[4] It was named after the Strzelecki Ranges, the set of low mountain ridges the road travels through.

Strzelecki Highway commences at the intersection with South Gippsland Highway and Bass Highway in Leongatha, Victoria and heads in a north-easterly direction as a two-lane, single carriageway road, winding with gentle curves through the Strzelecki Ranges to form the main street through the town of Mirboo North, and linking both sections of Grand Ridge Road through the town.

It continues north-east, tracing west around the Hazelwood Power Station open-cut coal mine, to eventually terminate at the interchange with Princes Freeway on the western outskirts of Morwell.

The passing of the Transport Act of 1983[8] (itself an evolution from the original Highways and Vehicles Act of 1924[9]) provided for the declaration of State Highways, roads two-thirds financed by the State government through the Country Roads Board.

[4] The Morwell end of the highway was deviated westwards in 2006 as part of the Hazelwood Power Station West Field open cut mine expansion.