Caves Road (Western Australia)

Caves Road is a 111-kilometre-long (69 mi)[1] scenic route in the South West region of Western Australia. It connects western Busselton with Augusta, running along or to the west of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge, and is an alternative route to Bussell Highway. Caves Road is also a major component of the route from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, in what is known as the state's Capes Region.

Caves Road

Western Australia
Caves Road at Mammoth Cave, Boranup
General information
TypeRural road
Length111 km (69 mi)[1]
Maintained byMain Roads Western Australia
Tourist routes Tourist Drive 250 (south of Cape Naturaliste Road)
Major junctions
North-east endBussell Highway, Abbey
 
  • Cape Naturaliste Road (Tourist Drive 250)
  • Cowaramup Bay Road
  • Wallcliffe Road
  • Boodjidup Road
  • Bushby Road
South end Bussell Highway (State Route 10), Augusta
Location(s)
Major settlementsDunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River

Route description

Starting at Bussell Highway in Abbey, west of Busselton, Caves Road initially heads west passing the Locke Nature Reserve or "Holy Mile" through Dunsborough to Yallingup. From there the road travels southwards, between the coast and Bussell Highway, which it rejoins at the northern edge of Augusta.[2][3]

Caves Road forms the majority of Tourist Drive 250, which is named Caves Road Tourist Drive. The route runs from Cape Naturaliste, north-west of Dunsborough, to Cape Leeuwin, south of Augusta.[4]

Most of the surfing locations that are on the coastline between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste are accessed via Caves Road.

It is a narrow winding road in most parts, and much has been made of its picturesque quality[5] and passage through Karri forest.[6]

History

Caves Road was named due to it being a way to access the caves of the region,[7][8] though it was sometimes referred to as Margaret Caves Road.[9] It has since also been considered as a tourist route within the road network, and designated as such in the 1990s.[4]

In the early 1900s, loggers and tourists travelled by horse and cart on parts of what would become Caves Road to visit caves in the area. In August 1921, a key section of the road going northwards was paved, allowing motor-cars to travel the route both ways for the first time.[10] In the 1930s to 1960s its condition was a problem.[11] A few sections run for only short straight alignments; its upgrading and maintenance is an ongoing issue.[12][13] There is an ongoing campaign to have the road heritage-listed at the state and federal level; the idea was first seriously considered in 2018.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Road Information Mapping System". Main Roads Western Australia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  2. South West Region map (PDF) (PDF). Version 1.0. Cartography by Main Roads Western Australia. Main Roads Western Australia. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  3. Doyle, Pippa (22 February 2010). "800 percent lease hike for 'Holy Mile'". ABC News. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. Main Roads Western Australia; Western Australian Tourism Commission; Royal Automobile Club. "Tourist Drives of Western Australia" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2013. Additional archives: 24 September 2019.
  5. "On the Picturesque Cave-road, near Margaret River". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 25 April 1926. p. 3 Section: Third Section. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. "Dappled shadows". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 21 March 1979. p. 66. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. Augusta-Margaret River Tourist Bureau (1997), The caves of Augusta Margaret River, Augusta-Margaret River Tourist Bureau, retrieved 15 December 2013
  8. Stafford, Tatum (30 June 2020). "10 of the best caves in WA". Perth: The Royal Automobile Club of WA. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. "DISTRICT NEWS". Bunbury Herald. WA: National Library of Australia. 22 May 1903. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  10. "Heritage-listing call to mark centenary of Margaret River's famous Caves Road". ABC News. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  11. "ROAD CONDITIONS". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 May 1932. p. 7 Edition: FINAL SPORTING EDITION. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  12. "Country Road Allocation". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  13. ERM Mitchell McCotter Pty. Ltd; Western Australia. Main Roads (1998), Caves Road planning strategy. Stage C, final report, Main Roads Western Australia, retrieved 15 December 2013

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