State Route 40 Brookton Highway

ID sign at the junction of Brookton Highway & Westdale Road, Westdale. Photo taken: December 2010.

Introduced: 1986

Length: 501km

Eastern Terminus: South Coast Highway & Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road, 3km west of Ravensthorpe

Western Terminus: Albany Highway & Brookton Highway, Kelmscott

Route taken: Brookton Highway (includes Brookton-Corrigin Road, Kunjin Street, Corrigin-Kondinin Road, Graham Street, Nichol Street, Kondin-Hyden Road, Marshall Street, Hyden-Lake King Road, Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road)

Focal Points: Perth, Brookton, Corrigin, Kondinin, Hyden, Lake King, Ravensthorpe

Main Roads Act 1930 classification: H52 Brookton Highway

Notable Events:

April 1986 - State Route 40 introduced¹

Description:

State Route 40 is a significant radial route, linking Perth with the southern Wheatbelt and the south east at Ravensthorpe. As the shortest route between Perth and Esperance, State Route 40 is a popular tourist route, also serving the tourist attraction of Wave Rock. Extensive upgrades since the late 1990s have increased the popularity of the route for heavy vehicles, as well as continuing shift away from rail transport for grain.

State Route 40 commences at a signalised junction with Albany Highway in suburban Kelmscott. After a short distance, the route crosses the Canning River and then begins the climb up the Darling Scarp via Slab Gully and Roleystone. The top of the Scarp is reached shortly before the locality of Karragullen, where State Route 41 (Canning Road) junctions from the north. This westernmost 12km of the route is of less importance as many heavy vehicles leave the highway at Canning Road, bound for the Welshpool/Kewdale areas and for light vehicles it can also be a significantly quicker journey into Perth via Welshpool Road East.

The next 100km from Karragullen to Brookton can best be described as uneventful. The highway winds its way through the heavily forested water catchment area for just over 50km, before emerging into rolling farmland near Westdale. The Beverley turnoff is passed at 100km/h before the highway winds its way through undulating farmland to Brookton. A number of sharp bends have been realigned (e.g. at Westdale) and vertical crests removed in recent years along this section. The saving grace of this rather uninspiring drive is that the recent upgrades and relatively low traffic volumes mean that you can generally sit on 110km/h.

East of Brookton, the remainder of the route is sealed two-lane highway of varying widths. The countryside ranges from rolling farmland, particularly in the west, to low-lying, mostly-dry salt pans. The small townships of Corrigin, Kondinin, Hyden and Lake King are located at fairly regular intervals so it isn't exactly a remote drive. That said, Lake King consists only of two service stations, a tavern and a handful of houses.

History:

Coming soon...

What's in a name?

Some roads in Western Australia have a name for addressing purposes and a different name when classified under the Main Roads Act 1930. The Brookton Highway is one of these. The Main Roads Act classifies the entire route from Kelmscott to Ravensthorpe as the Brookton Highway (Highway No. 52). However, only the Kelmscott to Brookton section is named as Brookton Highway for addressing purposes. The remainder of the route includes Brookton-Corrigin Road, Kunjin Street, Corrigin-Kondinin Road, Graham Street, Nichol Street, Kondin-Hyden Road, Marshall Street, Hyden-Lake King Road, and Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road. The limited road name signage between Brookton and Ravensthorpe seems rather confused - several newer signs refer to Brookton Highway with others referring to the local name.

For the purpose of captioning the images below, I have used the Brookton Highway name.

