Princes Highway (SA)  was previously

The Princes Highway, one of the premier highways in Australia links Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney by essentially following the coastline for its entirety. Although the highway was first proclaimed from Sydney to Melbourne, it was later extended through western Victoria and eventually to Adelaide. This page further explores the Princes Highway in South Australia.

Starting at the SA/VIC border about 20km east of Mount Gambier, the highway heads into the rich south-east of South Australia, through a mixture of sheep & dairy farmlands and pine plantations, passing through the large centre of Mount Gambier where the route number changes from A1 to B1, to reach Millicent. From Millicent, the highway heads north-west, somewhat inland through considerably drier landscapes consisting mainly of sheep and wheat pastures and re-joins the coastline when it reaches Kingston S.E. Motorists should note that for only a 16km deviation, are able to follow the coastal route (Millicent-Kingston S.E.), being the Southern Ports Highway that connects to the popular holiday towns of Beachport and Robe.

The Princes Highway continues north from Kingston S.E. and shortly after enters into the Coorong region, an unusual long and narrow stretch of water that parallels the coastline for some 100km. Despite the interesting scenery, only the small towns of Salt Creek and Policemans Point break the long journey to Meningie and further north to join the Murray River at Tailem Bend. The highway, now signposted again as the A1 (National) and upgraded to dual carriageway, continues west, following the Murray River before crossing over at the Swanport Bridge. Motorists continuing to Adelaide will now bypass the large centre of Murray Bridge and follow the South Eastern Freeway (M1) for the remaining 80km.

Although the main corridor to Adelaide from the Swanport Bridge encompasses the South Eastern Freeway and the Adelaide-Crafers Highway, signposted as the M1, the exact whereabouts and continuation of the Princes Highway seems to cause some confusion. The original route of the Princes Highway prior to the construction of the Freeway and the Swanport Bridge, continued into Murray Bridge before heading west to reach the small towns of Callington, Nairne and to the outskirts of Mount Barker. Its path through the Adelaide Hills continued west through Hahndorf, Bridgewater, Aldgate, Stirling and Crafers before winding down the hill face into Adelaide. Note that this stretch (Murray Bridge to Adelaide) currently has no route number, although part of it was originally signposted as Alt-1.

Street directories of Adelaide still show the existence of the "Princes Hwy" on the old alignment between Murray Bridge and Mount Barker, although further west as it closes towards Adelaide, the original route nowadays is shown as Mount Barker Road. To further complicate its location, street directories and signposts on South Eastern Freeway seem to indicate that the Princes Highway shares the same piece of roadway (ie exists in two places). Whether its use on the South Eastern Freeway was to simply to promote continuity with its use further east is debatable. For the sake of completion, this website is of the opinion that the Princes Highway follows the "old" alignment from Murray Bridge to Adelaide with the last few kilometres sharing the same roadway with the Adelaide-Crafers Highway (Devils Elbow - Glen Osmond).

Furthermore, some reports have demonstrated the use of Princes Highway north of Adelaide to Port Augusta. While these reports are infact incorrect, the issue was no doubt raised due to the lack of an official highway name between Adelaide and Port Augusta. Refer to the Port Wakefield Road page for more information on this stretch of road.

The highway's level of importance, from Tailem Bend to Mount Gambier has somewhat diminished over time as the Dukes/Riddoch Hwy (A8-A66) corridor has become the preferred route as it attracts significant upgrades and the standard of road is generally higher. With the introduction of the alpha-numeric route numbering in South Australia, the Princes Highway from Tailem Bend to Mount Gambier was "downgraded' to the B1 further reinforcing this matter. Having said that, the B1 section of the Princes Highway remains a good, direct option for motorists travelling from Adelaide to Mount Gambier as it offers a good level of amenities with a wider variance of scenery along its course.

State: South Australia
Name Origin: The Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne was named in 1920 to honour the Prince of Wales' (later became King Edward VIII) visit to Australia. The Melbourne-Adelaide segment was a continuation of the established name.
Pronunciation: Prin-sez Highway
Start: SA/VIC Border (16km east of Mount Gambier)
Principal Towns: Mount Gambier, Millicent, Kingston S.E., Meningie, Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge, Nairne, Mount Barker, Adelaide
Finish: Glen Osmond/Portrush/Cross Roads (Adelaide)
Length: 470km
Road Standard: All bitumen.
Road Quality: Variable. Dual carriageway along Adelaide-Crafers Highway, from Murray Bridge to Tailem Bend and from Mount Gambier to Glenburnie. Otherwise single carriageway ranging from narrow & windy (through Adelaide Hills) through to flat, open stretches from Tailem Bend to Millicent. Traffic is generally minimal along its length except around built-up areas.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr (through Adelaide Hills), elsewhere 110km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Princes Highway (VIC), Click here for the Dukes Highway in Victoria, Click here for the South Eastern Freeway, Click here for the Southern Ports Highway

