Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Bruce Highway (Brisbane-Rockhampton)

Bruce Highway (Brisbane-Rockhampton) was

The Bruce Highway, Queensland's most well known highway, carries the state's highest amount of traffic and links Brisbane with all the major regional centres along the Queensland coastline. The highway, constantly under change due to the strong growth along the coast is continually being shortened due to upgrades, bypasses and duplication.
Starting at the northern outskirts of Brisbane, the Bruce Highway is at motorway standard (signposted as M1) as it heads north, bypasses Caboolture and the striking Glass House Mountains before entering the Sunshine Coast hinterland with many sections of the highway passing through lush pastures and rainforests. The highway continues north, bypassing Nambour, Yandina and Cooroy before reverting back to single carriageway (signposted as A1) as it heads inland towards the main centre of Gympie. From Gympie, the highway heads north, over the Gunalda Range, through the flat, sugar cane regions of Maryborough and Bundaberg. After traversing the hilly regions between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale, the highway enters the drier, sub-tropics where it passes to the west of the industrial city of Gladstone and the striking peak of Mt Larcom before running east of the Great Dividing Range into the beef capital, Rockhampton.
From Rockhampton, the highway continues north, passing through fairly remote, arid countryside before hugging the coastline at Clairview to reach the rich sugar cane regions of Sarina and Mackay. North of Mackay, the highway passes to west of the Whitsunday region, through the town of Proserpine before reaching the coastal port town of Bowen. The highway continues north-west through a mixture of cattle farming and sugar cane districts, again passing to the east of the Great Dividing Range to reach Ayr and eventually the city of Townsville.
From Townsville, the Bruce Highway heads north into tropical North Queensland with much of the journey north through Ingham, Tully and Innisfail at the base of the mountains with the surrounding land-use dominated with sugar cane, crop growing and dairy farms. The highway continues north from Innisfail, again passing through rich, tropical pastures to reach the major tourist centre of Cairns.

The highway has had several changes over time affecting its route, with the significant alterations including the Caboolture bypass & dual carriageway (1970's), the Beerburrum, Landsborough & Nambour/Yandina bypasses & dual carriageway (1980's), the Eumundi bypass & dual carriageway (2003), the Cooroy bypass (1990's), the Gunalda Range deviation (2000), the Maryborough bypass (1980's), the Howard bypass (1970's), the Isis Hwy interchange (2005), the Wallaville bypass & Burnett River crossing (1999) and the Marlborough-Sarina deviation change (1970's).

Note: Information below relates to the southern section of the Bruce Highway (Brisbane to Rockhampton). Click here for the northern section (Rockhampton to Cairns). Motorists are also advised that the route numbering for the Bruce Highway has also recently changed from National Highway 1 to the M1/A1 (as shown above). Sections with the "M" prefix generally refer to the highway being at motorway standard, with the "A" prefix signifying normal highway conditions (single carriageway, overtaking lanes etc).

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The Bruce Highway is named after former Queensland and federal politician, Henry Adam Bruce who was Minister for Works (QLD) when the highway was named in the mid 1930's.
Start: Gateway Motorway interchange (21km north of Brisbane)
Principal Towns: Brisbane, Caboolture *, Nambour *, Yandina *, Eumundi *, Cooroy *, Gympie, Tiaro, Maryborough *, Howard *, Childers, Gin Gin, Miriam Vale, Calliope *, Mount Larcom, Rockhampton
Finish: Cairns (Southern section - Rockhampton)
Length: 1678km (overall), 613km (southern section)
Road Standard: All bitumen
Road Quality: Excellent - Highway is at motorway standard (dual carriageway) from Brisbane to Cooroy. Extra dual carriageway through parts of Gympie, the Gunalda Range deviation and the areas surrounding Rockhampton. Super-2 quality for the Maryborough & Cooroy bypasses. Frequent overtaking lanes elsewhere for the highway's entire length.
Highway generally traverses mildly undulating countryside with the only notable windy sections between Cooroy & Gympie and Gin Gin & Miriam Vale.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr Gateway Motorway-Caboolture, 110km/hr Caboolture-Cooroy, 100km/hr Cooroy-Rockhampton.
Road Continuation: Click here for the Gateway Motorway. Click here for the Bruce Highway (Rockhampton-Cairns).
* - represents towns/cities that are bypassed by the Bruce Highway

Photos from the Bruce Highway (Brisbane-Rockhampton) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking north from the Pine Rivers bridge at the start of the Bruce Hwy, Griffin (2005).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the Pine Rivers bridge and Gateway Motorway, Griffin (2005).