References:

1. Main Roads Department, Annual Report 1985/86, p. 16

• Photos: Kelmscott to Corrigin
• Photos: Corrigin to Ravensthorpe

	AD sign southbound on Albany Highway approaching Brookton Highway at Kelmscott. There are no AD signs or trailblazers for northbound traffic on approach to this intersection. Photo taken: November 2010.
	ID sign assemblies at the intersection of Albany Highway & Brookton Highway, Kelmscott. Photo taken: May 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Albany Highway (SR30). There is no 'END SR40' sign to denote the end of the route, nor an RD sign for eastbound traffic. Photo taken: November 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking west near Hill Street, Mount Nasura, 1.2km east of Albany Highway. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west across the Canning River at Kelmscott. The previous timber bridge at this location was destroyed during the February 2011 bushfires and a temporary embankment was constructed in order to re-open the road as soon as possible. Main Roads are currently designing a permanent replacement structure. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east as you begin the climb up the Darling Scarp at Mount Street, Kelmscott. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east at Keays Road, Kelmscott. Photo taken: July 2011.
	State Route 40 trailblazer facing eastbound traffic as you climb towards Roleystone, 4km east of Albany Highway. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Eastbound and westbound direction sign assemblies at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Croyden Road (TD205), Roleystone. Top photo: July 2011. Bottom photo: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west as eastbound traffic climbs towards Holden Road, Roleystone. This is the only overtaking lane for traffic climbing the scarp. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Kilometre plate showing 105km to Brookton, looking east at Holden Road, Roleystone. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Kilometre plate showing 35km to Perth, westbound at Gilmour Road, Roleystone. Note the steep descent warning signs in the background. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Sign instructing westbound trucks to engage low gear as you begin to descend the Darling Scarp near Eugene Place, Roleystone. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west near Chevin Road, Roleystone, showing warning of the upcoming descent down the scarp. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west as you cross Stinton Creek at Karragullen, 12km east of Kelmscott. Note that there is no RD sign for westbound traffic at this location. Photo taken: May 2011.
	AD sign and trailblazer assembly eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Canning Road (SR41) at Karragullen. Photos taken: May 2011.
	ID sign facing southbound traffic at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Canning Road (SR41), Karragullen. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Old black fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Canning Road (SR41), Karragullen. Note that Perth is signposted via Kelmscott, despite the route via Lesmurdie being shorter. Photo taken: May 2011.
	Old AD sign, new AD sign and trailblazer assembly southbound on Canning Road (SR41) approaching Brookton Highway at Karragullen. This a rare example where both an AD sign and an 'END' trailblazer are provided at the end of a route. Top & bottom photos: May 2011. Middle photo: July 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Canning Road (SR41) at Karragullen. Note how Perth is not signed via SR41 despite this being the favoured truck route and also the shortest route. Photo taken: December 2010.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway after the Canning Road (SR41) junction at Karragullen. Beverley is not located on the route, but can be reached via Westdale Road which branches off midway to Brookton. Photo taken: November 2011.
	Service sign advising motorists that there are no service stations before you reach Brookton or Beverley. The Rock Inne Tavern on the right is also the last stop for refreshments before Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west towards Kangaroo Gully as you pass through the forests, 16km east of Kelmscott. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east near Kangaroo Gully, showing kilometre plate and typical terrain in this area. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east through the catchment area at Warrahdale Road, 55km east of Kelmscott. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east as you emerge from the forested catchment area into rolling farmland, 58km east of Kelmscott. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west near Collins Road, approximately 62km east of Kelmscott. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway at Westdale. This is a recent replacement of a black sign. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway, approaching the junction with Westdale Road at Westdale. Note the incorrect use of a black-on-white distance plate - it should be white-on-green. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign on Westdale Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. This short section of Westdale Road was formerly part of the Brookton Highway prior to the present alignment being constructed to ease the curve and provide a safer junction. Photo taken: December 2010.
