Western Highway, Australia: Length, location and major towns

The Western Highway is 419km long, and runs from Melbourne to the South Australian border on the way to Adelaide. Major towns on the route include Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Ararat and Horsham.

The Western Highway in Australia is the major road from Melbourne to the South Australian border near Bordertown. It is badged as National Route A8, which continues on into Adelaide under the name of the Dukes Highway.

The first section of the Western Highway, from Melbourne to just outside Beaufort, is the two lane Western Freeway.

Western Highway length

Including the Western Freeway, the Western Highway is 419km long. Aside from commuters at either end, most people driving along the Western Highway will be driving from Melbourne to Adelaide or vice versa.

However, there are a few fairly sizable towns along Victoria’s Western Highway. Melton and Bacchus Marsh are essentially satellite towns for Melbourne, although the latter is the gateway to Lerderderg State Park.

Biggest town on the Western Highway

The biggest town on the Western Highway, however, is Ballarat – home of the Sovereign Hill open air museum and Lake Wendouree.

Other sizable settlements along the main road from Melbourne to Adelaide include heritage building-stacked Beaufort, and Ararat. The latter is where you branch off for Halls Gap and the Grampians.

Beaufort Big Garage Sale in Beaufort, Victoria — Beaufort, Victoria, is one of the towns on the Western Highway. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Next come regional service towns Stawell and Horsham. After that, there’s just the small settlements of Dimboola, Nhill and Kaniva, as the Western Highway skirts the northern edge of the Little Desert National Park.

The perfectly decent Motel Dimboola is the best bet for Dimboola accommodation.

Is the Western Highway sealed?

The Western Highway is a major trunk route. It is sealed all the way, and generally maintained in good condition. It might not be Australia’s most exciting road to drive along, but you can make good time along the Western Highway.