamond mine in the far north Kimberley region. Coal mined at Collie is the main fuel for baseload electricity generation in the state's south-west. Agricultural production in WA is a major contributor to
4154-480: Is a scenic and historic route through Bedfordale and Roleystone . After heading east out of Armadale , the route travels in a loop to Churchman Brook Reservoir, Canning Dam, and Wungong Dam, and then returns to Armadale. The tourist drive follows Albany Highway , Carradine Road, Canns Road, Churchman Brook Road, Soldiers Road, Brookton Highway , Croyden Road, McNess Drive, Canning Dam Road, Albany Highway (again), Springfield Road, and Admiral Road, with Albany Highway
Albany Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4288-593: Is a scenic drive from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin , via the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park . The 123-kilometre-long (76 mi) route travels almost entirely along Caves Road , as well as Cape Naturaliste Road to that cape. Beyond the southern extent of Caves Road, the tourist drive follows Bussell Highway , Blackwood Avenue, and Leeuwin Road to Cape Leeuwin. Blackwood River Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 251 ,
4422-759: Is a scenic route along Perth's northern beaches. There are two sections to the route, connected by West Coast Highway . The first section is from Stirling Bridge , North Fremantle via Cottesloe to Swanbourne , along Stirling Highway , Tydeman Road, Port Beach Road, Curtin Avenue, Marine Parade, and North Street. The second part connects City Beach to Scarborough , Trigg , North Beach , Hillarys , Mullaloo , and finally Ocean Reef , travelling along Challenger Parade, West Coast Highway, Karrinyup Road , West Coast Drive , Whitfords Avenue , Northshore Drive, Oceanside Promenade, and Ocean Reef Road . Heritage Country Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 205 ,
4556-476: Is a scenic route from Balingup via Nannup to Bridgetown . Much of the route from Balingup to Nannup, on Balingup–Nannup Road and Grange Road, is alongside the Blackwood River, as is the end part of the route near Bridgetown, on Brockman Highway . The direct connection from Balingup to Bridgetown is along South Western Highway , which, while not part of the tourist drive, connects the two ends to form
4690-556: Is a scenic route through Kings Park in the centre of Perth, Western Australia . The 7-kilometre-long (4.3 mi) drive begins with Fraser Avenue, the northern entry to the park. Lemon-scented Gums , planted in 1938, line the entrance road, which proceeds southwards to the State War Memorial. The memorial honours the servicemen and women who have died in wars since the Boer War, while the nearby lookout provides vistas of
4824-487: Is a scenic route through the coastal, forest, and farming areas around Denmark . The 35-kilometre-long (22 mi) route travels north-west from Denmark along Scotsdale Road to Scotsdale . The tourist drive then follows Mount Mcleod Road south to South Coast Highway , which connects it to William Bay Road. That road travels through the William Bay National Park to Greens Pool , a sheltered beach on
4958-693: Is allocated State Route 30 , except for bypassed sections in Perth, and the southernmost portion in Albany. The part bypassed by Kenwick Link is allocated Alternate State Route 30 , and a short length in Arthur River is concurrently allocated State Route 107 . Albany Highway also carries sections of Heritage Country Tourist Drive (Tourist Drive 205) and Great Southern Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 356). Main Roads Western Australia monitors traffic volume across
5092-628: Is almost entirely undeveloped, with the tourist drive itself restricted to the southern section of the park, south of Jane Brook . Park entry fees apply, unless visitors walk or cycle into the park. Rockingham Coastal Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 202 , is a scenic route around the Rockingham coast. The route travels along Kwinana Beach Road, Rockingham Beach Road, Harrison Street, Val Street, The Esplanade, Hymus Street, Point Peron Road, Memorial Drive, Lease Road, Arcadia Drive, and Safety Bay Road . Starting at Kwinana Beach ,
5226-469: Is attributed by historians as an important factor driving the state's population and economic growth. Following a campaign led by Forrest, electors of the colony of Western Australia voted in favour of federation with the five other Australian colonies, resulting in Western Australia officially becoming a state on 1 January 1901. Western Australia is bounded to the east by longitude 129°E,
5360-573: Is currently tilted 10 degrees away from the South Pole towards Western Australia, allowing for aurora australis displays as far north as Geraldton . Western Australia is home to around 630 species of birds (depending on the taxonomy used). Of these around 15 are endemic to the state. The best areas for birds are the southwestern corner of the state and the area around Broome and the Kimberley. The Flora of Western Australia comprises 10,162 published native vascular plant species, along with
5494-504: Is now known as Cape Inscription, Dirk Hartog Island . For the rest of the 17th century, other Dutch and British navigators encountered the coast of what Abel Tasman named New Holland in 1644, usually unintentionally as demonstrated by the many shipwrecks along the coast of ships that deviated from the Brouwer Route (because of poor navigation and storms). By the late 18th century, British and French sailors had begun to explore
Albany Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
5628-572: Is only accessible in the dry season, from April to November. Cossack Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 351 , is a 77-kilometre-long (48 mi) scenic and historic route along the state's north-west coast. From Dampier , the route travels up the Burrup Peninsula on Burrup Road to Woodside Petroleum's North West Shelf Visitors Centre. The Burrup Peninsula is also the location of historic Aboriginal rock carvings and etchings which are thousands of years. South-east of Dampier,
