Statistics:
- Length:
- 929 km
- Termini:
- Northern: NT-SA Border, Ayers Range South
- Southern: Eyre Highway (A1), Port Augusta West
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A87 in Northern Territory
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Port Augusta West, Carriewerloo, Kootaberra, Oakden Hills, Arcoona, Pimba, Wirraminna, Glendambo, Bon Bon, Wilgena, Mount Eba, Bulgunnia, Ingomar, Coober Pedy, Mount Willoughby, Wintinna, Marla, Welbourn Hill, De Rose Hill and Ayers Range South
Route Numbering:
- Current: A87
- Former: A87 87
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 01000
General Information:
The Stuart Highway is named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. 2
It is a rural highway, which is very isolated, and acts as part of the main road link between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.
History:
- 1944: Completion of the Stuart Highway as a dirt track / gravel road as the main road link from SA to Darwin. 3
- 1978: Work to upgrade the Stuart Highway started. The conditions along the series of tracks that led from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border were so severe that work could only done between April and October each year. Survey work took five years. Conditions for the road gangs were of concern and small towns sprang up which enabled families to live together. Aboriginal advisers were consulted on where the road could cross their lands. During construction of the Stuart Highway, road gangs had semi-permanent camps at Lake Hart, Baker's Well and Bon Bon. While the road-work moved along the highway, survey work and the search for materials and water for construction was also in progress. 4
- 1981: Stuart Highway west of Pimba realigned to bypass Kingoonya. 5
- 24 March 1987: Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris opened the upgraded Stuart Highway. Three plaques were unveiled on a rock to commemorate the completion of the Highway. 3
- November 2013: 2 heavy vehicle parking bays constructed on the Stuart Highway north of Coober Pedy and south of Glendambo. 6
1 SA Government, Location SA Map Viewer.
2 NT Government, Chief Minister's Office.
3 SA Government.
4 SA Government, History Trust of South Australia.
5 SA Government, Outback Communities Authority, Glendambo.
6 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, New roadside facilities for truck drivers, 29 Nov 2013.