	New ID sign at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Westdale Road, Westdale. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Westdale Road, Westdale. Note the incorrect supplementary plate - it should be white-on-green. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Poorly-designed RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway at Westdale. Note the omission of reference to SR40. Photo taken: December 2010.
	'P100' kilometre plate facing westbound traffic through a curving section of Brookton Highway, 37km west of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west near Sherlock Creek, 33km west of Brookton. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking east, showing the typical undulating and curving road, 25km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east as you approach the junction with York - Williams Road, 19km west of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east at a recently realigned section, 12km west of Brookton. Photos taken: April 2011.
	Westbound RD sign on Brookton Highway at the western edge of Brookton townsite. Photos taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking east into Brookton. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Williams Street (SR120) at Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Williams Street approaching the junction with Brookton Highway at Brookton. State Routes 40 and 120 duplex for 2km eastwards from this junction. Note the black supplementary plate which was not replaced when the main sign was. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking east through the junction with Williams Street at Brookton. Note how the sign designer has tried to line up the focal points and route markers but has matched them incorrectly. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Williams Street at Brookton. Note the absence of a panel showing the through destinations, despite the importance of the junction. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Tourist Way 356 trailblazer eastbound on Brookton Highway, 2km east of Brookton town centre. TW356 follows SR120 between Cranbrook and Beverley, however is poorly signed. Note that at the previous junction, there was no mention of TW356! Photo taken: March 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Northam-Cranbrook Road (Great Southern Highway), 2km east of Brookton town centre. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Northam-Cranbrook Road (Great Southern Highway), 2km east of Brookton town centre. Note there is no mention of TW356, which turns left at this junction. There is also no mention of Hyden, which was shown on signs at the intersection in Brookton! Photo taken: December 2010.
	Sign assembly facing eastbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Northam-Cranbrook Road (Great Southern Highway), 2km east of Brooktown town centre. Note there is no mention of TW356, which turns left at this junction. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Poorly designed AD sign southbound on Northam-Cranbrook Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. Note there is no mention of TW356, which turns right at this junction. Photo taken: December 2010.
	ID sign facing southbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Northam-Cranbrook Road. Note there is no mention of Pingelly nor SR120, both of which were included on the AD sign! Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Northam-Cranbrook Road, 2km east of Brookton town centre. Photo taken: December 2010.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway, east of Brookton. The black SR40 topknot dates from 1986, when the State Route system was first signposted. When this sign was replaced, Main Roads did a very poor job - the route marker should have been included within the main sign and Hyden added to the sign, as it shown on previous signs. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway (Brookton-Corrigin Road) looking west through a winding section of road, 5km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west, 11km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking southeast at Fulwood Road, 14km east of Brookton. This intersection is typical of many along the route as it follows property boundaries. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west at the small bridge over Nalyaring Gully, 20km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west at Moeser Road, 21km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east near Mills Road, 27km east of Brookton. Note the old road formation which continues straight - this section of road was realigned to provide a 110km/h curve instead of the previous low-speed corner and triangular junction. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking north towards the intersection with Mills Road. You can see the old highway alignment continuing straight, with the unsealed Mills Road in the background. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking south towards Aldersyde North Road, 30km east of Brookton. This intersection was recently realigned in conjunction with the work undertaken at Mills Road - the clump of trees illustrates the location of the old curve. Photo taken: December 2010.
	RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Photo taken: December 2010.
	ID sign at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Aldersyde North Road. There are no ID signs for traffic turning towards Pingelly, which is pretty standard in rural WA. Photo taken: December 2010.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Photo taken: December 2010.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Aldersyde North Road. Photo taken: December 2010.
	Brookton Highway looking west at Sudholz Road, 33km east of Brookton. Note the edge reseal - this pavement is narrower than many other sections of the highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	SR40 trailblazer looking west, 39km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway as you leave the triangular junction with Bulyee-Quaraiding Road at Bulyee, 51km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east to the triangular junction with Bulyee-Quaraiding Road at Bulyee. This type of junction is fairly common in rural WA as roads zig-zag along property boundaries. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign facing eastbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Bulyee-Quaraiding Road, Bulyee. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Dodgy AD sign facing southbound traffic on Bulyee-Quaraiding Road at the junction with Brookton Highway. Note the incorrect omission of a SR40 shield. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Bulyee-Quaraiding Road, Bulyee. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign southbound on Brookton Highway at Bulyee. Brookton Highway turns south briefly before recommencing its east-west route. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south as the highway curves to the east at the junction with Bulyee Road, Bulyee. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west as the highway curves to the north at the junction with Bulyee Road, Bulyee. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west through an undulating and curving section of the route, 66km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	SR40 trailblazer on Brookton Highway looking east approximately 66km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Tourist signs for Kunjin Animal Farm, looking east on Brookton Highway at the junction with Hewett Road, 76km east of Brookton. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Wickepin-Corrigin Road, 12km west of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Wickepin-Corrigin Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Wickepin-Corrigin Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway, 12km west of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	ID sign facing northbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Wickepin-Corrigin Road. Note the lack if ID signs pointing down the side road - this is typical of signposting in rural WA. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway at the junction with Wickepin-Corrigin Road, 12km west of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Corrigin-Quaraiding Road & Rabbit Proof Fence Road, 7km west of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Corrigin-Quaraiding Road & Rabbit Proof Fence Road, 7km west of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Unusual warning sign northbound on Rabbit Proof Fence Road, emphasising the need to give way at the junction with Brookton Highway. Note the reference to Brookton Corrigin Road rather than Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Dodgy AD sign northbound on Rabbit Proof Fence Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. Not sure what's going on there with the oversize arrows and missing panel borders! Photo taken: April 2011.
	Similarly dodgy AD sign southbound on Corrigin-Quaraiding Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Corrigin-Quaraiding Road & Rabbit Proof Fence Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Corrigin Quaraiding Road & Rabbit Proof Fence Road. Note the absence of any additional focal points - this is a constant problem in rural WA. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east at the level crossing of the Narrogin - Corrigin - Merredin railway line on the western edge of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Kunjin Street) looking east across Walton Street, Corrigin. The town centre is located a couple of blocks north of the highway as the blue sign illustrates. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Kunjin Street) looking west near Larke Crescent, Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Dodgy AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Bruce Rock-Corrigin Road on the eastern outskirts of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	New RD sign southbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Corrigin. Note the topknot - when the older black direction sign was replaced, they should have incorporated the route marker into the main sign instead of also replacing the topknot. Photo taken: April 2011.

