Stirling Highway is, for most of its length, a four-lane single carriageway and major arterial road between Perth, Western Australia and the port city of Fremantle in Western Australia on the northern side of the Swan River. The speed limit is . East of Crawley, it continues as Mounts Bay Road which links Crawley and the nearby University of Western Australia to the Perth central business district. The highway passes through several of Perth's western suburbs, such as Nedlands, Claremont, Peppermint Grove, Cottesloe and Mosman Park. It also passes the University of Western Australia in Crawley, and several private secondary schools - namely Christ Church Grammar School, Presbyterian Ladies' College and Methodist Ladies' College. In addition, major shopping areas exist at Claremont and Cottesloe, while many smaller businesses and retailers are dotted along the highway. The section of road from Cottesloe leading south runs alongside the railway. History Stirling Highway initially developed as a rough track linking the new townsites of Perth and Fremantle following the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829. Construction of a formal road along the track's alignment did not take place for several decades, due to labour shortages, the slow initial development of the colony, the initial absence of a bridge across the Swan River at the southern end of the track, and the use of the river itself as the principal means of transport between the towns. Convict labour was used to construct the road after the colony was constituted as a penal settlement in 1850, and this was completed by 1858. The road was declared a public highway in 1881. The Perth to Fremantle railway line was completed in 1881, running alongside the road for part of its length. This spurred the development of Perth's western suburbs, including land alongside the road. The road was known as the Perth-Fremantle Road until 1932, when it was renamed for the first Governor of Western Australia, Admiral Sir James Stirling. Construction of the modern highway was formally commenced in the 1930s. It was completed in sections of approximately per year. The schedule was as follows: 1934 - Broadway, Nedlands to Weld Street, Nedlands 1935 - Weld Street, Nedlands to Bay View Terrace, Claremont 1936 - Bay View Terrace, Claremont to Anstey Street, Claremont 1937 - Anstey Street, Claremont to Johnston Street, Peppermint Grove 1938 - Johnston Street, Peppermint Grove to Leighton Crossing, North Fremantle 1939