[1] The main Palmer road from Cooktown followed a circuitous route north of the Conglomerate Range to Palmerville, but this was reduced over time.

Wheeled traffic cut through the soft sandstone descent of the Conglomerate Range north of Maytown, making it particularly dangerous after rain.

[2] Archibald Campbell Macmillan attempted to prevent further erosion by easing gradients and constructing retaining walls on the most dangerous sections.

The track has since been partly re-formed as a graded road but contains some sections, particularly between Cradle Creek and the North Palmer River, which can demonstrate the original construction containing steep pinches, cuttings and stone drains.

The Laura to Maytown Coach road is significant in North Queensland history as the major arterial route to the Palmer Goldfield.

The road is of significance for its associated historical places including wayside house, staging posts, Chinese gardens and mine workings.

It demonstrates notable engineering feats and road making techniques in steep rocky terrain in an isolated, high rainfall region of North Queensland.

It demonstrates notable engineering feats and road making techniques in steep rocky terrain in an isolated, high rainfall region of North Queensland.