Looking south over the Bruce Hwy from the Brays Road overpass, Murrumba Downs (2005).

Anzac Ave, heading south-west approaching the Bruce Hwy, Mango Hill (2005).

First distance sign on the Bruce Hwy - heading north from the Anzac Ave interchange, Kallangur (2005).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Anzac Ave interchange, Mango Hill (2005).

Looking south along the Bruce Hwy where the 3-lane upgrade starts, Mango Hill (2005).

Boundary Road, looking west approaching the Bruce Hwy on-ramp, Mango Hill (2005).

Distance sign, heading north along the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the BP Service centres, Burpengary (2005).

Looking south along the Bruce Hwy approaching the Bribie Island Rd interchange, Caboolture (2005).

View south over the Bruce Hwy from the Pumicestone Rd overpass, Elimbah (2005).

The Bruce Hwy, heading south between Caloundra and Caboolture with Mt Beerburrum in the distance (2004).

Looking south on the Bruce Hwy from the Caloundra Road interchange (2004).

Heading north on Chevallum Road, approaching the Bruce Hwy, Chevallum (2005).

Heading east along the Nambour Connection Road approaching the Bruce Hwy, Woombye (2004).

View south over the Bruce Hwy from the Kiels Mountain Rd overpass, Kiels Mountain (2005).

View north over the Bruce Hwy, again from Kiels Mountain Rd, Kiels Mountain (2005).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Memorial Drive interchange, Eumundi (2004).

Distance sign, heading south on the old Bruce Hwy between Pomona and Cooroy. Note how the old Route 1 marker has been covered (2003).

The Bruce Hwy, heading east between Gympie and Cooroy - unusual for the distance sign to only reference Brisbane when its 142km away with many major towns and tourist spots in between! (2004)

The Bruce Hwy, heading north-west through Gympie (2003).

Heading north on the Bruce Highway, just outside Gympie (2004).

Looking north along the Bruce Hwy, approaching Anderleigh Road with the Gunalda Range in the background, Gunalda (2004).

Looking south along the Bruce Hwy from the Gympie Rd interchange, Maryborough (2005).

Overhead sign at the Gympie Road interchange, Maryborough (2005).

Looking south over the Bruce Highway from the Alice St interchange, Maryborough (2003).

Heading north on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Howard turnoff (2004).

Looking south-east along the Bruce Hwy between Childers and Howard (2002).

Distance sign, heading south from Childers (2007).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy through Childers (2004).

Heading north on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the southern Isis Hwy junction, Childers (2002).

Diagrammatic sign showing the northern Bruce/Isis Hwy junction, Apple Tree Creek (2004).

Looking north towards the Bruce Hwy/Isis Hwy interchange, Apple Tree Creek (2007).

Same as above but before the interchange was constructed, Apple Tree Creek (2004).

Looking south-east along the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the Isis Hwy interchange, Apple Tree Creek (2007).

Same as above but before the interchange was constructed, Apple Tree Creek (2004).

Distance sign, heading north-east on the Bruce Hwy as it heads between Childers and Gin Gin, Isis Central (2007).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy between Gin Gin and Childers, Booyal (2007).

The Bruce Highway, as it winds up the hill heading south from Gin Gin - sign has since been shifted (2002).

Looking south along the Bruce Hwy between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale (2007).

Heading north on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches Miriam Vale (2004).

Distance sign as you head north from Miriam Vale (2007).

Same as above, this time with the older sign (2002).

The Bruce Hwy, heading north through Benaraby (2004).

Looking east on the Dawson Hwy as it approaches the Bruce Hwy, Calliope (2004).

Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Port Curtis Way junction, Mt Larcom (2004).

Heading south-east from Rockhampton on the Bruce Hwy (2004).

Looking east towards the Bruce/Capricorn Hwy junction at Rockhampton (2004).

Distance sign, heading north into Rockhampton from the Capricorn Hwy junction (2004).

