Burma Road

Statement of Significance

In conjunction with other WWII Army sites in the Mid West, Burma Road is associated with the activities of the Australian Army in the region during World War II. Burma Road facilitated the establishment and expansion of sandplain farms in the Irwin district in the 1950s.

Physical Description

Burma Road extends south-east from Nangetty-Walkaway Road, Ellendale, to Strawberry North East road, on Midlands Road, in Mount Horner. The gravel road is approximately 45 kilometres in length, and provides access to local farms for the transport of grain, fertilizer and livestock to Geraldton via Allanooka Springs Road. It also acts as a bus route and extends across three local government areas in the Mid West region, those of Greater Geraldton, Shire of Irwin and the Shire of Mingenew.

History

In 1942, the Australian Army cleared a track through virgin bush across sandplain country for the movement of the armed forces between Geraldton and the army depots to the south. In the event of enemy invasion along the coast, Burma Road was also intended as an inland escape route from Geraldton. It was so named for the harsh working conditions on the road. The track (approximately 45km) extended in a south-easterly direction from Nangetty-Walkaway Road in Ellendale near Walkaway and terminated at Strawberry Bridge, Strawberry-North-east Road, in Lockier, approximately 17km from Mingenew. Also established around this time was an aerial bombing range, on Walkaway-Nangetty Rd, Walkaway . Located at the northern extent of Burma Road, the land was used as an aerial bombing range by the RAAF trainees, most likely flying between Georgina and Kojarena Aerodromes and 4 SFTS Geraldton. The construction of Burma Road by the Army for primarily its own use, does not appear to be unusual. Although the original purpose of Burma Road had been to provide a route for the army, it also provided access to the surrounding sandplain country which was offered up for new farming opportunities in the Mid West. In 1953, the roads boards of Mingenew, Irwin and Mullewa met to discuss the planning of roads to facilitate land selection within the Mid West region. At that meeting, it was noted that Burma Road ran through the territory of the Irwin Road Board, and was being developed on both sides, with between 25,000 and 30,000 acres of land. By 1953, the Department of Lands and Surveys advised the gazettal of Burma Road, amongst a considerable list of other works within the surrounding region. In the following year, works undertaken by the Geraldton-Greenough Road Board included additional works to Burma Road, including creating two ‘run throughs’ (junctions) through it. It is likely that it was upgraded to a gravel road around this time. In 2009/2010, gravel re-sheeting works were undertaken for Burma Road with assistance from the State Roads to Recovery funding.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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