5762-400: Is the northern tropical regions. The Kimberley has an extremely hot monsoonal climate with average annual rainfall ranging from 500 to 1,500 millimetres (20–60 in), but there is a very long almost rainless season from April to November. Eighty-five percent of the state's runoff occurs in the Kimberley, but because it occurs in violent floods and because of the insurmountable poverty of
5896-621: Is the westernmost state of Australia . It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia’s largest state, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi), and is also the second-largest subdivision of any country on Earth, surpassed only by
6030-488: The Brockman River and its tributaries. It deviates onto Chittering Valley Road, continuing to follow the river's path, but soon after returns to Chittering Road. Chittering Valley Tourist Way ends at Great Northern Highway, a short distance away from Bindoon . Midlands Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 360 , is a 204-kilometre-long (127 mi) scenic and historic route through agriculture areas in
6164-478: The Esperance coast and the nearby Pink Lake . The route starts in the centre of Esperance, travels along the coastline on Twilight Beach Road, passing numerous beaches and coves, and then continues inland on Eleven Mile Beach Road to Pink Lake. The tourist drive doesn't quite form a complete loop, but Pink Lake Drive connects the two ends. Chittering Valley Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 359 ,
6298-641: The Group Settlement Scheme of the 1920s, which encouraged farmers to settle the southwest—increased awareness of Australia's western third as a destination for colonists. Led by immigrants from the British Isles, Western Australia's population developed at a faster rate during the twentieth century than it had previously. After World War II , both the eastern states and Western Australia received large numbers of Italians , Croatians and Macedonians . Despite this, Britain has contributed
6432-588: The Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons of Southern Africa, in the Archean Eon to form Ur , one of the oldest supercontinents on Earth (3 – 3.2 billion years ago). In May 2017, evidence of the earliest known life on land may have been found in 3.48-billion-year-old geyserite and other related mineral deposits (often found around hot springs and geysers ) uncovered in the Pilbara craton. Because
6566-684: The New South Wales colonial government brig Amity , under the command of Major Edmund Lockyer , arrived at King George Sound to establish a military garrison. On 21 January 1827, as instructed by the Colonial Secretary, the Union Jack was raised and a feu de joie fired by the troops, formally annexing the territory, in assertion of the first official claim by the Imperial Government to British possession over
6700-520: The Nullarbor Plain in the state's south-east, providing the principal connection between Western Australia and the population centres in the eastern states . Western Australia's Indigenous peoples have been present for tens of thousands of years. Dutch explorers visited Western Australia from the 17th century, with Dirk Hartog 's 1616 expedition the first Europeans to make landfall. The British claimed Western Australia in 1827 and established
6834-577: The Pearl Harbor attack brought the war to the Pacific, and only the most urgent maintenance works were authorised on roads for civilian purposes. Following the war, Main Roads returned to its usual operations, repairing and maintaining the road network. The rural road network expanded in the 1950s, with Main Roads both repairing the worst segments of its roads, through numerous small jobs, and assisting local governments to seal their roads. Such activity
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#17327878123846968-638: The Perth's city centre and adjacent Swan River, with the hills of the Darling Scarp in the background. The tourist drive continues in a loop inside Kings Park, with Forrest Drive, Lovekin Drive, and May Drive taking visitors to the Botanical Gardens, Synergy Parkland, children's playgrounds, and through native bushland, finishing back at the State War Memorial precinct. Vehicles can also be access
7102-651: The Sakha Republic in eastern Russia, and formerly Northwest Territories in Canada, before the creation of Nunavut. It is also the largest proper subnational entity, being a state rather than a territory or an autonomous region. Western Australia has a diverse range of climates, including tropical conditions in the Kimberley , deserts in the interior (including the Great Sandy Desert , Little Sandy Desert , Gibson Desert , and Great Victoria Desert ) and
7236-496: The Swan River Colony with Perth as its capital in 1829. The Western Australian gold rushes of the late 19th century resulted in a significant population influx. The colony was granted responsible government in 1890, the last of the Australian colonies to become self-governing, and federated with the other colonies in 1901. Western Australia's mining sector is a key driver of the state economy . The late 20th century saw
7370-502: The Torndirrup National Park . The 7-kilometre-long (4.3 mi) route travels along Frenchman Bay Road, from the edge of the national park to Frenchman Bay . Many roads turn off the tourist drive, to scenic spots along the coast, including The Gap (a narrow, steep sided ravine), The Natural Bridge (a large granite formation "shaped like a bridge of giants"), The Blowholes (the pressure of water coming into caves during
7504-555: The Wheatbelt and temperate southern coastal regions, pastoralism in marginal grassland areas, forestry in the south-west and fishing (including pearling and, historically, whaling ). Western Australia has a geological history dating back to 4.4 billion years ago when Hadean zircons were formed. The earliest direct known life on land, known as stromatolites , started to be created by microbes at around 3.48 billion years ago. The first human inhabitants of Australia arrived from
