Anne Beadell Highway

Anne Beadell Highway Western Australia, South Australia
Anne Beadell Highway in South Australia. Heavy rain has washed out corrugations
Length	1340 km (833 mi)
Direction	West-East
From	Leonora-Laverton Road, Laverton (28°37′S 122°24′E)
To	Stuart Highway, Coober Pedy (28°56′S 134°45′E)
Region	Goldfields-Esperance
Permits	1 to 4 required
Fuel supply	Ilkurlka (28°21′S 127°31′E)
Facilities	Ilkurlka (28°21′S 127°31′E)

The Anne Beadell Highway is an outback unsealed track linking Coober Pedy, South Australia, and Laverton, Western Australia. The track was surveyed and built by Len Beadell, Australian surveyor, who named it after his wife.

Overview

Its total length is about 1,340 km (830 mi). The track passes through very remote arid deserts, which often have summer temperatures of 50°C, and scrub territory in Western Australia. Red sand dunes predominate for a major part of the track.

Fuel and supplies

The track is suitable for only well provisioned and experienced four wheel drivers. There are no settlements between Coober Pedy and Laverton. A roadhouse named Ilkurlka in Western Australia, opened in 2003, 165 km (103 mi) west of the South Australia border at the intersection of the Madura Loongana Track (Aboriginal Business Road) and the Anne Beadell Highway. The roadhouse caters mainly for local Aboriginal communities and may be the most isolated roadhouse in Australia. There are still no provisions for the 750 km (470 mi) between Ilkurlka and Coober Pedy.

Places of interest

Neale Junction is 172 km (107 mi) west of Ilkurlka, which is where the Anne Beadell Highway intersects with the Connie Sue Highway, another outback track constructed by Len Beadell.

This plane wreck provides a sudden change in scenery on an isolated road (28°16′24.38″S 126°58′17.72″E)

The track passes through the former British atomic test site of Emu Field, rabbit and dog fences, restricted nature conservation areas, and Aboriginal lands, all of which require permits to pass through. Permits are available from the Department of Indigenous Affairs and are free.

Also of interest is the wreck of a light aircraft near the track in Western Australia. The road also passes through Mamungari Conservation Park, one of Australia's twelve World Biosphere Reserves that contain pristine arid zone wilderness and possess cultural significance.

Conditions

Because the track is remote and not signposted, GPS is advisable and HF radio or satellite phone are recommended. In good conditions, it may take 5 days to complete the journey. However, hazards such as flat tyres, breakdowns, and the occasional flash floods must be taken into account.

See also

• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in South Australia
• List of highways in Western Australia

References

• Hema Maps Australia's great desert tracks. Eight Mile Plains, Qld. : Hema Maps, 2005. 3rd ed. Scale 1:1,250 000 ; Lambert conformal conic proj. (E 119°00'--E 129°20'/S 024°35'--S 032°30') ISBN 1865001619

External links

• Anne Beadell Highway (ExplorOz) ExplorOZ web page on Anne Beadell Hwy.
• Australia's Biosphere Reserves