Clermont–Alpha Road

The Clermont–Alpha Road commences at an intersection with the Clermont Connection Road in {{QLDcity|Clermont}}. It starts as Wolfgang Street, running west and south-west through the locality of Clermont. This section of the road passes the Clermont solar farm.{{cite web |url=https://www.power-technology.com/marketdata/clermont-solar-farm-australia/ |title=Clermont Solar Farm - Australia |publisher=Power Technology |date=13 December 2021 |access-date=8 April 2022}} It crosses {{QLDcity|Quetta}} from north-east to west. It then turns south through the former locality of {{QLDcity|Surbiton}} (now part of {{QLDcity|Alpha}}) and continues south to the town of Alpha, where it ends at an intersection with the Capricorn Highway. The road has no major intersections.

Land use along this road is mainly stock grazing on native vegetation.

Much of the road remains unsealed, but approximately {{convert|17|km|mi}} was sealed in 2018-19 under an $8.7 million project funded by the Northern Australia Beef Roads Program.{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=067220-16QLD-NAB |title=Clermont - Alpha Road - Progressive Sealing - Package One |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=067219-16QLD-NAB |title=Clermont - Alpha Road - Progressive Sealing - Package Two |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=067218-16QLD-NAB |title=Clermont - Alpha Road - Progressive Sealing - Package Three |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=30 March 2022}}

{{main|Clermont, Queensland#History|Central Western railway line, Queensland#Branch lines|Quetta, Queensland#History|Surbiton, Queensland#History|Beaufort, Queensland#History|Alpha, Queensland#History}}

Gold was discovered at Clermont in 1861, and the town reserve was proclaimed in 1864. The Wolfgang pastoral run was adjacent to the town.{{cite web|title=Clermont|url=https://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/1715/history-of-clermont-final

|work=Did you know ...|publisher=Isaac Regional Council|access-date=23 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203055033/http://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=987b4713-2faa-41e2-9835-e77a7137522a&groupId=12238|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Churches and schools opened in the 1860s, and copper was discovered soon after. The railway arrived in 1884 to serve the Peak Downs copper mine. Clermont became the administrative centre for the developing region, and is now the hub for the large coal mines in the region.

Quetta was created in 2018 by excising land from {{QLDcity|Mistake Creek}} and {{QLDcity|Peak Vale}}.

Surbiton pastoral run was established by 1866. In 2019 Surbiton was incorporated into Alpha.

Beaufort pastoral run, north-east of the town of Alpha, was established in 1863.{{Cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/palmer-sir-arthur-hunter-794|title=Palmer, Sir Arthur Hunter (1819–1898)|last=Jobson|first=J. X.|date=1974|website=Australian Dictionary of Biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814011735/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/palmer-sir-arthur-hunter-794|archive-date=14 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=14 August 2019}} In 2019 Beaufort was incorporated into Alpha.

The Alpha pastoral run was established in 1863, and settlement in the area that became the town began in the 1860s.{{Cite web|date=2012-12-10|title=Queensland Places - Alpha {{!}} State Library Of Queensland|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/queensland-places-alpha|access-date=2021-05-19|website=www.slq.qld.gov.au|language=en}} In the 1880s the town expanded to include a workers camp during the construction of the railway line. Alpha railway station opened in 1884 and the town continued to grow, becoming the administrative centre for the district.

Early roads were cut from both Clermont and Alpha to provide access for wheeled vehicles to the pastoral runs and other settlements. Over time these tracks were improved and extended to eventually form a through road.

Although not yet fully sealed the road is used extensively by road trains carrying cattle, and by other large trucks conveying heavy goods. It reduces the distance between the two centres by almost {{convert|100|km|mi}} compared to the highway route via {{QLDcity|Emerald}}.

A project to seal almost {{convert|5|km|mi}} of road, at a cost of $3.01 million, was completed in August 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/clermont-alpha-road-progressive-sealing |title=Clermont-Alpha Road progressive sealing |publisher=Queensland Government |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=4 June 2021}}

The following road intersects with Clermont–Alpha Road:

{{Infobox road small

|country=AUS

|state=QLD

|type=S

|route=70

|name=Clermont Connection Road

|location=Gregory Highway, Clermont to Clermont–Alpha Road, Clermont

|length_km=2.1

|formed=

|}}

Clermont Connection Road is a state-controlled regional road (number 551). It connects the Gregory Highway to Clermont–Alpha Road in {{QLDcity|Clermont}}, a distance of {{convert|2.1|km|mi}}. It is signed as part of State Route 70 and has no major intersections.{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-22.8021569,147.6409117/-22.81728,147.636891/@-22.8089929,147.6287607,15z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=tts |access-date=10 September 2023 |title=Clermont Connection Road}}

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{{portal|Australian Roads|Queensland}}

• List of road routes in Queensland
• List of numbered roads in Queensland

{{reflist}}

{{Road infrastructure in Queensland}}

Category:Roads in Queensland

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clermont-Alpha Road}}