Black Spur
Encyclopedia
The Black Spur is a road between the towns of Healesville and Marysville
in Victoria
, Australia
.
on the Maroondah Hwy between Healesville and Marysville. To reach the Black Spur, travel along the Eastern Arterial to the end. Turn right at Springvale Road and then left onto the Maroondah Hwy (Whitehorse Road) and follow until you arrive at Healesville. Alternatively travel through Cardinia Reservoir - Emerald - Yarra Junction - Warburton.
s punctuated by short straights. A few corners are prone to dampness due to the ferny rainforest surroundings. Scenery is beautiful tall trees and ferns typical of temperate rainforest.
Two thirds of the Black Spur was burnt from the Black Saturday firestorm.
that the road attracts racers and as a result a number of incidents and deaths have been recorded.
In March 2008, the Victorian state government has allocated $547,000 to improve motorcycle safety on the Black Spur. Stage 1 of the works has involved reducing the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, effective Thursday 29 May 2008.
Marysville, Victoria
Marysville is a small town, 34 kilometres north-east of Healesville, in the Shire of Murrindindi in Victoria, Australia. The town, which previously had a population of around 500 people, was devastated by the Murrindindi Mill bushfire on 7 February 2009. On 19 February 2009 the official death toll...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Statistics
- Length (km): 30
- Corner Ratio: 80%
- Corner Speeds: 60-120 km/h
- Legal Speed Limit: 80 km/h
- Traffic (cars/min): 2-5
- Bumpiness: Smooth
- Bitumen Grip: Very grippy
- Special Notes: Rainforest means often damp and bark on road in winter and firestorms in summer.
Location
The Black Spur is located about 60 km ENE from MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on the Maroondah Hwy between Healesville and Marysville. To reach the Black Spur, travel along the Eastern Arterial to the end. Turn right at Springvale Road and then left onto the Maroondah Hwy (Whitehorse Road) and follow until you arrive at Healesville. Alternatively travel through Cardinia Reservoir - Emerald - Yarra Junction - Warburton.
Etymology
The road, originally known as "The Blacks' Spur", gained its name from the route taken by displaced Aboriginal people from northern Victoria on their way to a mission settlement at Corranderrk near Healesville.Map
See map of Black Spur at Google Maps.Description of road
The road surface is excellent after the recent (as of August 2006) resurfacing with smooth hot-mix and recent (as of 2006) widening. It is twisty with a series of hairpin turnHairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s punctuated by short straights. A few corners are prone to dampness due to the ferny rainforest surroundings. Scenery is beautiful tall trees and ferns typical of temperate rainforest.
Two thirds of the Black Spur was burnt from the Black Saturday firestorm.
Motorcycle safety
The Black Spur is a popular road for motorcyclists, it also has been reported to Victoria PoliceVictoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
that the road attracts racers and as a result a number of incidents and deaths have been recorded.
In March 2008, the Victorian state government has allocated $547,000 to improve motorcycle safety on the Black Spur. Stage 1 of the works has involved reducing the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, effective Thursday 29 May 2008.
External links
- Motorcycle Sports Touring Club of Victoria Inc.
- Black Spur Drive - Official government tourism website