Isisford–Blackall Road

Isisford–Blackall Road

General information
TypeRural road
Length122 km (76 mi)[1]
Major junctions
West endIsisford–Ilfracombe Road, Isisford
 
  • Isisford–Emmet Road
  • Blackall–Emmet Road
  • Blackall–Adavale Road
East end Landsborough Highway, Blackall

Isisford–Blackall Road is a continuous 122-kilometre (76 mi) road route in the Longreach and Blackall-Tambo local government areas of Queensland, Australia.[1] It is a state-controlled regional road (number 716), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[2][3]

Route description

The road commences as St Mary Street at an intersection with the Isisford–Ilfracombe Road (known as St Cyril Street) in Isisford, in the Longreach region. It runs south-east before becoming Isisford–Blackall Road as it leaves the town. It turns north-east and then south-east until it reaches an intersection with Isisford–Emmet Road, which continues south-east. The road turns north-east and continues generally east to the locality and regional boundary, where it enters the locality of Blackall, in the Blackall-Tambo region.[1]

The road turns south-east and continues in that direction, passing the exit to Blackall–Emmet Road to the south-west, until it reaches the vicinity of the former Malvernton railway station on the now abandoned railway line. It then turns north-east to the town of Blackall, passing the exit to Blackall–Adavale Road to the south before it enters as Coronation Drive and ends at an intersection with the Landsborough Highway (known as Shamrock Street).[1]

The road is two lanes wide and fully sealed.[4] A project to rehabilitate 26 kilometres (16 mi) of pavement is expected to complete in mid-2023.[5]

For travel to and from the Isisford district this road is part of the shortest route to centres along the Warrego Highway.[6]

History

The Isisford region was explored in 1846 by Major Thomas Mitchell and his party.[7] Isis Downs Station was established in 1867, named for the Isis River in England. The town was established nearby and took its name from the station.[8] The town began in 1875 and was surveyed and named in 1878.[9][10]

The Blackall region was also explored in 1846 by Thomas Mitchell.[7] In 1856, Augustus Gregory passed through the area noting that the landscape was a vast plain lacking vegetation, in contrast to Mitchell's description of good country.[11] Blackall was named by Surveyor Abraham H. May after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland.[12][13]

During the 1860s Blackall developed as a service centre for the surrounding pastoral properties. A survey of town allotments was conducted in 1868.[11] The dominant industry in the area is grazing with over 70 homesteads reported to be in the district in 2020.[14][15] A substantial number of these properties are adjacent to or accessed from Isisford–Blackall Road.[16] One such property is Athol Station, which was sold in 2018 for $23 million.[17]

Other roads

The following state-controlled district roads, each rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS), intersect with the Isisford–Blackall Road:[2][3]

  • Blackall–Adavale Road (number 7103)
  • Isisford–Emmet Road (number 7165)
  • Isisford–Ilfracombe Road (number 715)

Blackall–Adavale Road

Blackall–Adavale Road
LocationIsisford–Blackall Road, Blackall to Quilpie–Adavale Road, Adavale
Length211 km (131 mi)

This road starts at an intersection with the Isisford–Blackall Road in Blackall. It runs south-west for 211 kilometres (131 mi) to Adavale, where it becomes the Quilpie–Adavale Road.[18]

Isisford–Emmet Road

Isisford–Emmet Road
LocationIsisford–Blackall Road, Isisford to Emmet–Highlands Road, Emmet
Length47.1 km (29.3 mi)

This road starts at an intersection with the Isisford–Blackall Road in Isisford. It runs south for 47.1 kilometres (29.3 mi) to Emmet, where it becomes the Emmet–Highlands Road.[19]

Isisford–Ilfracombe Road

Isisford–Ilfracombe Road
LocationIsisford–Blackall Road, Isisford to Landsborough Highway, Ilfracombe
Length88.5 km (55.0 mi)

This road starts at an intersection with the Isisford–Blackall Road in Isisford. It runs north for 88.5 kilometres (55.0 mi) to Ilfracombe, where it ends at an intersection with the Landsborough Highway.[20]

Major intersections

All distances are from Google Maps.[1]

LGALocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
LongreachIsisford00.0Isisford–Ilfracombe Road – north-east – IlfracombeWestern end of Isisford–Blackall Road.
Road continues south-east as St Mary Street.
3.42.1Isisford–Emmet Road – south-east – EmmetRoad continues north-east.
Blackall-TamboBlackall79.249.2Blackall–Emmet Road – south-west – EmmetRoad continues south-east.
11068Blackall-Adavale Road – south – AdavaleRoad continues north-east.
12276 Landsborough Highway – north-west – Barcaldine
– south-east – Tambo.
Eastern end of Isisford–Blackall Road.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Isisford to Blackall" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Central Queensland region map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Central West district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Isisford Blackall Road". RV Trips. September 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Isisford-Blackall Road, pavement rehabilitation". 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Isisford to Charleville" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b ADB: Mitchell, Sir Thomas Livingstone (1792 – 1855) Archived 5 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-5-1
  8. ^ "Isis Downs Woolshed Complex (entry 602544)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Isisford – town (entry 44229)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  10. ^ Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. pp. 159–160. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
  11. ^ a b Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland) (2002). Heritage Trails of the Queensland Outback. State of Queensland. p. 39. ISBN 0-7345-1040-3.
  12. ^ "Blackall – town in Blackall-Tambo Region (entry 2967)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Blackall – locality in Blackall-Tambo Region (entry 47058)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Homesteads – Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Map of Blackall Jericho Road". Bonzle.com. 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Athol Station, Blackall". realestate.com.au. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Blackall to Adavale" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Isisford to Emmet" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Isisford to Ilfracombe" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 May 2023.