Photos from the Princes Highway (SA) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

	Heading west along the Princes Highway as it enters South Australia (2006).
	Directional signs at the intersection of the Princes and Glenelg Highways, Glenburnie (2006).
	Looking east along the Princes Highway as it approaches the Glenelg Hwy junction - note the end of the dual carriageway, Glenburnie - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Looking west along the Princes Highway as it approaches Mount Gambier (2006).
	Distance sign, heading east along the Princes Highway from Mount Gambier (2006).
	Looking north towards the Riddoch and Princes Hwy junction, Mount Gambier. At this point the route numbering changes from A1 to B1 - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Directional sign, looking east towards the Princes/Riddoch Hwy junction, Mount Gambier - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	The Princes Highway, looking east as it passes through Mount Gambier (2006).
	Heading east along the Princes Highway as it approaches Mount Gambier - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Typical tourist signage, heading east along the Princes Hwy between Millicent and Mount Gambier - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Looking west along the Princes Hwy as it approaches the Southern Ports Hwy junction, Millicent - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Looking south along the Princes Highway as it approaches the northern Southern Ports Hwy junction, Kingston S.E. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Distance sign, heading north along the Princes Highway from Kingston S.E. - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	View south along the Princes Highway, Salt Creek - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Typical scenery along the Princes Highway as it passes through the Coorong - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	The Princes Highway, looking south as it passes through Meningie - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Looking south along the Princes Highway between Tailem Bend and Meningie - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Distance sign (requiring a B1 route marker), heading south along the Princes Highway from Tailem Bend (2006).
	Looking north along the Dukes Highway as it approaches the Princes Hwy junction, Tailem Bend (2006).
	Directional sign, heading south along the Princes Highway as it approaches the start of the Dukes Highway, Tailem Bend - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2001).
	Distance sign, heading north along the Princes Highway as it enters Tailem Bend. Note how route number changes back to the A1 (2006).
	The Princes Highway, heading north-west into Tailem Bend (2006).
	Directional signage, indicating the upcoming start of the South Eastern Freeway (M1), The Princes Highway heads into Murray Bridge, Swanport (2004).
	Distance sign, heading south-east along the Princes Highway from Murray Bridge - the sign requires an A1 route marker (2004).
	Looking west along the Princes Highway as it approaches the eastern B55 junction, Murray Bridge (2004).
	View north along Bridge St (Princes Hwy) as it approaches the historic brdige across the Murray River, Murray Bridge (2004).
	Looking north-west along Adelaide Road (Princes Hwy)from the Swanport Rd junction - note sign should mention the B55, not Alt-1, Murray Bridge (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north-west along Adelaide Road (Princes Hwy) in Murray Bridge - the sign should show B55, not the M1 (2004).
	Heading south-east into Murray Bridge on the Princes Highway (B55) - note the old, incorrect Alt-1 route marker (2006).
	Heading north along the Princes Hwy as it approaches Whites Hill interchange. Traffic heading straight enter the South Eastern Freeway (M1) - the Princes Highway heads to the right towards Monarto (and eventually Callington) - again note the old, incorrect Alt 1 route marker, Murray Bridge (2004).
	Heading east along the Princes Highway as it approaches Callington (2004).
	Distance sign, heading east on the Princes Highway from Nairne (2004).
	Directional signage at the Mount Barker interchange for the South Eastern Freeway (M1) - the Princes Highway heads straight on towards Nairne and Hahndorf, Mount Barker (2004).
	View eastwards along the Princes Highway as it passes through Hahndorf (2004).
	Looking east along Mount Barker Road (Princes Hwy) as it approaches the Strathalbyn turnoff, Aldgate (2004).
	Heading west along Mount Barker Road (Princes Hwy) as it passes underneath the railway, Aldgate (2004).
	Looking south-east along Mount Barker Road (Princes Hwy) in Stirling (2004).
	Looking north-west along Mount Barker Road from Druid Avenue as it approaches the South Eastern Freeway, Stirling (2004).
	Looking north-east along the Adelaide-Crafers Highway (Princes Hwy) as it approaches Devils Elbow, Mt Osmond (2004).
	The Adelaide-Crafers Highway (Princes Hwy), heading east as it begins its climb into the Adelaide Hills, Glen Osmond (2004).
	The first distance sign on the Adelaide-Crafers Highway (Princes Highway), heading north-east from Adelaide (2004).