Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Castlereagh Highway (QLD)

Castlereagh Highway (QLD)

The Castlereagh Highway (QLD) links south western QLD & St George with NSW and on a larger scale also forms a small leg of the Townsville-VIC/NSW inland alignment. Originally gazetted only in NSW, the Castlereagh Hwy has more recently been extended into QLD to connect to St George, rather than terminate at the NSW/QLD border. From the NSW/QLD border, the highway immediately passes through the small town of Hebel before heading north through flat, remote regions to the fringe town of Dirranbandi. The highway then heads due east following the railway line before turning at Noondoo to continue north through cattle country to the important centre of St George.

Note: Motorists following National Route 55 to be aware that some of the signposting just east of St George is inaccurate (refer to final photograph below). In addition, much of the entire length of the Castlereagh Hwy is not shown as National Route 55 thus motorists are generally advised to take note of the highway's focal points for navigational purposes.

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The Castlereagh Highway (QLD) is the continuation of its NSW counterpart, of which is named after the Castlereagh River (entire river is located in northern NSW).
Start: NSW/QLD border (4km south of Hebel)
Principal Towns: Dirranbandi, St George
Finish: Carnarvon Highway (6km east of St George)
Length: 160km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Average. No line marking between Noondoo and the Carnarvon Highway turnoff. Flat to very flat countryside, particularly south of Dirranbandi - mildly undulating elsewhere. Bitumen can be narrow at times but traffic levels are very low.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Castlereagh Highway in NSW.

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

Looking north along the Castlereagh Hwy into Queensland from the NSW/QLD border (2003).

Approaching the Goodooga turnoff along the Castlereagh Hwy, Hebel (2003).

Looking south along the Castlereagh Hwy as it enters Hebel (2003).

Heading south along the Castlereagh Hwy, about 10km from Hebel with a National Route 55 marker (2003).

New creek crossing, heading south along the Castlereagh Highway between Dirranbandi and Hebel (2003).

Heading north on the Castlereagh Highway approaching the Cunnamulla turnoff near Dirranbandi (2003).

Heading east on the Castlereagh Hwy from Dirranbandi (2003).

Approaching the Mungindi Rd turnoff at Noondoo on the Castlereagh Hwy (2003).

Heading north on the Castlereagh Highway from Noondoo (2003).

Heading south on the Castlereagh Highway from the Carnarvon Hwy (6km east of St George) (2003).

Heading south on the Carnarvon Highway approaching the Castlereagh Hwy junction, near St George. The sign should show National Route 55 heading towards Dirranbandi and National Route 46 to Mungindi (2003).

	Looking north along the Castlereagh Hwy into Queensland from the NSW/QLD border (2003).
	Approaching the Goodooga turnoff along the Castlereagh Hwy, Hebel (2003).
	Looking south along the Castlereagh Hwy as it enters Hebel (2003).
	Heading south along the Castlereagh Hwy, about 10km from Hebel with a National Route 55 marker (2003).
	New creek crossing, heading south along the Castlereagh Highway between Dirranbandi and Hebel (2003).
	Heading north on the Castlereagh Highway approaching the Cunnamulla turnoff near Dirranbandi (2003).
	Heading east on the Castlereagh Hwy from Dirranbandi (2003).
	Approaching the Mungindi Rd turnoff at Noondoo on the Castlereagh Hwy (2003).
	Heading north on the Castlereagh Highway from Noondoo (2003).
	Heading south on the Castlereagh Highway from the Carnarvon Hwy (6km east of St George) (2003).
	Heading south on the Carnarvon Highway approaching the Castlereagh Hwy junction, near St George. The sign should show National Route 55 heading towards Dirranbandi and National Route 46 to Mungindi (2003).