Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Burnett Highway

Burnett Highway - was previously

The Burnett Highway, one of QLD's great inland highways, starts at the heart of the South Burnett region at Nanango, then heads due north through rich agricultural districts to Goomeri. From there, the highway heads north west, passing cattle properties, fruit groves and through semi mountainous regions of Gayndah and Monto, before winding down into the Callide Valley into the prosperous town of Biloela. Heading north from Biloela, the landscape again opens up to more cattle farming and crop growing before ascending into the eastern Great Dividing Range where you reach the old mining town of Mount Morgan. The highway then drops down the escarpment where it joins the Bruce Hwy and finally into Rockhampton.

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The Burnett Hwy takes its name from the Burnett River of which it generally follows for a significant length. The highway also passes through the North and South Burnett regions, which are also named after the river. The name Burnett originates from surveyor James Burnett who established the survey department in Brisbane in 1844.
Pronunciation: Ber-net Highway
Start: D'Aguilar Highway (Nanango)
Principal Towns: Nanango, Goomeri, Gayndah, Mundubbera *, Eidsvold, Monto, Biloela, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton
Finish: Bruce Highway (7km south of Rockhampton)
Length: 567km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generally good. Much of the southern part of the highway has been upgraded in the last 5 years (replaced many sections of single laned bitumen). Sparsely placed overtaking lanes for its entire length but traffic levels are quite low.
Speed Limit: 80km/hr on the ascend/descend between Gayndah and Mundubbera, 60km/hr on the Mt Morgan Range ascend/descend, otherwise 100km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the D'Aguilar Highway. Click here for the Bruce Highway.
* - denotes towns/cities bypassed by the Burnett Highway

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

First distance sign on the Burnett Highway as it heads north from Nanango (2006).

The Burnett Highway, heading south between Goomeri and Nanango (2002).

Looking north at Goomeri where the Burnett Hwy heads left, and Wide Bay Hwy heads right (2004).

Looking north on the Burnett Hwy from Goomeri (2003).

Distance sign, heading south along the Burnett Hwy from Ban Ban Springs (2008).

Heading south on the Burnett Highway, approaching the Isis Hwy junction, Ban Ban Springs (2004).

Distance sign, heading north on the Burnett Hwy from Ban Ban Springs (2008).

Heading east on the Burnett Hwy between Gaynday and Ban Ban Springs (2004).

Looking east along the Burnett Highway through general countryside between Gayndah and Ban Ban Springs (2008).

Distance sign, heading east along the Burnett Hwy from Gayndah (2008).

Unusual directional sign, looking west along the Burnett Hwy in Gayndah (2008).

Bridge Street (Burnett Hwy), heading south as it crosses the Burnett River, Gayndah (2008).

Distance sign, heading west on the Burnett Hwy from Gayndah (2008).

General countryside along the Burnett Hwy, heading west between Gayndah and Mundubbera (2008).

Heading east on the Burnett Hwy from the Mundubbera turn-off (2004).

Heading south on the Burnett Hwy approaching the Mundubbera turnoff (2004).

Distance sign, heading north along the Burnett Hwy from Mundubbera (2008).

Looking south on the Burnett Highway as it passes through Eidsvold (2004).

Burnett Highway junction, heading south from Monto (2004).

Old distance sign, heading north on the Burnett Hwy from Thangool (2004).

The Burnett Highway, heading south from Biloela (2004).

Heading east along the joined Burnett and Dawson Highways at Biloela (2004).

Heading north on the Burnett Hwy, approaching the Leichardt Highway junction (which way to Rockhampton?), Dululu (2004).

Heading south on the Burnett Highway from Dululu (unusual for Tamworth to be a target city at this distance!) (2004).

Approaching Dululu from the north on the Burnett Hwy (2004).

The Burnett Hwy, heading south from the Bruce Hwy junction, just outside of Rockhampton. The Great Dividing Range can be seen in the distance (2004).

	First distance sign on the Burnett Highway as it heads north from Nanango (2006).
	The Burnett Highway, heading south between Goomeri and Nanango (2002).
	Looking north at Goomeri where the Burnett Hwy heads left, and Wide Bay Hwy heads right (2004).
	Looking north on the Burnett Hwy from Goomeri (2003).
	Distance sign, heading south along the Burnett Hwy from Ban Ban Springs (2008).
	Heading south on the Burnett Highway, approaching the Isis Hwy junction, Ban Ban Springs (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north on the Burnett Hwy from Ban Ban Springs (2008).
	Heading east on the Burnett Hwy between Gaynday and Ban Ban Springs (2004).
	Looking east along the Burnett Highway through general countryside between Gayndah and Ban Ban Springs (2008).
	Distance sign, heading east along the Burnett Hwy from Gayndah (2008).
	Unusual directional sign, looking west along the Burnett Hwy in Gayndah (2008).
	Bridge Street (Burnett Hwy), heading south as it crosses the Burnett River, Gayndah (2008).
	Distance sign, heading west on the Burnett Hwy from Gayndah (2008).
	General countryside along the Burnett Hwy, heading west between Gayndah and Mundubbera (2008).
	Heading east on the Burnett Hwy from the Mundubbera turn-off (2004).
	Heading south on the Burnett Hwy approaching the Mundubbera turnoff (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north along the Burnett Hwy from Mundubbera (2008).
	Looking south on the Burnett Highway as it passes through Eidsvold (2004).
	Burnett Highway junction, heading south from Monto (2004).
	Old distance sign, heading north on the Burnett Hwy from Thangool (2004).
	The Burnett Highway, heading south from Biloela (2004).
	Heading east along the joined Burnett and Dawson Highways at Biloela (2004).
	Heading north on the Burnett Hwy, approaching the Leichardt Highway junction (which way to Rockhampton?), Dululu (2004).
	Heading south on the Burnett Highway from Dululu (unusual for Tamworth to be a target city at this distance!) (2004).
	Approaching Dululu from the north on the Burnett Hwy (2004).
	The Burnett Hwy, heading south from the Bruce Hwy junction, just outside of Rockhampton. The Great Dividing Range can be seen in the distance (2004).