	Brookton Highway looking southeast, 3km east of Corrigin/45km west of Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Recently built section of Brookton Highway at Gorge Rock, looking east. The large mound of earth to the left marks the path of the original road, which took an unnecessary bulge to the east in its route. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Corrigin-Kulin Road, 23km east of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Corrigin-Kulin Road, 23km east of Corrigin. This junction was to have been the northern terminus of a State Route extending southwards to Albany via Lake Grace, however this route was never signed. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Corrigin-Kulin Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Corrigin-Kulin Road. This section of the route has been recently reconstructed with a wider pavement and improved shoulders. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Corrigin-Kulin Road, 23km east of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Reconstruction work underway on Brookton Highway, 30km east of Corrigin, looking west. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east near Koorikin Rock, where the route crosses a number of shallow, mainly dry lakes, 36km east of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west, 40km east of Corrigin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Kondinin-Narembeen Road, 4km north of Kondinin. This junction was a typical triangular junction which has recently been reconstructed to a safer T-junction layout. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Typical rural fingerboard signs at the intersection of Brookton Highway & Kondinin-Narembeen Road, 4km north of Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	A northbound view along Brookton Highway showing the layout of the junction with Kondinin-Narembeen Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Kondinin. Not sure what is going on with this sign - Narembeen is not left aligned properly and the '273' is clearly oversized. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Graham Street) looking south through Kondinin. Note the Golden Fleece branded service station - one of only two that I know of in Australia (the other is in Merriwa, NSW). Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Graham Street) looking south towards the junction with Nicholl Street. Brookton Highway makes a left turn here - the road straight ahead becomes the Narrogin-Kondinin Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD signs facing southbound traffic approaching the TOTSO (Turn Off To Stay On) at Graham & Nicholls Street in Kondinin. Note the reference to Wave Rock - this attraction is the reason for most of the tourist traffic along this route. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Nicholl Street) looking west at the junction with Graham Street, Kondinin. Note the reference to Perth, rather than Corrigin, and the rare Brookton Highway nameplate. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Narrogin-Kondinin Road (Graham Street) approaching the junction with Brookton Highway (Nicholl Street) at Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway (Nicholl Street) approaching Graham Street, Kondinin. Note the supplementary plate directing traffic towards Perth - the lack of remote focal points along this route doesn't help tourists trying to reach Wave Rock or Esperance. Photo taken: April 2011.
	New RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Kondinin. Again note the absence of any other focal points - particularly the lack of reference to Esperance which is a major tourist destination reached via this route. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east through a curving and undulating section of the route, at Sloan Road, 4km east of Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east, 5km east of Kondinin. The track continuing straight into the distance would have once been part of the Kondinin Hyden Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east along the long, straight road, 13km east of Kondinin. The 'P' signs are ubiquitous in rural WA, marking out safe areas for vehicles to park off the road for a rest. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east near Karlgarin Hill, 27km east of Kondinin, with the low ranges south of Kondinin in the distance. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east across a low-lying area, 30km east of Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	A westerly view across the same floodway showing the mostly dry salt lake and the unusual railing to the left of the carriageway, 32km east of Kondinin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Dodgy RD sign westbound on Brookton Highway at Karlgarin - note the absence of any reference to SR40 or any subsequent focal points. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway, approaching the junction with Swan Street at Karlgarin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west near Melba Street at Karlgarin. The tiny townsite is located to the left of the grain bins, behind the trees. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Brookton Highway approaching Melba Street, Karlgarin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Karlgarin. Photo taken: April 2011.
	State Route 40 traillblazer on Brookton Highway eastbound, 6km west of Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Service signage eastbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with McLennan Road, 5km west of Hyden. Note that 'Varley' has been covered over now that fuel is no longer available. Photos taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking east into Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Marshall Street) looking east at the McPherson Street junction in Hyden. There isn't really a 'town centre' in Hyden, but the Post Office is located on McPherson Street whilst the pub is a bit further east on Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway (Marshall Street) looking west from the Wave Rock Hotel at Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking west towards the junction with Lovering Road, 2km east of Hyden, showing signage for the Wave Rock turnoff. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Service signage eastbound on Brookton Highway, east of the Wave Rock turnoff, showing that fuel is no longer available in Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Hyden-Norseman Road, 3km east of Hyden. Brookton Highway turns right here, heading southeast through the eastern edge of the Wheatbelt towards Lake King. Note that 'East Hyden' is shown as the focal point for straight ahead traffic to avoid directing unsuspecting motorists along the 260km long unsealed route to Norseman. Photo taken: April 2011.