7638-489: The tallest trees in the world. This agricultural region is one of the nine most bio-diverse terrestrial habitats, with a higher proportion of endemic species than most other equivalent regions. Thanks to the offshore Leeuwin Current , the area is one of the top six regions for marine biodiversity and contains the most southerly coral reefs in the world. Average annual rainfall varies from 300 millimetres (12 in) at
7772-576: The 1890s around Kalgoorlie . In 1887, a new constitution was drafted, providing for the right of self-governance of European Australians, and in 1890, the act granting self-government to the colony was passed by the British Parliament . John Forrest became the first Premier of Western Australia . In 1896, after discoveries of gold at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie , the Western Australian Parliament authorised
7906-433: The 2016 census, 75.2% of inhabitants spoke only English at home, with the next most common languages being Mandarin (1.9%), Italian (1.2%), Vietnamese (0.8%), Cantonese (0.8%) and Tagalog (0.6%). According to the 2021 census, Christianity is the major religious affiliation in WA, followed by 41.1% of its population. In 1971, Christianity was followed by 85.5% of the population and it has been declining since, while
8040-770: The Perth City Council decided to construct the link between Asquith Street and Harvey Street early the following year, completing the Shepperton Road bypass. Buses were rerouted onto Shepperton Road in 1946, by which time it had become the preferred route for motorists. In November 1939, the State Advisory Committee on Nomenclature recommended that the Perth–Albany road be named Great Southern Highway, in recognition of its importance as an arterial traffic route. This suggestion followed on from
8174-587: The Western Australian coast. The Baudin expedition of 1800–03 included the coast of Western Australia and resulted in the Freycinet Map of 1811 , the first published map featuring the full outline of Australia. The name New Holland remained in popular and semi-official use until at least the mid-1850s; that is, it was in use for about 206 years in comparison to the name Australia which to date has been in use for about 195 years. The origins of
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#17327878123848308-483: The advent of convict labour, early completion of the Perth–Albany road seemed assured. Investigations of a direct route via Kelmscott , Hotham , Williams and Kojonup began in late 1851. Assistant Surveyor A. C. Gregory reported in 1852 that the direct route would be 57 miles (92 km) shorter than the route via Bunbury, and 40 miles (64 km) shorter than the York route. Construction was recommended in late 1852, after
8442-621: The city's boundary at Boundary Road, and ultimately through to Albany Road. The South Perth Road Board was also in favour of such a bypass, which would improve access for South Perth residents. A deputation from the Canning and South Perth Road Boards to the Acting Minister For Works, Mr E. H. Gray, in June 1940 complained about the congestion in Albany Road. The traffic delays were worsened by cars parked on both sides of
8576-749: The coast around the Margaret River wine-growing area. Going east along the Southern Ocean coast is the Goldfields-Esperance region, including the Esperance mallee and the Coolgardie woodlands inland around town of Coolgardie . Deserts occupy the interior, including the Great Sandy-Tanami desert , Gibson Desert , Great Victoria Desert , and Nullarbor Plain . In 1831 Scottish botanist Robert Brown produced
8710-685: The coast of Western Australia. On 7 March 1831 it was transferred to the control of the Swan River Colony, and named Albany in 1832. In 1829 the Swan River Colony was established on the Swan River by Captain James Stirling . By 1832, the British settler population of the colony had reached around 1,500, and the official name of the colony was changed to Western Australia on 6 February that year. The two separate townsites of
8844-442: The coast, and continues along George Grey Drive through the south-western portion of Kalbarri National Park. Collie Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 355 , is a scenic and historic route around the Western Australia's largest coalfield. The 57-kilometre-long (35 mi) route travels across the Darling Range on Coalfields Highway , from Roelands to Collie River in Muja . It turns off at Centaur Road, alongside
8978-404: The coast, and subsequently up to Perth via Rockingham and Fremantle . The new route still had difficulties, such as flooding in the winter of 1847 that resulted in a "terrible trip" which took a month to complete. The people of Albany, who could travel as passengers on the mail cart, found the trip to Perth long and deplorable. With the arrival of the convict ship Scindian on 1 June 1850 and
9112-647: The coastal plains, in some cases forming a sharp escarpment (as with the Darling Range/ Darling Scarp near Perth). The extreme age of the landscape has meant that the soils are remarkably infertile and frequently laterised . Even soils derived from granitic bedrock contain an order of magnitude less available phosphorus and only half as much nitrogen as soils in comparable climates in other continents. Soils derived from extensive sandplains or ironstone are even less fertile, nearly devoid of soluble phosphate and deficient in zinc , copper, molybdenum and sometimes potassium and calcium . The infertility of most of
9246-417: The coastline, from Middleton Beach, around the base of Mount Adelaide, past Lawley Park and the restored Old Post Office, to the Western Australian Museum – Albany . The tourist drive follows the local roads Marine Drive, Burgoyne Road, Cuddihy Road, Brunswick Road West, Stirling Terrace, and Residency Road. Frenchman Bay Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 258 , is a scenic route through
