Anne Beadell Highway is an outback unsealed track linking Coober Pedy, South Australia, and Laverton, Western Australia, a total distance of . The track was surveyed and built by Len Beadell, Australian surveyor, who named it after his wife.
The track passes through remote arid deserts and scrub territory of South Australia and Western Australia, which often have summer temperatures approaching . Sand dunes predominate for most of the track.
Map and overview
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File:Anne Beadell Highway 0116.svg|The Anne Beadell Highway (in purple). Map details as of 1972
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The road was constructed to provide access for a series of surveys, adding to the overall geodetic survey of unexplored parts of Australia. The information was required for rocket range projects at Woomera.
Construction was completed in five stages, spanning nine years from 1953 to 1962. The first stage from Mabel Creek station near Coober Pedy, west towards Emu Field, was built in February and March 1953 to provide access for British atomic tests at Emu Field. This stage preceded the formation of Beadell's Gunbarrel Road Construction Party and was the first road built by Beadell.
Beadell put considerable effort into rediscovering Vokes Hill while surveying the track, as a new device called a Tellurometer was being introduced. It used radio waves for distance measurement, and required elevated points for its operation.
Conditions
Because the track is remote and not signposted, satellite navigation is advisable. For communication, high frequency radio or satellite telephone are recommended. In good conditions, it may take five days to complete the journey. Hazards such as flat tyres, breakdowns, and occasional flash floods must be taken into account.