	SR40 trailblazer facing westbound traffic at the junction of Brookton Highway & Hyden-Norseman Road, 3km east of Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Hyden-Norseman Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway, 3km east of Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	There's no proper RD sign, just this SR40 trailblazer as you head south from the junction with Hyden-Norseman Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking northwest towards the junction with Hyden-Norseman Road. There is no AD sign on this approach and no other indication that SR40 turns left, other than if you spot the reassurance trailblazer to your left while sitting at the junction. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Service signage westbound on Brookton Highway, 5km east of Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Typical view of the recently upgraded sections of Brookton Highway, looking west 15km east of Hyden. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Typical view of Brookton Highway through the eastern Wheatbelt near the junction with Lake O'Connor Road, 37km east of Hyden. Note the use of Varley for the kilometre plates despite the absence of services. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking northwest at the junction with Holland Track on the boundary of the Shires of Kulin and Lake Grace. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north at the junction with Holt Rock North Road & Holt Rock South Road at Holt Rock. Holt Rock is little more than a rural locality with a grain bin on the edge of the Wheatbelt. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Slightly dodgy RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Kulin-Holt Rock Road, 13km north of Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Typical rural WA signage setup - ID sign facing the terminating leg and only fingerboards facing the through route; at the junction of Brookton Highway & Kulin-Holt Rock Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Dodgy ID-cum-AD sign northbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Kulin-Holt Rock Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign, missing a SR40 shield, southbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with Kulin-Holt Rock Road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north across the rolling wheat fields, 5km north of Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Signage facing southbound traffic on Brookton Highway, 5km north of Varley. Note the coverplate covering the fuel symbol and someone's clever addition to the kilometre plate. I should also point out that the hospital symbol doesn't refer to a hospital but to a nursing post. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north at the junction with Varley South Road & Pitt Street, Varley. Varley features a large grain bin, a few houses, a store and not much else. The town is located just to the east of the Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	State Route 40 trailblazer southbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	State Route 40 trailblazer facing northbound traffic (you can see its southbound mate in the middle distance) approximately 14km south of Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south at the junction with Biddy Camm Road, 27km south of Varley. This intersection was reconstructed and realigned as part of the sealing of this section of the road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 35km south of Varley. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Services signage for southbound traffic on Brookton Highway, 5km north of Lake King. I'm not sure why Newdegate is shown as the next service when the majority of traffic proceeding southwards along SR40 to Ravensthorpe!. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Services signage southbound on Brookton Highway as you enter Lake King. Lake King is an unusual settlement - the two businesses in town are located well apart from each other, on different roads; the general store is on the Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road (SR107) and the tavern is on Brookton Highway. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Services signage northbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign southbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road, Lake King. Note the white distance plate which should be green. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south to the junction with Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road, Lake King. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north at the junction of Brookton Highway & Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road at Lake King. The building on the right is the tavern. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on Lake King-Norseman Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway & Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road at Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road approaching the junction with Brookton Highway at Lake King. Note the absence of any reference to Norseman for through traffic - the route consists of almost 200km of remote, unsealed road. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign northbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road & Lake King-Norseman Road at Lake King. Photo taken: October 2011.
	RD sign southbound on Brookton Highway as you leave Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Older services signage, with non-rounded edges, northbound on Brookton Highway, 5km south of Lake King. Note the dodgy coverplating job on Varley and also note that now there's no advice as to the next fuel stop north of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 18km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north towards the junction with Muncasters Road & Old Newdegate Road, 23km south of Lake King. Note the recent shoulder widening. Photo taken: October 2011.
	SR40 trailblazer southbound on Brookton Highway, 26km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south near the boundary of the Shires of Lake Grace and Ravensthorpe at Fitzgerald Road, 34km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south, 45km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south approximately 46km south of Lake King. As you approach Ravensthorpe the road becomes more undulating and winding. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 50km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 54km south of Lake King. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south from the same spot, showing a realigned section of the highway. The original formation is still visible to the right, although fairly overgrown. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 56km south of Lake King. Photo taken: April 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking north, 60km south of Lake King. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south, 10km north of Ravensthorpe. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Brookton Highway looking south at the junction with Old Newdegate Road, 6km north of Ravensthorpe. The road to the left is the original alignment of Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road which was bypassed in the 1960s. The present route junctions with South Coast Highway west of Ravensthorpe, avoiding a mining area and providing better alignment. Photo taken: October 2011.
	Services signage southbound on Brookton Highway, 5km north of Ravensthorpe. Photo taken: April 2011.
	RD sign northbound on Brookton Highway near the junction with South Coast Highway, 3km west of Ravensthorpe. This sign replaced an old black RD sign with a SR40 topknot and the route marker should have been incorporated into the new sign instead of replacing the topknot as well. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD signage southbound on Brookton Highway approaching the junction with South Coast Highway near Ravensthorpe. Traffic proceeding to Ravensthorpe has the benefit of a continuous slip lane, avoiding the main intersection. Photo taken: April 2011.
	A southerly view of the junction of South Coast Highway & Brookton Highway near Ravensthorpe. This is the eastern terminus of State Route 40 after its 500km journey from Perth. Note the slip lane for left turn traffic. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign eastbound on South Coast Highway approaching the junction with Brookton Highway, 3km west of Ravensthorpe. Photo taken: April 2011.
	AD sign westbound on South Coast Highway approaching the junction with Brookton Highway, 3km west of Ravensthorpe.

Last updated 26 March 2012 © Ozroads 2003-2012.

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