Leichardt Highway

Leichhardt Highway - was previously

The Leichhardt Highway provides a north-south route through central and southern QLD, linking Rockhampton, Gladstone & Mackay with NSW and the southern states. The highway begins at Goondiwindi, as a continuation from the Newell Highway in NSW after crossing the QLD/NSW border. Heading north from Goondiwindi, the highway follows the A39 for 20km until it intersects with the Gore Highway. The Leichhardt Highway (now as the A5 - originally National Route 39) continues north through the remote western Darling Downs and cattle grazing regions past the intersection town of Moonie up to Miles where it meets the Warrego Highway. Heading north from Miles, the same remote cattle country is prominent as the highway bypasses Wandoan to reach the pleasant town of Taroom. Once past the Isla Gorge, the highway enters the Callide Valley, bypassing Theodore before reaching the junction town of Banana. Originally the Leichhardt Highway terminated at Banana with National Route 39 following the Dawson Highway eastward towards Gladstone. However, with the extension of the Leichhardt Hwy north in 2000 through the small communities of Wowan and Dululu, it now terminates at the Capricorn Hwy near Westwood.

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The Leichhardt Highway is named after scientist come explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who famously completed the first exploration from Brisbane to Darwin with some of the highway's corridor following his successful route. Leichhardt and his party disappeared on a later journey from Brisbane to Perth.
Start: NSW/QLD border (Goondiwindi)
Principal Towns: Goondiwindi *, Moonie, Miles, Wandoan *, Taroom, Theodore *, Banana, Wowan, Westwood
Finish: Capricorn Highway (6km west of Westwood)
Length: 597km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generally good - excellent between Goondiwindi and the Gore Hwy turnoff. Further north the highway varies from average to good - has improved with significant roadworks between Banana and Taroom. Road north of Banana is excellent. Little to no overtaking lanes although traffic levels are generally low with flat terrain encountered for most of its length.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Newell Highway in NSW.
* - denotes towns/cities bypassed by the Leichhardt Highway

Note: Photos below were generally taken prior to the change in route numbering from Route 39 to the A5.

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

Heading south on the Cunningham Highway approaching the Leichhardt Highway at Goondiwindi (2004).

Heading east along the Leichhardt Highway (Goondiwindi bypass), just north of Goondiwindi. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).

Heading north on the "old" Leichhardt Highway from Goondiwindi - this sign remains despite the Goondiwindi bypass re-routing the Leichhardt Highway - technically this section is only SR85 (2004).

The Leichhardt Highway, heading north from the Gore Highway intersection (2004).

The Moonie Crossroads roadhouse at the Leichhardt and Moonie Highway junction (2003).

Distance sign, heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from the Surat Dev Rd junction, The Gums (2006).

And again, this time heading north (2006).

Looking south along the Leichhardt Hwy as it approaches the Surat Developmental Rd junction, The Gums (2006).

Distance sign, heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from Condamine (2006).

Unusual "time" sign heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy between Miles and Condamine. For those not aware of local nicknames, "Gundy" refers to the town of Goondiwindi - hardly a place kids would be excited over (2006).

Looking south along the Leichhardt Hwy between Miles and Condamine with the standard kilometre post and trailblazer assembly (2006).

Heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from Miles (2004).

Looking west along the Warrego/Leichhardt Highway approaching the western Leichhardt Hwy junction, Miles (2004).

Heading north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Miles (2004).

Looking south along the Leichhardt Highway approaching the Jackson Rd junction, Wandoan (2004).

Looking north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Wandoan (2004).

Heading north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Wandoan, again with the combined trailblazer and kilometre post assembly (2004).

The Leichhardt Highway, heading north (10km south of Banana) - the quality of the highway before it was upgraded (1999).

Looking south along the Leichhardt Highway from Banana (2004).

Looking north along the Leichhardt Highway approaching the Dawson Highway junction, Banana (2004).

The Leichhardt/Dawson Highway as it heads north through Banana (2004).

Looking south through Banana on the Leichhardt Highway approaching the northern Dawson Hwy junction (2004).

Looking north along the Leichhardt Hwy between Banana and Wowan (2004).

Heading south on the Leichhardt Highway from Dululu - unusual for Dubbo to get a mention on this distance sign! (2004).

Heading north on the Burnett Hwy, approaching the Leichhardt Hwy junction, Dululu (2004).

	Heading south on the Cunningham Highway approaching the Leichhardt Highway at Goondiwindi (2004).
	Heading east along the Leichhardt Highway (Goondiwindi bypass), just north of Goondiwindi. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).
	Heading north on the "old" Leichhardt Highway from Goondiwindi - this sign remains despite the Goondiwindi bypass re-routing the Leichhardt Highway - technically this section is only SR85 (2004).
	The Leichhardt Highway, heading north from the Gore Highway intersection (2004).
	The Moonie Crossroads roadhouse at the Leichhardt and Moonie Highway junction (2003).
	Distance sign, heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from the Surat Dev Rd junction, The Gums (2006).
	And again, this time heading north (2006).
	Looking south along the Leichhardt Hwy as it approaches the Surat Developmental Rd junction, The Gums (2006).
	Distance sign, heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from Condamine (2006).
	Unusual "time" sign heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy between Miles and Condamine. For those not aware of local nicknames, "Gundy" refers to the town of Goondiwindi - hardly a place kids would be excited over (2006).
	Looking south along the Leichhardt Hwy between Miles and Condamine with the standard kilometre post and trailblazer assembly (2006).
	Heading south on the Leichhardt Hwy from Miles (2004).
	Looking west along the Warrego/Leichhardt Highway approaching the western Leichhardt Hwy junction, Miles (2004).
	Heading north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Miles (2004).
	Looking south along the Leichhardt Highway approaching the Jackson Rd junction, Wandoan (2004).
	Looking north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Wandoan (2004).
	Heading north on the Leichhardt Hwy from Wandoan, again with the combined trailblazer and kilometre post assembly (2004).
	The Leichhardt Highway, heading north (10km south of Banana) - the quality of the highway before it was upgraded (1999).
	Looking south along the Leichhardt Highway from Banana (2004).
	Looking north along the Leichhardt Highway approaching the Dawson Highway junction, Banana (2004).
	The Leichhardt/Dawson Highway as it heads north through Banana (2004).
	Looking south through Banana on the Leichhardt Highway approaching the northern Dawson Hwy junction (2004).
	Looking north along the Leichhardt Hwy between Banana and Wowan (2004).
	Heading south on the Leichhardt Highway from Dululu - unusual for Dubbo to get a mention on this distance sign! (2004).
	Heading north on the Burnett Hwy, approaching the Leichhardt Hwy junction, Dululu (2004).