▁February ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁the ▁new ▁road ▁was ▁gaz ett ed ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Ger ald ton ▁Highway , ▁with ▁the ▁old ▁route ▁via ▁Mo ora ▁renamed ▁The ▁Mid lands ▁Road . ▁It ▁was ▁officially ▁opened ▁on ▁ 4 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁by ▁the ▁Minister ▁for ▁Transport , ▁Ray ▁O ' Con nor ▁at ▁E ne ab ba . ▁One ▁year ▁later , ▁the ▁road ▁was ▁named ▁Brand ▁Highway ▁after ▁Sir ▁David ▁Brand , ▁who ▁was ▁Premier ▁of ▁Western ▁Australia ▁from ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁and ▁also ▁held ▁the ▁local ▁elect or ate ▁of ▁Green ough ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁The ▁change ▁of ▁name ▁from ▁Ger ald ton ▁Highway ▁to ▁Brand ▁Highway ▁was ▁gaz ett ed ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁Then - pre mier ▁Charles ▁Court ▁offici ated ▁a ▁ceremony ▁held ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁at ▁a ▁tour ist ▁information ▁bay ▁in ▁D ong ara , ▁where ▁a ▁pla que ▁was ▁un ve iled ▁comm emor ating ▁the ▁naming ▁of ▁the ▁highway . ▁ ▁The ▁northern ▁end ▁of ▁Brand ▁Highway ▁was ▁upgrad ed ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁Stage   1 ▁of ▁the ▁Ger ald ton ▁Southern ▁Transport ▁Cor rid or , ▁the ▁biggest ▁individual ▁project ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 0 s ▁across ▁all ▁of ▁rural ▁Western ▁Australia . ▁The ▁project , ▁constructed ▁between ▁March ▁