Sarina–Eton–Hampden Road
Sarina–Eton–Hampden Road is a non-continuous road route in the Mackay local government area of Queensland, Australia. It has four official names, Sarina–Homebush Road, Eton–Homebush Road, Marian–Eton Road, and Marian–Hampden Road. The entire route is signed as State Route 5. The four roads are state-controlled, with the following characteristics:
- Sarina–Homebush, district, number 517, local road of regional significance.
- Eton–Homebush, regional, number 518.
- Marian–Eton, regional, number 533, LRRS.
- Marian–Hampden, regional, number 535.
Route description
Leaving Homebush the road turns west and enters the northern part of Oakenden. Crossing Oakenden it runs northwest, southwest, west and northwest again before it enters, where it meets the Peak Downs Highway at a T-junction. The road turns northeast and runs concurrent with the highway until it reaches the exit to Marian–Eton Road. It continues northwest and then west as Marian–Eton Road before reaching the exit to Mirani–Eton Road to the west. Here it turns north before entering. Continuing north it passes the exit to North Eton Road to the east.
Next the road enters where it turns northwest and then north again. In Marian it meets Mackay–Eungella Road at a T-junction. Here it turns east and runs concurrent with Mackay–Eungella Road until it reaches the exit to Marian–Hampden Road, where it turns north and crosses the Pioneer River. It then enters and continues north to the Bruce Highway, where it ends.
The road is fully sealed to at least a two lane standard.
History
Sarina was originally known as Plane Creek, but took its present name from the Sarina Inlet which was in turn named after Sarina, the Greek mythological enchantress, by William Charles Borlase Wilson, a surveyor, some time before 1882.The name Homebush is taken from a pastoral run name used by John Walker in 1866. Homebush Sugar Mill opened in 1883 and closed in 1922.
Originally known as the Defiance, the North Eton Central Mill commenced crushing sugarcane in 1888. It was the first sugar mill sponsored by the Queensland Government. In 1989, a number of sugar mills in the district merged to Mackay Sugar Limited, resulting in the closure of the North Eton mill.
The town name Marian comes from the name of the Marian railway station, which in turn reportedly derived its name from a local property called Mary Ann. Marian sugar mill was built in 1885, later closed, and replaced by a new mill in 1894. Mackay Sugar operates the mill where over 2 million tonnes of sugar is crushed every year, making it one of the largest sugar mills in Australia.
Intersecting state-controlled roads
This road intersects with the following state-controlled roads:- Homebush Road
- Peak Downs Highway
- Mirani–Eton Road
- North Eton Road
- Mackay–Eungella Road
Homebush Road