9380-425: The colony developed slowly into the port city of Fremantle and the state's capital, Perth . York was the first inland settlement in Western Australia, situated 97 kilometres (60 mi) east of Perth and settled on 16 September 1831. York was the staging point for early explorers who discovered the rich gold reserves of Kalgoorlie. Population growth was very slow until significant discoveries of gold were made in
9514-432: The development of the state's significant iron ore mining industry – the world's largest – as well as primarily offshore petroleum and natural gas resources . Gold mining retains a significant presence and many other mineral commodities are mined, with Perth being a major centre for associated services. Outside of mining, primary industry is the other significant contributor to the state's economy, including agriculture in
9648-457: The drive from Park Avenue and Poole Avenue at the southern end, and Saw Avenue at the western edge, and there are many paths and walkways crossing the park. John Forrest Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 201 , is a scenic route through John Forrest National Park in the eastern hills of Perth, Western Australia . The 10-kilometre-long (6.2 mi) drive travels around the national park along Park Road, and can be accessed from
9782-411: The eastern end of The Causeway. The $ 1.3 million interchange opened on 8 March 1974. By the late 1970s, the road sections sealed in the 1950s and 1960s were in need of repair or maintenance to prolong the pavement life. Old bitumen surfaces would deteriorate and crack. Resealing such cracks was a high priority, as expensive reconstruction would be required if water was allowed to enter the road base. Over
9916-569: The edge of the Wheatbelt region to 1,400 millimetres (55 in) in the wettest areas near Northcliffe , but from November to March, evaporation exceeds rainfall, and it is generally very dry. Plants are adapted to this as well as the extreme poverty of all soils. The central two-thirds of the state is arid and sparsely inhabited. The only significant economic activity is mining. Annual rainfall averages less than 300 millimetres (8–10 in), most of which occurs in sporadic torrential falls related to cyclone events in summer. An exception to this
10050-520: The extension of Roe Highway through Beckenham. The proposed deviation became Kenwick Link, constructed as part of the Roe Highway extension towards Fremantle. It was initially built as a single carriageway, and upgraded to a dual carriageway later. It opened on 17 April 1998, ahead of the Roe Highway extensions from Welshpool Road to Kenwick Link (opened 30 November 2002) and from Kenwick Link to Nicholson Road (opened 21 January 2003). Further work
10184-417: The few towns and roadhouses along the route, including Coalfields Highway at Arthur River , Great Southern Highway at Cranbrook , and Muirs Highway at Mount Barker . Prior to European settlement, the indigenous Noongar people had a considerable network of tracks, including a trade route between the areas now known as Perth and Albany. Construction of a road between Perth and Albany began soon after
10318-436: The final link completing the loop. Kingsbury Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 206 , is a scenic route through the jarrah forest in and around Serpentine National Park. The route is a loop that links Jarrahdale , Serpentine Dam, and Serpentine National Park, travelling along Kingsbury Drive, South Western Highway , and Jarrahdale Road. Darling Range Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 207 ,
10452-611: The generally shallow soils, the only development has taken place along the Ord River . Snow is rare in the state and typically occurs only in the Stirling Range near Albany , as it is the only mountain range far enough south and sufficiently elevated. More rarely, snow can fall on the nearby Porongurup Range . Snow outside these areas is a major event; it usually occurs in hilly areas of southwestern Australia. The most widespread low-level snow occurred on 26 June 1956 when snow
10586-415: The greatest number of immigrants to this day. Western Australia—particularly Perth—has the highest proportion of British-born of any state: 10.3% in 2011, compared to a national average of 5.1%. This group is heavily concentrated in certain parts, where they account for a quarter of the population. Perth's metropolitan area (including Mandurah ) had an estimated population of 2,043,138 in June 2017 (79% of
10720-584: The highway intersects the eastern end of Armadale Road and northern end of South Western Highway . Albany Highway proceeds east and then south from Armadale, around the suburb of Mount Richon . The road continues south-east, with signs of human activity becoming more sparse as the highway crosses the Darling Scarp, and the scenery transitions to native forest. Further south, after 60 kilometres (37 mi), it transitions again to pastures, with farming activities such as livestock rearing and orchards. Over
10854-489: The highway south-east into the centre of Albany. Prior to European settlement, the indigenous Noongar people had a considerable network of tracks around their territory in the south-west of Western Australia. One such track, used as a trade route , linked the Swan River (in modern-day Perth ) with the area now known as Albany . The track followed a similar alignment to modern-day Albany Highway. On 25 December 1826,
10988-642: The international sandalwood oil market. In recent years, tourism has grown in importance, with significant numbers of visitors to the state coming from the UK and Ireland (28%), other European countries (14%) Singapore (16%), Japan (10%) and Malaysia (8%). Revenue from tourism is a strong economic driver in many of the smaller population centres outside of Perth, especially in coastal locations. Heritage Country Tourist Drive Tourist Drives in Western Australia are routes through areas of scenic or historic significance, designated by route markers with white numbers on
