Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road is a continuous 32.1 kilometres (19.9 mi) road route in the Gladstone region of Queensland, Australia. The route is signed as State Route 58. Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road (number 181) is a state-controlled regional road.[2][3] As part of State Route 58 it provides an alternate route between Mount Larcom and Benaraby. It is also part of the shortest route from Gladstone to the north of the state.
Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Rural road |
| Length | 32.1 km (20 mi)[1] |
| Route number(s) |
|
| Major junctions | |
| East end |  Dawson Highway Gladstone Central |
| |
| West end |  Bruce Highway Mount Larcom |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Callemondah, Yarwun, Aldoga |
Route Description
editThe Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road commences as Glenlyon Street at an intersection with the Dawson Highway in Gladstone Central. It runs north-west, becoming Hanson Road, turning west and then south-west before crossing Auckland Creek into Callemondah. After crossing a branch of Auckland Creek it runs north-west, passing the Gladstone Power Station and crossing the Calliope River and its anabranch, before entering Yarwun.
The road continues north-west as Hanson Road until it comes to an intersection with Landing Road, where it changes to Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road. This soon turns south-west and crosses the railway line as it enters Aldoga. It follows the railway line to the west through Aldoga and then parallels it north-west along the south-western boundary before meeting the Bruce Highway in Mount Larcom. Targinnie lies just north of the road, and West Stowe lies to the south. Land uses along this road include residential, industrial and rural, including some areas of native vegetation.
State Route 58
editState Route 58 follows a number of separately named roads from Benaraby to Gladstone, and from Gladstone to Mount Larcom. It is a slightly longer alternative to the Bruce Highway. It leaves the Bruce Highway at Benaraby and follows the Gladstone–Benaraby Road north. In South Gladstone it turns west on Philip Street and then north on Glenlyon Road, which soon becomes Glenlyon Street. It passes the north-eastern end of the Dawson Highway in Gladstone Central and then turns west as Hanson Road. This runs generally west until it reaches Yarwun, where it changes to Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road, which continues south-west, west, and north-west until it reaches the Bruce Highway at Mount Larcom.
Road condition
editGladstone–Mount Larcom Road is fully sealed. It has a distance of about 890 metres (970 yd) with an incline greater than 5%.[4]
History
editThe area where Gladstone now stands was the site of a short-lived convict settlement in 1847.[5] In 1853 a new town was surveyed, and the next year a government agent was appointed, resulting in an influx of free settlers as land became available throughout the region. The first school opened in 1861, and the town became a Municipality in 1863. Development was slow until 1893 when a meatworks was established. The railway line arrived in 1897.
In January 1854, the New South Wales government proclaimed two new districts: Port Curtis (based on Gladstone) and Leichhardt (later renamed Fitzroy, based on Rockhampton).[6] This released vast amounts of good grazing land for selection. Pastoral runs were soon taken up in these areas, leading to the cutting of tracks suitable for wheeled vehicles from the commercial centres to the properties. One such track was the forerunner of the Dawson Highway, while others formed the basis of what eventually became the Bruce Highway. Until the forerunner of the Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road was built, with its four bridges, the shortest route from Gladstone to Mount Larcom was via Calliope, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) further than the current route.
Mount Larcom pastoral run was established as a sheep station in 1855,[7] and the Targinia run, in Targinnie to the east, opened in 1863 and became a fruit farm, later adding sheep to its products. After several years of armed conflict with Aboriginal people, closer settlement began in the Mount Larcom district, with the first school opening in 1882.[8] The railway line from Gladstone to Rockhampton opened in 1903, and schools were opened in Targinnie and Yarwun in 1902 and 1906 respectively.
Both before and after the arrival of the railway there was a growing demand for a more direct and more reliable road connection to Gladstone. This was eventually achieved with the opening of the initial version of the Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road.
Major intersections
editAll distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is in the Gladstone local government area.
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladstone Central | 0 | 0.0 | Dawson Highway – southwest – West Gladstone, Calliope  Glenlyon Street – southeast – South Gladstone Bramston Street – northeast – Gladstone CBD | Eastern end of Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road (State Route 58). Road runs north-west as Glenlyon Street. | |
| 0.4 | 0.25 | Roseberry Street – northeast – Gladstone CBD | Road name changes to Hanson Road | ||
| Callemondah | 3.3 | 2.1 | Blain Drive – south – West Gladstone, Dawson Highway Alf O'Rourke Drive – north – Gladstone Marina | ||
| 3.9 | 2.4 | Red Rover Road – south – Clinton, Dawson Highway | |||
| 4.6– 5.1 | 2.9– 3.2 | Power Station entry road – south – Gladstone Power Station | |||
| Yarwun | 12.3 | 7.6 | Landing Road – north – Fishermans Landing[9] | Road name changes to Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road | |
| 16.3 | 10.1 | Calliope River Road – southeast – West Stowe, Calliope, Bruce Highway Targinnie Road – north – Targinnie | |||
| Mount Larcom | 32.1 | 19.9 | Bruce Highway – northwest – Raglan, Rockhampton – southeast – Calliope, Benaraby, Miriam Vale | Western end of Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road (State Route 58). | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Gladstone to Mount Larcom" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 30 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Fitzroy district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Map of Gladstone - Mount Larcom Road". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, Rod (2000). "Manning, Henry John (Jack) (1889–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography; adb.anu.edu.au. Australia National University. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ McDonald, L: "Rockhampton – A History of City & District", page 19. Rockhampton City Council, 1976
- ^ "The late Mr. Wm. Young". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LIV, no. 12, 575. Queensland, Australia. 2 May 1898. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ "Fishermans Landing – Landing Place in Gladstone Region (entry 12533)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 February 2022.