Horrocks Highway

Horrocks Highway (formerly known as Main North Road) is a major north–south arterial route through regional South Australia, between Quorn in the Flinders Ranges, and Gawler, on the north-eastern fringe of suburban Adelaide.

Route

Horrocks Highway commences at the intersection with Flinders Ranges Way in Quorn and heads in a southerly direction as a single carriageway, two-lane road, through the grain fields around the regional towns of Wilmingon at the eastern side of Horrocks Pass, continuing south to cross the Broughton River near Yacka. It leaves the southern Flinders Ranges, crosses the Hutt River and enters the northern end of the Clare Valley, with the dominant scenery changes from grain crops to grapevines from Clare to Auburn. Over the next ridge, it crosses the Wakefield River and returns to undulating land cleared for grain cropping then follows the Gilbert River to Giles Corner where Barrier Highway branches northeast towards Riverton and Burra. It crosses the Light River and the environment changes again, grain storage bunkers and silos to urban build-up, before eventually terminating at the interchange with Sturt Highway, and continues south into central Gawler and into suburban Adelaide as the remaining alignment of Main North Road.

As Horrocks Highway is in the valley between the southern Flinders Ranges and northern Mount Lofty Ranges, it is in the relatively wetter climate south of Goyder's Line.

History

The highway follows the route established in the early years of the colony by explorer John Horrocks and was a major route for farmers and graziers to reach the capital, passing through rich farmland and the Clare Valley wine region.[citation needed]

Horrocks Highway was previously declared as part of Main North Road, from Wilmington to Gawler Belt; this section was renamed in 2011 to honour John Horrocks, an early explorer and pioneer in the region. Main North Road originally turned west in Wilmington through Horrocks Pass to join Augusta Highway in Winninowie; this has been separately declared as Horrocks Pass Road as part of route B56, while Horrocks Highway continues north beyond Wilmington as part of route B82 to Quorn.

Major intersections

See also

• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in South Australia
• Highway 1 (Australia)
• Highway 1 (South Australia)