11122-505: The late 1970s, $ 49 million over ten years was spent on repairing Albany Highway, and the experience saw Main Roads develop a program of interventions to prevent costly road reconstruction. Since the 1990s Main Roads has been upgrading various portions along the length of Albany Highway, including widening sections to dual carriageways in Perth, and the construction of the Kenwick Link bypass. Albany Highway commences at The Causeway ,
11256-530: The mail contractor George Maxwell completed a journey along the proposed route in September, and soon commenced. Fifty miles (80 km) had been completed by October 1853, and the whole road was finished in 1863. The road served as the main link between Perth and Albany until the 1880s, when the Great Southern Railway opened. The rise of the motor vehicle era in the early 20th century saw
11390-416: The mail route saw a different contractor providing the service each year. The 1845 contractor James Martin had particular trouble with debts, which led to his mail horse being seized; while he managed to acquire a replacement animal, he also had trouble servicing the resultant debt of £2. In 1847, the Perth–Albany route was adjusted, so that the mail would travel from Albany to Kojonup, then head to Bunbury on
11524-600: The majority of the highway a three-star safety rating out of five, with an approximately 20-kilometre-long (12 mi) section south-east of Armadale rated at a two star level. The overall highway network was generally rated as three-star or four-star, but around 10% in 2006 and 5% in 2008 received a two-star rating. In Perth, Albany Highway's north-western terminus is at a parclo interchange with The Causeway, Shepperton Road, and Great Eastern and Canning Highways in Victoria Park . The first 200 metres (660 ft) of
11658-579: The many settlements that have their origins across in the 135-year-old railway. The main attractions include Pingelly , Narrogin , Wagin , Katanning , Cranbrook , and Mount Barker . Goldfields Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 357 , is a 45-kilometre-long (28 mi) historic route in the state's goldfields. The route travels along Great Eastern Highway , from the Coolgardie Camel Farm four kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Coolgardie , to Kalgoorlie . The entire length of
11792-488: The median individual income was A$ 500 per week in Western Australia (compared to A$ 466 in Australia as a whole). The median family income was A$ 1246 per week (compared to A$ 1171 for Australia). Recent growth has also contributed to significant rises in average property values in 2006, although values plateaued in 2007. Located south of Perth, the heavy industrial area of Kwinana had the nation's largest oil refinery with
11926-426: The meridian 129 degrees east of Greenwich, which defines the border with South Australia and the Northern Territory , and bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and north. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) designates the body of water south of the continent as part of the Indian Ocean; in Australia it is officially gazetted as the Southern Ocean . The total length of the state's eastern border
12060-496: The most congested in Perth but was improved by adding a third lane in each direction as well as a median strip. The project was recognised with an Excellence Award from the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1994. In the 1990s several other improvement projects were planned across the length of the highway, including between Bedfordale and North Bannister, through Mount Barker, and between Narrikup and Albany. Closer to Perth,
12194-420: The motor vehicle era in the early 20th century saw the road gain prominence once more, and by 1939 the whole road had been sealed. Congestion at the Perth end of the road in the 1930s led to parallel roads Berwick Street and Shepperton Road being upgraded to provide bypasses. The entire Perth−Albany road was renamed Albany Highway on 2 October 1940, in recognition of its importance as an arterial traffic route. From
12328-433: The naming of Albany in 1832, but progress was slow, with only 16 miles (26 km) completed by 1833. A monthly mail route which operated in the 1840s had such trouble with the journey that a new contractor was required each year, and from 1847 the mail route detoured via Bunbury . The introduction of convicts in 1850, and thus convict labour, allowed a road along the direct route to be fully constructed by 1863. The rise of
12462-625: The naming of Great Eastern Highway, in April of the previous year. The committee sent letters to all the local governments in the area to advise them of the proposal. Feedback was mixed; whilst the name was "thoroughly approved" by the Tambellup Road Board, and the Perth City Council's general purposes committee recommended that no objection be raised, the Kojonup Road Board believed that "sufficient grounds [did] not exist for
12596-543: The next 300 kilometres (190 mi), the highway encounters few towns: Williams , Kojonup and Mount Barker are on the highway, but are 100 kilometres (62 mi) apart. Roadhouses exist at North Bannister , Crossman and Arthur River , while many of the service towns in the region are approximately 30 kilometres (20 mi) to the east on Great Southern Highway , including Narrogin , Wagin and Katanning . Closer to Albany, there are large tracts of blue gum eucalypt plantations. Twelve kilometres (7.5 mi) from
12730-513: The north "over 50,000 years ago and possibly as much as 70,000 years ago". Over thousands of years they eventually spread across the whole landmass. These Indigenous Australians were long established throughout Western Australia by the time European explorers began to arrive in the early 17th century. The first Europeans to visit Western Australia were those of the Dutch Dirk Hartog expedition, who on 25 October 1616 landed at what
