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Statistics:

• Length: 927 km (Pimba to Coober Pedy: 364 km)
• Northern Terminus: Northern Territory Border, 157 km northwest of Marla
• Southern Terminus: Eyre Highway, Port Augusta West
• Miscellaneous: Continues as NH87 in Northern Territory
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Port Augusta West, Pimba, Glendambo, Coober Pedy and Marla

Route Numbering:

• Current: A87

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: 01000 1

General Information:

The Stuart Highway is named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. 2

It is a rural highway, which is very isolated, and acts as part of the main road link between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

History:

• 1944: Completion of the Stuart Highway as a dirt track / gravel road as the main road link from SA to Darwin. 3
• 1978: Work to upgrade the Stuart Highway started. The conditions along the series of tracks that led from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border were so severe that work could only done between April and October each year. Survey work took five years. Conditions for the road gangs were of concern and small towns sprang up which enabled families to live together. Aboriginal advisers were consulted on where the road could cross their lands. During construction of the Stuart Highway, road gangs had semi-permanent camps at Lake Hart, Baker’s Well and Bon Bon. While the road-work moved along the highway, survey work and the search for materials and water for construction was also in progress. 4
• 1981: Stuart Highway realigned 140 km to the west of Pimba and Woomera. 5
• 24 March 1987: Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris opened the upgraded Stuart Highway. Three plaques were unveiled on a rock to commemorate the completion of the Highway. 3
• November 2013: 2 heavy vehicle parking bays constructed on the Stuart Highway north of Coober Pedy and south of Glendambo. 6

Pimba to Coober Pedy			Coober Pedy to Pimba
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Wirraminna Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Wirraminna Station at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Interesection Directional Sign: ID sign with faded remnant NH87 shields, facing Flat Hill Rd, Coober Pedy, July 2019. Image © Ben Winkler
	Eucolo Creek: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses Eucolo Ck at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Interesection Directional Sign: ID sign with faded remnant NH87 shields, facing Hutchison St, Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign approaching Lake Hart Rest Area at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Lake Hart Rest Area at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Lake Hart Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes Lake Hart Rest Area at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services distance sign at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Glendambo: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it enters the town of Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Intersection Directional Sign: Black ID sign at the junction with Glendambo Access Road at Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign with remnant NH87 shield at Glendambo, approaching Tarcoola Rd, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Tarcoola Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Tarcoola Rd at Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign with remnant NH87 shield at Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Glendambo showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Prohibited Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it enters the prohibited area at Glendambo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mount Vivian Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Mt Vivian Rd at Mount Vivian, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Bon Bon Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Bon Bon Station at Bon Bon, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Bon Bon showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Bon Bon Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Bon Bon Rd at Bon Bon, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Bon Bon Rest Area at Wilgena, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Lake Hart Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes Bon Bon Rest Area at Wilgena, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Wilgena showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Wilgena showing distance to next services, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mount Eba Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Mt Eba Station at Mount Eba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Rural Flying Doctor Service Landing Strip: Approaching a section of Stuart Hwy (A87) that doubles a landing strip for the RFS at Mt Eba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Rural Flying Doctor Service Landing Strip: A segment of Stuart Hwy (A87) that doubles a landing strip for the RFS at Mt Eba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Bulgunnia Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Bulgunnia Station at Bulgunnia, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Commonwealth Hill Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Commonwealth Hill Rd at Bulgunnia, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	McDouall Peak Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for McDouall Peak Station at McDouall Peak, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Ingomar showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Ingomar Rest Area at Ingomar, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Ingomar Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Ingomar Station at Ingomar, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Ingomar Rest Area at Ingomar, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Ingomar Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes Ingomar Area at Wirraminna, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services distance sign at Ingomar, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Prominent Hill Rd at Ingomar, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mining Machines Sign: SIgn at Ingomar indicating mining machinery may be using the highway, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mount Clarence Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Mt Clarence Station at Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Phone Service Sign: Old sign at Coober Pedy indicating range of Telstra digital phone signal, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Open Mine Shaft Warning Sign: Old open mine shaft warning sign at Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Coober Pedy Opal Field: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the boundary with Coober Pedy Opal Field, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	William Creek Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and William Ck Rd, Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourism Sign: Sign listing tourist attractions at Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Coober Pedy showing distance to next emergency phone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Bypassed Town Sign: Bypassed town sign approaching Hutchison St, Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Intersection direction sign at the intersection with Hutchison Street in Coober Pedy. November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Flathill Road Intersection: ID sign on the junction with Flathill Road in Coober Pedy. November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD as you leave Coober Pedy, November 2016. Click here for a photo of this location by Kate Pilling from August 2008. Image © Paul Rands
	Mount Willoughby Station: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the property boundary for Mt Willoughby Station at Coober Pedy, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of A87 between Coober Pedy and SA / NT Border Click here for the continuation of A87 between Port Augusta and Pimba

1 Transport SA
2 NT Government Chief Minister's Office
3 Government of South Australia
4 History Trust of South Australia
5 Government of South Australia, Outback Communities Authority, Glendambo
6 Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, New roadside facilities for truck drivers 29 Nov 2013

Last updated: 08-Jul-2020 15:00

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