Peak Downs Highway
Encyclopedia
The Peak Downs Highway links the towns of Mackay
and Clermont
in the Australia
n state of Queensland
. It represents the main link between Queensland's Whitsunday
Coast and the Central West region of the state. The highway runs for a total length of 273 km, before becoming the Gregory Highway
(Highway A7, formerly Highway 55) south to Emerald
. Major settlements along the route, or just off it, include Mackay
, Walkerston
, Nebo
, Moranbah
(10 km north of the highway, but the largest town along the route) and Clermont
. The highway is notorious for its extremely dangereous conditions. The main artery for shipping fuel and other supplies to the coalmines of the Bowen Basin, it is not uncommon to come across oversized loads of mining trucks, bulldozers or tyres on the highway.
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
and Clermont
Clermont, Queensland
Clermont is an agricultural town in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 274 km south-west of Mackay on the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways...
in the 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...
n state of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It represents the main link between Queensland's Whitsunday
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial...
Coast and the Central West region of the state. The highway runs for a total length of 273 km, before becoming the Gregory Highway
Gregory Highway
The Gregory Highway is a state highway in Queensland that serves the major coal-mining centres of Central Queensland. The highway was named after Augustus Gregory, an early explorer....
(Highway A7, formerly Highway 55) south to Emerald
Emerald, Queensland
Emerald is a town located in the Central Highlands district of Central Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council....
. Major settlements along the route, or just off it, include Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, Walkerston
Walkerston, Queensland
Walkerston is a town in central Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the Peak Downs Highway south-west of Mackay. Walkerston straddles Bakers Creek for about . At the 2006 census, Walkerston had a population of 2,563....
, Nebo
Nebo, Queensland
Nebo is a small town in Queensland, Australia, located 100 km south-west of the city of Mackay on the Peak Downs Highway. At the 2006 census, Nebo had a population of 282....
, Moranbah
Moranbah, Queensland
Moranbah is a town in Queensland, Australia, located on the Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont, in the Isaac region. It is a coal mining town and at the 2006 census had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a...
(10 km north of the highway, but the largest town along the route) and Clermont
Clermont, Queensland
Clermont is an agricultural town in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 274 km south-west of Mackay on the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways...
. The highway is notorious for its extremely dangereous conditions. The main artery for shipping fuel and other supplies to the coalmines of the Bowen Basin, it is not uncommon to come across oversized loads of mining trucks, bulldozers or tyres on the highway.
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 Queensland