12864-538: The northern coast, and below that the drier Victoria Plains tropical savanna inland, and the semi-desert Pilbara shrublands , Carnarvon xeric shrublands , and Western Australian mulga shrublands to the southwest. Southwards along the coast are the Southwest Australia savanna and the Swan Coastal Plain around Perth, with the jarrah-karri forest and shrublands on the southwest corner of
12998-582: The only mountain-building since then has been of the Stirling Range with the rifting from Antarctica , the land is extremely eroded and ancient, with no part of the state above 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) AHD (at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region). Most of the state is a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres (1,200 ft), very low relief, and no surface runoff . This descends relatively sharply to
13132-558: The park entrances on Great Eastern Highway . In addition to the natural fauna and flora of the park, the tourist drive provides access to a scenic lookout over Perth and the edge of the Darling Scarp , Glen Brook Dam, which is the site of a picnic area and starting point for many walking trails, as well as the park's visitors area, where facilities, cultivated gardens, and a swimming hole are located. The 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres) of land in John Forrest National Park
13266-443: The percentage of people who identified as having no religious affiliation has increased from 8.7% in 1971 to 42.9% in 2021. A small minority of the population are Muslims (2.5%), Buddhists (2.2%) and Hindus (2.0%). Western Australia's economy is largely driven by extraction and processing of a diverse range of mineral and petroleum commodities. The structure of the economy is closely linked to these natural resources, providing
13400-642: The point that was the intersection of the former Australind Bypass and Old Coast Road), the route travels south to Australind via Old Coast Road , east of the Leschenault Inlet. At Pelicon Point, the route turns south-west along Estuary Drive, entering Bunbury after crossing the Preston River. Geikie–Windjana Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 350 , is a 166-kilometre-long (103 mi) scenic route connecting national parks in Western Australia's Kimberly region. From Fitzroy Crossing,
13534-474: The present state began with the establishment by Lockyer of a convict-supported settlement from New South Wales at King George III Sound . The settlement was formally annexed on 21 January 1827 by Lockyer when he commanded the Union Jack be raised and a feu de joie fired by the troops. The settlement was founded in response to British concerns about the possibility of a French colony being established on
13668-566: The proposed change", and the Albany Municipal Council objected strongly to not retaining "Perth–Albany" in the name. The State Advisory Committee made a new recommendation in April 1940 for Albany Highway instead of Great Southern Highway. This new proposal received support from the Albany Municipal Council and Tambellup Road Board. However, the Perth City Council still preferred Great Southern Highway, and recommended that within its boundaries – from The Causeway to Welshpool –
13802-407: The provision of bypass routes was recommended instead. To provide the bypasses, parallel roads would be upgraded and extended: Berwick Street to the south-west, and Shepperton Road to the north-east. In 1937, work had progressed on extending Berwick Street eastwards, and it had been extended to Alday Street by November 1938. A new causeway to extend Berwick Street north over the Swan River, and make it
13936-466: The raising of a loan to construct a pipeline to transport 23 megalitres (5 million imperial gallons) of water per day to the burgeoning population on the goldfields. The pipeline, known as the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme , was completed in 1903. C. Y. O'Connor , Western Australia's first engineer-in-chief, designed and oversaw the construction of the pipeline. It carries water 530 km (330 mi) from Perth to Kalgoorlie , and
14070-574: The river, and travels to the Muja Tourist lookout, overlooking the nearby working coal seam. On the way the route passes near the scenic Wellington Dam and Ferguson Valley, and travels through the historic coal mining town of Collie . Great Southern Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 356 , is a 381-kilometre-long (237 mi) historic route that follows the Great Southern Railway from Beverley to Albany . The route travels along Great Southern Highway and Albany Highway , through
14204-412: The road and slow-moving trams. The deputation suggested extending Berwick Street to Albany Highway as the solution, as well as removing the trams. Gray contended that parking should be prohibited, and refused to scrap the trams, but said he would consider the resumption of land east of Berwick Street to enable a one-quarter-mile (0.40 km) extension to Albany Road. However, Berwick Street was diverted to
14338-555: The road be named Albany Road, and that one of the proposed bypasses in the area would be better suited to the highway name. The entire road was renamed Albany Highway on 2 October 1940, superseding the previously used names Albany Road, Perth–Albany Road, and High Street in Kojonup. During World War II, the Main Roads Department focused its activities on the war effort. Roads in rural areas deteriorated, especially after
14472-525: The road gain prominence once more. The newly formed Main Roads Board took over control and maintenance of the Perth–Albany road and twenty-one other important roads between 1926 and 1928, which were declared "main roads". At this stage the Perth–Albany road was not much more developed than a bush track. To increase the usability of the overall main road network, the Board's work schedule prioritised upgrading
