Derby Highway
Encyclopedia
Derby Highway is a highway linking Great Northern Highway
in Western Australia
with the town of Derby
. It is a 42 km long 2-lane single carriageway. In the town of Derby, its name changes to Loch Street, where it becomes a 2-lane divided carriageway.
The expansive RAAF Curtin
inactive air force base is situated adjacent to Derby Highway near the intersection of Great Northern Highway
. The base has been previously used as a refugee detention centre and civilian airport, but is not presently used for any functional purpose.
. It is also a useful access for many local fishing "secret spots" at the mouth of the Fitzroy River
, with one of the better known ones being the Cuttings.
Great Northern Highway
The Great Northern Highway is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the state's capital Perth with its most northern port, Wyndham. It is in length, with being National Highway...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
with the town of Derby
Derby, Western Australia
Derby is a town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Derby had a population of 3,093. Along with Broome and Kununurra, it is one of only three towns in the Kimberley to have a population over 2,000...
. It is a 42 km long 2-lane single carriageway. In the town of Derby, its name changes to Loch Street, where it becomes a 2-lane divided carriageway.
The expansive RAAF Curtin
RAAF Curtin
RAAF Base Curtin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located near the town of Derby on the north coast of Western Australia. As it is one of the RAAF's three 'bare bases' no Air Force units are currently based at Curtin and it is maintained by a small caretaker staff during peacetime...
inactive air force base is situated adjacent to Derby Highway near the intersection of Great Northern Highway
Great Northern Highway
The Great Northern Highway is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the state's capital Perth with its most northern port, Wyndham. It is in length, with being National Highway...
. The base has been previously used as a refugee detention centre and civilian airport, but is not presently used for any functional purpose.
Tourism
Derby Highway is the western terminus of the popular Gibb River RoadGibb River Road
The Gibb River Road is a former cattle route that stretches almost through The Kimberley between the Western Australian town of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction of the Great Northern Highway. Like its namesake, which does not actually cross the road but runs nearby at , it is named...
. It is also a useful access for many local fishing "secret spots" at the mouth of the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
, with one of the better known ones being the Cuttings.
Reconstruction
A staged reconstruction of the highway has been taking place in recent years. So far, approximately 15 km of the highway has been reconstructed and widened, with plans for the remainder to be completed in the near future.See also
- Highways in AustraliaHighways in AustraliaThis is a list of highways in Australia, listed alphabetically along with each highway's route number and location. Note that some highways service more than one state or territory.-Route numbering systems:...
- List of highways in Western Australia