 The construction of the telegraph had resulted in a trail that could be followed for interstate travel , but it was a haphazard route which only the more adventurous motorists would take . Many travellers were unprepared for the harsh conditions and lack of services ; they would cause a nuisance for station owners and other travellers by scrounging petrol , contaminating water supplies , leaving gates open , and committing acts of vandalism . In 1938 the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia ( RAC ) called for a national highway to be constructed by the federal government , as it would be a strategic defence road , provide another link between Western Australia and other states , and improve the tourist experience . The federal government did not see the road as important enough for its involvement . 