14606-643: The road is one-way into the interchange, but only connecting to The Causeway and Canning Highway – there is no direct access to the other roads. For the next four kilometres (2.5 mi), the highway is a two-lane , two-way high street serving Victoria Park 's town centre, and continuing south-east through East Victoria Park . The nearby four-lane Shepperton Road serves as a bypass, carrying through-traffic as well as State Route 30. The two roads converge at an intersection with Welshpool Road, and for 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) Albany Highway serves as an arterial route in Perth's south-eastern suburbs, varying between
14740-497: The road's south-eastern terminus, it passes Albany Airport . The highway passes by suburban areas before intersecting South Coast Highway at a Y intersection, and only 100 metres (330 ft) beyond it, a large five-way roundabout. This roundabout is the southern terminus of State Route 30, and connects the highway with Chester Pass Road (which continues east to South Coast Highway), North Road, and Hanrahan Road. The final two-and-a-half-kilometre (1.6 mi) stretch takes
14874-414: The route coincides with the easternmost section of the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail , which travels from Perth to Kalgoorlie alongside the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme pipeline. The heritage trail is a more recent initiative, introduced in 2003 for the pipeline's 100th anniversary. Esperance Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 358 , is a 30-kilometre-long (19 mi) scenic route along
15008-475: The route travels north-east to Geikie Gorge National Park along Forrest Road, Russ Road, Geikie Gorge Road. It also travels west from the town along Great Northern Highway to Leopold Downs Road, the turn-off to Tunnel Creek National Park . The tourist drive continues along Fairfield–Leopold Downs Road to Windjana Gorge National Park , and ends at Derby Gibb River Road near the Lennard River . The route
15142-418: The route travels to Karratha , and then on to the historic town of Roebourne , along Dampier Highway , Karratha Road, and North West Coastal Highway . North of Roebourne, the route splits, with one leg travelling to the coastal ghost town of Cossack , and the other leg heading via Wickham to the nearby fishing village of Point Samson . Cape Range Tourist Way , designated as Tourist Drive 352 ,
15276-399: The same year, the intersection of Albany Road, Milford Street, and Welshpool Road was reconfigured to improve visibility, and in anticipation of an eastern extension to Shepperton Road. In April 1940, that extension was nearing completion, which was expected to be by the end of May, while the demolition of houses on land resumed for the western extension was being arranged. On 29 September 1941,
15410-454: The scenery includes streams, freshwater pools, and an undergrowth of ferns and vines. The 88-kilometre-long (55 mi) route travels south from Manjimup, following Gilbert Street, Chopping Street, and South Western Highway , before turning off to Pemberton along Eastbourne Road, Diamond Tree Road, and Pemberton North Road. The tourist drive takes Vasse Highway , Pemberton Northcliffe Road, and Zamia Street into Northcliffe , before heading in
15544-408: The section along Bedfordale Hill (south-east of Armadale) was upgraded to a four-lane dual carriageway, with work completed in June 1999. This period also saw the planning and construction of additional junctions with new major roads in Perth. At Armadale, Armadale Road would connect to what had been a three-way junction with South Western Highway, while a highway deviation was proposed to connect to
15678-500: The settlers of Albany petitioned England to supply convicts to work on the road. At the time the government in Perth derided the proposal, and Western Australia would not become a penal colony until 1849. In October and November 1835, Governor Stirling and Surveyor-General John Septimus Roe travelled overland from Perth to Albany, with the focus of the journey being the route south of the Hotham River . A more comprehensive survey
15812-401: The soils has required heavy application by farmers of fertilisers. These have resulted in damage to invertebrate and bacterial populations. The grazing and use of hoofed mammals and, later, heavy machinery through the years have resulted in compaction of soils and great damage to the fragile soils. Large-scale land clearing for agriculture has damaged habitats for native flora and fauna. As
15946-416: The south-west to connect with Chapman Road, providing a longer continuous route west of Albany Highway. Shepperton Road ran parallel to Albany Road between Harvey Street, 45 chains (3,000 ft; 910 m) from The Causeway, and Somerset Street, one and a half miles (2.4 km) further along. In 1937, a road from Asquith Street to Albany Road was constructed, to eventually link in with Shepperton Road. In
16080-555: The state and national economy. In the period 2010–2019 wheat production in WA has averaged nearly 10 million tonnes (22 billion pounds), valued at $ 2.816 billion in 2019, accounting for half the nation's total and providing $ 2–3 billion in export income. Other significant farm output includes wool, beef, lamb, barley, canola, lupins, oats and pulses. There is a high level of overseas demand for live animals from WA, driven mainly by southeast Asia's feedlots and Middle Eastern countries, where Islamic dietary laws and
16214-562: The state's Wheatbelt region, north of Perth . From Upper Swan , the route travels north along Great Northern Highway to Walebing , and then west along The Midlands Road to Moora , and then continuing north to Watheroo National Park . Attractions along the way include the Walyunga National Park , where the Avon River becomes the Swan River (Western Australia) , the historic towns of Bindoon and New Norcia , and
16348-658: The state's road network, including various locations along Albany Highway. In the 2013/14 financial year, the recorded traffic volumes ranged between 3880 and 70,690 vehicles per weekday in Perth, 1980 to 3880 in the Wheatbelt, and 1720 to 5120 in the Great Southern. The highest percentage of heavy traffic was 29.2%, south of Jarrahdale Road in the Wheatbelt. Reports commissioned by the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) in 2006 and 2008 gave
