Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: D'Aguilar Highway

D'Aguilar Highway

The D'Aguilar Highway is an east-west highway across south-east Queensland that links Caboolture (and Brisbane) with the South Burnett region. Starting at the Bruce Highway just east of Caboolture, the D'Aguilar Highway heads west, bypassing most of Caboolture before heading into the D'Aguilar Range to reach Woodford. Continuing in a north-westerly direction from Woodford, the highway passes to the south of the prominent Glass House Mountains and north of the large Somerset Dam before reaching Kilcoy. Upon reaching the junction with the Brisbane Valley Hwy, the D'Aguilar Highway continues west, climbing the Great Dividing Range escarpment, passing through Blackbutt to eventually reach the important junction town of Yarraman. From Yarraman, the D'Aguilar Highway continues north entering the South Burnett Region, passing through Nanango before again heading west across to Kingaroy where the highway terminates. A recommended day drive from Brisbane as the highway passes through some considerable variations in scenery, land use and topography with motorists able to return to Brisbane via Toowoomba or Esk.

As shown above in the diagrams, the D'Aguilar encompasses several route numbers which are further clarified as follows-:
State Route 85: Bruce Highway/Caboolture - Brisbane Valley Highway Junction (24km west of Kilcoy)
National Route 17: Brisbane Valley Highway junction - Yarraman
National Route A3: Yarraman - Nanango
State Route 96: Nanango - Kingaroy

It is highly unusual for a highway in Australia to have such variations in route numbers. With parts of the journey displaying incorrect signage, motorists are advised to take note of the principal towns along the highway (see below).

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The D'Aguilar Highway takes its name as it passes through the D'Aguilar Range, of which was named by explorer/surveyor Sir Thomas Mitchell.
Start: Bruce Highway (2km east of Caboolture)
Principal Towns: Caboolture, Woodford, Kilcoy, Blackbutt, Yarraman, Nanango, Kingaroy
Finish: Bunya Highway (Kingaroy)
Length: 164km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generally very good. Occasional overtaking lanes throughout its length. Some windy & steep sections between Kilcoy and Blackbutt. Traffic levels reasonably high between Caboolture and Woodford.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr

Photos from the D'Aguilar Highway (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Heading south along the Bruce Highway as it approaches the D'Aguilar Hwy exit, Caboolture (2005).

First distance sign on the D'Aguilar Highway - heading west from the Bruce Hwy, Caboolture (2005).

Looking west along King Street, Caboolture. Note the Route 85 marker indicating the original route of the D'Aguilar Hwy (this section is now bypassed) (2005).

View west over the D'Aguilar Hwy (Caboolture Northern Bypass) and D'Aguilar Range from the Smiths Rd overpass, Caboolture (2005).

Distance sign, looking west along the D'Aguilar Hwy (Caboolture Northern Bypass) (2004).

Heading south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy approaching Mt Mee Road, D'Aguilar (2004).

Distance sign, heading south-east along the D'Aguilar near Woodford (2004).

Heading south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Kilcoy-Beerway Road junction, Woodford (2004).

Looking east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Somerset Dam turnoff near Kilcoy (2004).

Distance sign, heading north-west from the Somerset Dam turnoff along the D'Aguilar Hwy, Kilcoy (2004).

Looking north-west along the D'Aguilar Hwy from the Brisbane Valley Hwy junction. Note the change in route number (2004).

Looking east along the D'Aguilar Hwy into Blackbutt with a National Route 17 marker in the foreground (2004).

Looking north along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the New England Hwy junction, Yarraman (2004).

Looking south along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the New England Hwy junction, Yarraman. Sign has since been replaced (2004).

View north along the D'Aguilar Hwy between Yarraman and Nanango (2006).

Looking north along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Tarong turnoff near Nanango. Note the change in route number (2006).

Looking south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it departs Kingaroy (2003).

	Heading south along the Bruce Highway as it approaches the D'Aguilar Hwy exit, Caboolture (2005).
	First distance sign on the D'Aguilar Highway - heading west from the Bruce Hwy, Caboolture (2005).
	Looking west along King Street, Caboolture. Note the Route 85 marker indicating the original route of the D'Aguilar Hwy (this section is now bypassed) (2005).
	View west over the D'Aguilar Hwy (Caboolture Northern Bypass) and D'Aguilar Range from the Smiths Rd overpass, Caboolture (2005).
	Distance sign, looking west along the D'Aguilar Hwy (Caboolture Northern Bypass) (2004).
	Heading south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy approaching Mt Mee Road, D'Aguilar (2004).
	Distance sign, heading south-east along the D'Aguilar near Woodford (2004).
	Heading south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Kilcoy-Beerway Road junction, Woodford (2004).
	Looking east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Somerset Dam turnoff near Kilcoy (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north-west from the Somerset Dam turnoff along the D'Aguilar Hwy, Kilcoy (2004).
	Looking north-west along the D'Aguilar Hwy from the Brisbane Valley Hwy junction. Note the change in route number (2004).
	Looking east along the D'Aguilar Hwy into Blackbutt with a National Route 17 marker in the foreground (2004).
	Looking north along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the New England Hwy junction, Yarraman (2004).
	Looking south along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the New England Hwy junction, Yarraman. Sign has since been replaced (2004).
	View north along the D'Aguilar Hwy between Yarraman and Nanango (2006).
	Looking north along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it approaches the Tarong turnoff near Nanango. Note the change in route number (2006).
	Looking south-east along the D'Aguilar Hwy as it departs Kingaroy (2003).