	Looking north from the Pine Rivers bridge at the start of the Bruce Hwy, Griffin (2005).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the Pine Rivers bridge and Gateway Motorway, Griffin (2005).
	Looking south over the Bruce Hwy from the Brays Road overpass, Murrumba Downs (2005).
	Anzac Ave, heading south-west approaching the Bruce Hwy, Mango Hill (2005).
	First distance sign on the Bruce Hwy - heading north from the Anzac Ave interchange, Kallangur (2005).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Anzac Ave interchange, Mango Hill (2005).
	Looking south along the Bruce Hwy where the 3-lane upgrade starts, Mango Hill (2005).
	Boundary Road, looking west approaching the Bruce Hwy on-ramp, Mango Hill (2005).
	Distance sign, heading north along the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the BP Service centres, Burpengary (2005).
	Looking south along the Bruce Hwy approaching the Bribie Island Rd interchange, Caboolture (2005).
	View south over the Bruce Hwy from the Pumicestone Rd overpass, Elimbah (2005).
	The Bruce Hwy, heading south between Caloundra and Caboolture with Mt Beerburrum in the distance (2004).
	Looking south on the Bruce Hwy from the Caloundra Road interchange (2004).
	Heading north on Chevallum Road, approaching the Bruce Hwy, Chevallum (2005).
	Heading east along the Nambour Connection Road approaching the Bruce Hwy, Woombye (2004).
	View south over the Bruce Hwy from the Kiels Mountain Rd overpass, Kiels Mountain (2005).
	View north over the Bruce Hwy, again from Kiels Mountain Rd, Kiels Mountain (2005).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Memorial Drive interchange, Eumundi (2004).
	Distance sign, heading south on the old Bruce Hwy between Pomona and Cooroy. Note how the old Route 1 marker has been covered (2003).
	The Bruce Hwy, heading east between Gympie and Cooroy - unusual for the distance sign to only reference Brisbane when its 142km away with many major towns and tourist spots in between! (2004)
	The Bruce Hwy, heading north-west through Gympie (2003).
	Heading north on the Bruce Highway, just outside Gympie (2004).
	Looking north along the Bruce Hwy, approaching Anderleigh Road with the Gunalda Range in the background, Gunalda (2004).
	Looking south along the Bruce Hwy from the Gympie Rd interchange, Maryborough (2005).
	Overhead sign at the Gympie Road interchange, Maryborough (2005).
	Looking south over the Bruce Highway from the Alice St interchange, Maryborough (2003).
	Heading north on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Howard turnoff (2004).
	Looking south-east along the Bruce Hwy between Childers and Howard (2002).
	Distance sign, heading south from Childers (2007).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy through Childers (2004).
	Heading north on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the southern Isis Hwy junction, Childers (2002).
	Diagrammatic sign showing the northern Bruce/Isis Hwy junction, Apple Tree Creek (2004).
	Looking north towards the Bruce Hwy/Isis Hwy interchange, Apple Tree Creek (2007).
	Same as above but before the interchange was constructed, Apple Tree Creek (2004).
	Looking south-east along the Bruce Hwy as it approaches the Isis Hwy interchange, Apple Tree Creek (2007).
	Same as above but before the interchange was constructed, Apple Tree Creek (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north-east on the Bruce Hwy as it heads between Childers and Gin Gin, Isis Central (2007).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy between Gin Gin and Childers, Booyal (2007).
	The Bruce Highway, as it winds up the hill heading south from Gin Gin - sign has since been shifted (2002).
	Looking south along the Bruce Hwy between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale (2007).
	Heading north on the Bruce Hwy as it approaches Miriam Vale (2004).
	Distance sign as you head north from Miriam Vale (2007).
	Same as above, this time with the older sign (2002).
	The Bruce Hwy, heading north through Benaraby (2004).
	Looking east on the Dawson Hwy as it approaches the Bruce Hwy, Calliope (2004).
	Heading south on the Bruce Hwy approaching the Port Curtis Way junction, Mt Larcom (2004).
	Heading south-east from Rockhampton on the Bruce Hwy (2004).
	Looking east towards the Bruce/Capricorn Hwy junction at Rockhampton (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north into Rockhampton from the Capricorn Hwy junction (2004).