Atherton–Herberton–Longlands Gap Road Explained

Road Name:Atherton–Herberton–Longlands Gap Road
Road Name2:Atherton–Herberton Road, Longlands Gap–Herberton Road
State:qld
Type:rural road
Length:33.5
Route: State Route 52
Direction A:North
End A: Kennedy Highway,
Exits:
  • Herberton–Petford Road
Direction B:South
End B: Kennedy Highway,

Atherton–Herberton–Longlands Gap Road is a continuous 33.5km (20.8miles) road route in the Tablelands local government area of Queensland, Australia. It has two official names, Atherton–Herberton Road and Longlands Gap–Herberton Road. The entire route is signed as part of State Route 52. Both parts are state-controlled district roads, numbered 663 and 665, and the entire road is rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[1] [2]

Route description

The road starts at an intersection with the Kennedy Highway in the town and locality of . Known within the town as Herberton Road, the name soon changes to Atherton–Herberton Road. It runs generally south through the outskirts of Atherton before turning south-west through and . On entering the road turns south through the town, where it passes the exit to Herberton–Petford Road to the west. This intersection is the point where the official name changes to Longlands Gap–Herberton Road. Through the town, the road carries the street names Broadway, Grace Street and Perkins Street.[3]

As it leaves the town of Herberton the road crosses the Wild River and continues south through the locality before entering . Reaching the north-eastern boundary of it turns east along the boundary. It then turns to the south-east and crosses Wondecla until it reaches an intersection with the Kennedy Highway on the boundary between Wondecla and, where it ends.[3]

The road is fully sealed to at least a two-lane standard.[3]

Both sections of the road pass through hilly country, with each section having more than 500m (1,600feet) with an incline greater than 10%, and with some parts exceeding 15%.[4] [5]

Longland Gap (alternate spelling) is a natural feature in the vicinity of the southern end of the road, in the locality of .[6]

History

Atherton was surveyed in 1885.[7] It became the administrative centre for the district, which hosted timber, mining and agricultural industries. Until the railway arrived in 1903 it was a stopping place on the coach road from to Herberton.[8]

A survey for a town in Carrington was done in 1884.[9]

Herberton was established as a tin mining town in 1880.[10] By 1903 it was a thriving town with a coach service to Mareeba railway terminus, and connections to and .[11]

Evelyn takes its name from an early pastoral run.[12]

Herberton–Petford Road

Country:AUS
State:QLD
Herberton–Petford Road
Location:Atherton–Herberton Road and Longlands Gap–Herberton Road, Herberton to Burke Developmental Road, Petford
Length Km:66.2

Herberton-Petford Road is a state-controlled district road (number 6632), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[1] [2] It runs from the intersection of Atherton-Herberton Road and Longlands Gap-Herberton Road in Herberton to the Burke Developmental Road in Petford, a distance of 66.2km (41.1miles). The road has no major intersections.

Major intersections

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Tablelands local government area.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: North Queensland Region map . Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0] . 2020 . 7 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Far North District map . Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0] . 2020 . 7 July 2023.
  3. Book: Australia Road Atlas - Map 14 . Hema Maps - via RACQ . 2009 . ISBN 1-86500-553-9.
  4. Web site: Atherton - Herberton Road . Bonzle Digital Atlas . 2023 . 22 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Longlands Gap Herberton Road . Bonzle Digital Atlas . 2023 . 22 July 2023.
  6. 29 May 2023.
  7. 1 December 2019.
  8. Web site: Atherton . University of Queensland . 22 July 2023.
  9. 19 September 2020.
  10. 14 August 2022.
  11. Web site: Herberton . 22 July 2023.
  12. 13 September 2015.