Anzac Highway History
Did you know that Anzac Highway is one of the most historic roads in Adelaide?
It started life as a track made by the pioneer James Chambers from Holdfast Bay, the first governor’s landing site, to what became the City of Adelaide.
In 1938 it was renamed and reconstructed as a dual carriageway. Road crews worked a little differently back then, as you can see in the image below from the Highways Department!
Originally called Bay Road, it was renamed to Anzac Highway to honour the contribution of the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) in World War I.
From the Memorial adjacent to the Keswick Military Barracks to Marion Road, bronze plaques are affixed to grey granite blocks at the base of the trees. The memorial is a sheet steel structure with cut-outs depicting servicemen on the front and title on the back; three plaques are at the base of the memorial. Originally a wrought iron arch spanned the road, the structure was demolished when road widening began.