Toowoomba–Karara Road
Toowoomba–Karara Road | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Rural road |
| Length | 82.5 km (51 mi)[1] |
| Route number(s) |
|
| Major junctions | |
| North end |  Toowoomba Athol Road Drayton |
| |
| South end |  Cunningham Highway Karara |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Cambooya, Felton, Leyburn |
Toowoomba–Karara Road is a continuous 82.5 kilometres (51.3 mi) road route in the Toowoomba and Southern Downs regions of Queensland, Australia. Most of the route is signed as State Route 48. Toowoomba–Karara Road (number 331) is a state-controlled district road.[2][3] As part of State Route 48 it provides an alternate route between Toowoomba and Inglewood. It is also part of the shortest route from Toowoomba to Texas.
Route Description
The Toowoomba–Karara Road commences as Old Wyreema Road at an intersection with the Toowoomba Athol Road in Drayton. It runs south-west, becoming Toowoomba-Karara Road as it runs between Westbrook and Finnie. It passes through Wyreema as Wyreema One Mile Road and Balgour Street before again becoming Toowoomba-Karara Road. This runs south to Cambooya, following the railway line. It passes through Cambooya as Railway Street, Quarry Street and Alfred Street before reaching an intersection with Cambooya Connection Road[a] (State Route 48). Here it turns west as William Street, soon becoming Toowoomba-Karara Road again.
The road continues south-west through Felton, Felton South, and Ellangowan before reaching Leyburn. In Felton it passes exits to Felton-Clifton Road[b] and Pittsworth-Felton Road.[c] As it enters Leyburn it passes exits to Leyburn-Cunningham Road[d] (Tourist Drive 12) and Millmerran-Leyburn Road.[e] It runs through Leyburn as Dove Street and turns south as Toowoomba-Karara Road. The road ends in Karara at an intersection with the Cunningham Highway.
Land uses along this road is primarily rural, including some areas of native vegetation.
State Route 48
State Route 48 starts as Cambooya Connection Road at an intersection with the New England Highway in Cambooya, 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) east of Cambooya village. It joins Toowoomba-Karara Road in Cambooya and follows it to Karara.
Road condition
Toowoomba–Karara Road is fully sealed. It has no incline greater than about 4%.[4]
History
Westbrook pastoral run was established in 1841,[5] and Eton Vale pastoral run was established in 1840 in what is now Cambooya.[6] Felton and Felton South were the site of an early pastoral run.[7] Ellangowan pastoral run was established in 1842,[8] and Leyburn was settled in the 1840s.[9] The first roads were cut to provide access to the pastoral runs and new settlements for wheeled vehicles.
In 1877 land was resumed from many pastoral runs to establish smaller farms. These resumptions included Westbrook (11,500 acres (4,700 ha)), Eton Vale (6,500 acres (2,600 ha)), and Felton (7,800 acres (3,200 ha)).[10] These resumptions soon led to closer settlement and a demand for better roads to enable the commercial success of the new farms.
Cambooya was connected by rail to Toowoomba in 1871, and quickly grew as a commercial centre. A post office had opened in 1869, and the first school opened in 1882. The development of new farms led to greater use of the road to Toowoomba.
The site for the town of Leyburn was surveyed in 1852. By 1861 the town had a post office and a police station, and the first school opened in 1862. Despite not having a railway connection the town grew quickly, with a hotel built in 1863, a court house in 1866 and a church in 1871. This placed great reliance on a road connection to Toowoomba. As settlement spread south from Leyburn it was inevitable that a road connection to the Cunningham Highway was established.
Major intersections
All distances are from Google Maps.
| LGA | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba | Drayton | 0 | 0.0 | Toowoomba Athol Road – west – Westbrook, Athol, Gore Highway north-east – Harristown, Toowoomba | Northern end of Toowoomba–Karara Road (no shield). Road runs south-west as Old Wyreema Road. |
| 1.7 | 1.1 | Hanrahan Road – east – Drayton | Road name changes to Toowoomba-Karara Road | ||
| Wyreema | 6.9 | 4.3 | Umbiram Road – west – Umbiram, Southbrook | Road continues through Wyreema as Balfour Street, then reverts to Toowoomba-Karara Road. | |
| Cambooya | 13.7 | 8.5 |  Cambooya Connection Road – east – New England Highway | Road runs through Cambooya as Railway Street, Quarry Street and Alfred Street. Road turns west as William Street (State Route 48) and then reverts to Toowoomba-Karara Road. | |
| Felton | 27.2– 27.5 | 16.9– 17.1 | Felton-Clifton Road – south-east – Clifton, New England Highway Pittsworth-Felton Road - west - Pittsworth, Gore Highway | ||
| Southern Downs | Leyburn | 57.6– 57.9 | 35.8– 36.0 |  Leyburn-Cunningham Road (Tourist Drive 12) – east - Old Talgai, Cunningham, Cunningham Highway Millmerran-Leyburn Road - north - Millmerran, Gore Highway | Road runs through Leyburn as Dove Street and then reverts to Toowoomba-Karara Road. |
| Karara | 82.5 | 51.3 | Cunningham Highway – north-east – Thane, Warwick – south-west – Gore, Inglewood | Southern end of Toowoomba–Karara Road (State Route 48). | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
Notes
- ^ Cambooya Connection Road is a state-controlled district road (number 3304) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs to the New England Highway.
- ^ Felton-Clifton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 330) rated LRRS. It leads to the New England Highway.
- ^ Pittsworth-Felton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 332) rated LRRS. It leads to the Gore Highway.
- ^ Leyburn-Cunningham Road is a state-controlled district road (number 3306) rated LRRS. It is part of Tourist Drive 12 and leads to the Cunningham Highway.
- ^ Millmerran-Leyburn Road is a state-controlled district road (number 335) rated LRRS. It leads to the Gore Highway.
References
- ^ "Drayton to Karara" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 30 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Darling Downs district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Map of Toowoomba - Karara Road". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Westbrook (locality) (entry 48092)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Cambooya". queenslandplaces.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ "Felton – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 49261)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Ellangowan – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 49189)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ From series of articles published under the title Queensland place names and obelisks by Sydney May (formerly Honorary Secretary of the Queensland Place Names Committee) in Local Government, June 1957 - November 1964
- ^ "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2020 – via Trove.