Dukes Highway
Encyclopedia
The Dukes Highway is an important 189 kilometre highway corridor in South Australia
which links the Australian cities of Adelaide
and Melbourne
. It is part of the National Highway
system spanning Australia, and is signed as National Highway A8.
The Dukes Highway starts in Tailem Bend
on the Princes Highway
and extends southeast to the state border near Bordertown, South Australia
. The highway continues in Victoria
as the Western Highway
, with the same route signage (National A8). The length of the highway on the South Australian side is around 191 km, joining onto the Western Highway which is 443 km.
Generally, the quality of the Dukes Highway is of a high standard, with the entire road having wide lane widths and sealed shoulder. The final 17 km of the highway after Bordertown, was originally built on unstable ground but was re-constructed in 2005.
The Dukes Highway runs along the northern side of the Limestone Coast
region of South Australia. The route and many of the settlements (including Bordertown) were established in the 1850s to supply water to horses for the gold escorts from the Victorian goldfields to Adelaide.
Gold was taken to Adelaide rather than the closer Melbourne because a higher price was offered there. The higher price was offered to stop the SA economy from collapsing as all the labourers were heading to the Victorian Goldfields. The 'Bullion Act' was passed and an Assay Office was established in Adelaide for the assaying and stamping of gold in 1852. It is claimed that this saved SA from bankruptcy.
On the 27th September, 2008 at 4.40am about 18 km east of Tintinara two people were killed when their utility collided with a Semi Trailer
Most of the accidents that occur on the Dukes Highway are high-speed head on collisions usually caused by fatigue. Although road safety signage states "Stop. Revive. Survive" and "Roads To Recovery" the number of accidents in the early hours of the morning are high in number.
Motorists are advised to rest and recover at the many towns on the Dukes Highway, including Bordertown
, Keith
, Tintinara, Coonalpyn and Tailem Bend, where the Dukes Highway ends.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
which links the Australian cities of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
. It is part of the National Highway
National Highway (Australia)
thumb|right|150px|The National Highway Shield in NSW, QLD, WA, NT & TAS.The National Highway is a system of roads connecting all the States and Territories of Australia, and is the major network of highways connecting Australia's largest and most important cities.The National Highway was...
system spanning Australia, and is signed as National Highway A8.
The Dukes Highway starts in Tailem Bend
Tailem Bend, South Australia
Tailem Bend is a town on the Murray River in South Australia. The town was proclaimed in 1887, the year after the main railway came through. At the 2006 census, Tailem Bend had a population of 1,457....
on the Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
and extends southeast to the state border near Bordertown, South Australia
Bordertown, South Australia
Bordertown is a small South Australian town near the Victorian border. It is where the Dukes Highway and the railway line, the two main routes between Adelaide and Melbourne, cross Tatiara Creek....
. The highway continues 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....
as the Western Highway
Western Highway, Victoria
The Western Highway is part of the principal route linking the Australian cities of Melbourne and Adelaide with a length of approximately 314 kilometres. It is a part of the National Highway network and designated as National Highway A8...
, with the same route signage (National A8). The length of the highway on the South Australian side is around 191 km, joining onto the Western Highway which is 443 km.
Generally, the quality of the Dukes Highway is of a high standard, with the entire road having wide lane widths and sealed shoulder. The final 17 km of the highway after Bordertown, was originally built on unstable ground but was re-constructed in 2005.
The Dukes Highway runs along the northern side of the Limestone Coast
Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast is a name used since the early twentyfirst century for the geographical region and tourist region of the southeast coast of South Australia from the Victoria border to the towards the city of Adelaide.-Location and description:...
region of South Australia. The route and many of the settlements (including Bordertown) were established in the 1850s to supply water to horses for the gold escorts from the Victorian goldfields to Adelaide.
Gold was taken to Adelaide rather than the closer Melbourne because a higher price was offered there. The higher price was offered to stop the SA economy from collapsing as all the labourers were heading to the Victorian Goldfields. The 'Bullion Act' was passed and an Assay Office was established in Adelaide for the assaying and stamping of gold in 1852. It is claimed that this saved SA from bankruptcy.
Major road accidents
Although there have been a number of serious crashes which has forced the closure of both lanes of traffic. One of the recent accidents occurred with a School Mini-Bus returning from a school camp from Naracoorte on the 7th November, 2008 where a student was killed.On the 27th September, 2008 at 4.40am about 18 km east of Tintinara two people were killed when their utility collided with a Semi Trailer
Most of the accidents that occur on the Dukes Highway are high-speed head on collisions usually caused by fatigue. Although road safety signage states "Stop. Revive. Survive" and "Roads To Recovery" the number of accidents in the early hours of the morning are high in number.
Motorists are advised to rest and recover at the many towns on the Dukes Highway, including Bordertown
Bordertown, South Australia
Bordertown is a small South Australian town near the Victorian border. It is where the Dukes Highway and the railway line, the two main routes between Adelaide and Melbourne, cross Tatiara Creek....
, Keith
Keith
Keith may refer to:People*Keith *Keith * Baron Keith, line of Scottish barons in the late 18th century* Clan Keith, Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern and northwestern Scotland...
, Tintinara, Coonalpyn and Tailem Bend, where the Dukes Highway ends.
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:...
- Highways in VictoriaHighways in VictoriaThe Highways in Victoria are the highest density in any state in Australia. Unlike Australia's other mainland states where vast areas are very sparsely inhabited "outback", there are population centres spread out over most of the state, with only the far north-west and the Victorian Alps lacking...
- List of highways in South Australia