16482-403: The state's southern coast. Lake Argyle Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 256 , is a 34-kilometre-long (21 mi) route that connects Victoria Highway , near the Northern Territory border, to the tourist attractions at Lake Argyle . As well as the lake itself, one of the world's largest artificial lakes, there is the historic Argyle Homestead Museum, a tourist village which
16616-451: The state). Other significant population centres include Bunbury (73,989), Geraldton (37,961), Kalgoorlie-Boulder (30,420), Albany (33,998), Karratha (16,446), Broome (14,501) and Port Hedland (14,285). At the 2016 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were: 3.1% of the population, or 75,978 people, identified as Indigenous Australians ( Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders ) in 2016. At
16750-550: The time transportation ceased in 1868, convicts outnumbered free settlers 9,700 to 7,300. In the 1890s, interstate immigration, resulting from a mining boom in the Goldfields region , resulted in a sharp population increase. Western Australia did not receive significant flows of immigrants from Britain, Ireland or elsewhere in the British Empire until the early 20th century. At that time, its local projects—such as
16884-570: The tourist drive travels via Point Peron and Safety Bay to Warnbro . Swan Valley Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 203 , is a tourist drive through Perth's Swan Valley . The 31-kilometre-long (19 mi) route is a loop from Guildford to West Swan , Belhus , and Midland , and then back to Guildford. The tourist drive travels via Meadow Street, West Swan Road , Great Northern Highway , Morrison Road , Great Eastern Highway , Terrace Road, and Swan Street. Sunset Coast Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 204 ,
17018-519: The whole continent of Australia. On 7 March 1831 the King George Sound and colony was made part of the Swan River Colony and a free settlement. Albany was officially named by Governor Stirling at the beginning of 1832, at the time that political authority passed to the Swan River colony . The construction of a road from Albany to Perth began soon thereafter, but only 16 miles (26 km) had been completed by 1833. Due to this slow progress,
17152-419: The worst individual segments, rather than any one road. In 1928/29, twenty-two separate sections of the Perth–Albany road were improved, but many were short, and drivers would experience quite varied conditions, from new sealed road to gravel road, and then a boggy dirt in just a few miles. By 1932, the improved conditions allowed an average speed of 35 to 40 miles per hour (55 to 65 km/h) to be reached, for
17286-694: Was led by Mr J. Harris, and included Lieutenant Armstrong with eight soldiers of the 21st Fusiliers, Albany settlers Patrick Taylor and Dr. Thomas Harrison, as well as Kartrull, who was referred to as "the native 'Handsome ' ". The place where they arrived in Williams was right opposite the road from Kelmscott to Williams, Mr Harris describe Hillnman as please having previously survey the route from Perth to Kelmscott. In April 1838 four bridges were built near Albany by John Young, and in 1839 Governor John Hutt ventured out to Albany on an official visit, travelling through Williams and Kojonup. Assistant Surveyor Hillman led
17420-501: Was originally the construction camp, bushwalking tracks, and a multitude of fauna – birds, marsupials, freshwater crocodiles, and fish living in or around the lake. There are no attractions along the route before Lake Argyle, except for seeing the Kimberley 's "rugged landscape". Albany Historic Tourist Drive , designated as Tourist Drive 257 , is a historic route through Albany , Western Australia's first settlement. The 6-kilometre-long (3.7 mi) route travels parallel to
17554-653: Was reported in the Perth Hills , as far north as Wongan Hills and as far east as Salmon Gums . However, even in the Stirling Range, snowfalls rarely exceed 5 cm (2 in) and rarely settle for more than one day. The highest observed temperature of 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) was recorded in Onslow on 13 January 2022. The lowest temperature recorded was −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) at Eyre Bird Observatory on 17 August 2008. The south geomagnetic pole
17688-430: Was spurred on by the closure of railway lines in addition to the establishment of new land settlements. In Perth, a roundabout was constructed at the north-western end of Albany Highway, to improve the flow of traffic onto and off The Causeway. It opened in 1952, with guides on the usage of the roundabout published in newspapers. In 1973 construction began to upgrade the intersection to a partial cloverleaf interchange at
17822-521: Was undertaken in July–September 1836 by Assistant Surveyors Alfred Hillman and D. Smith. Hillman started from the Albany end, while Smith concurrently commenced from Perth. A few months later, in February 1837, Hillman accompanied a group that made the trip to Perth in 12 days travelling time, journeying via Chorkurup, Thokokup, Mount Barker, Lake Matilda, Kojonup, Williams and Arthur River. This group
17956-570: Was undertaken in Perth in 2011 and 2012, between John Street in Bentley and Leach Highway. The road was widened and a median installed to increase both safety and efficiency. The works also upgraded intersection, including installation of new traffic lights. Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd completed the work under a $ 3.65 million contract. In January 2014, work began on widening and reconstructing 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) of Albany Highway north of Kojonup. Western Australia Western Australia (WA)
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