Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section)

Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section)
Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section)
	Devine's Hill, just past the Thomas James Bridge; at the foot of the hill, vehicular traffic joins a newer road, leaving the Great North Road to walkers and cyclists.
Location	Between Wisemans Ferry and Mount Manning, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°21′58″S150°59′15″E / 33.3661°S 150.9874°E
Built	1826–1834
Architect	Thomas Mitchell (surveyor general)
Owner	Office of Environment and Heritage
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning; Section 3 (in CMP)
Type	state heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	991
Type	Road
Category	Transport – Land
Builders	convict road gangs
	Location of Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section) in New South Wales Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section) (Australia)

Last updated December 10, 2024

Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section) is a heritage-listed section of former main road, now walking track and service road, between Wisemans Ferry and Mount Manning, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Surveyor-General Thomas Mitchell and built from 1826 to 1834 by convict road gangs. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

History

The Great North Road, over 240 km long, was constructed between 1826 and 1834, and remains one of the major engineering feats of the convict era. Much of the road is still in use today, although some of the original surface is buried. A number of the original stone culverts, bridges and retaining walls are still in use. The road runs from the Windsor Road in Baulkham Hills to Wiseman's Ferry, and then continues further North to Wollombi where it branches off to Maitland and Singleton. At the time of construction the engineering was at the cutting edge of road building technology, incorporating the latest ideas from Europe.^[2]^[1]

Work on the road began in 1826 after petitions from residents in the newly settled Hunter Valley for a decent route to take stock and travellers north. Construction proceeded under the direction of Thomas Mitchell, the Surveyor General and by Governor Darling who had recognised the need for infrastructure in the rapidly expanding colony. Construction was carried out by convicts working in Road Gangs. Up to 700 men worked on the road at any one time, suffering harsh conditions.^[1]

Construction was completed by 1833. Many travellers, however, found sections of the road too isolated with insufficient water and feed for stock. As a result, alternative tracks were quickly searched out along the fertile Hawkesbury and Macdonald valleys, providing a safer and faster alternative for travellers. Sections of the Great Road soon fell into disrepair.^[1]

Description

The Great North Road runs from the Windsor Road in Baulkham Hills to Wiseman's Ferry, and then further North to Wollombi where it branches off to Maitland and Singleton. It is over 240 km long. A shorter section was built in 1830 between Five Dock and Pennant Hills, joining the original road at Dural. Another major branch line, Simpson's Track, divergerd from the main road at Ten Mile Hollow, and crossed Mangrove Creek, heading through Yarramalong towards Newcastle.^[1]

There are still some places where well-preserved sections of the original Road can be seen. The 43 km section immediately north of Wiseman's Ferry, from Devine's Hill to Mount Manning run through very steep and rugged country and contains particularly fine examples of high walling with massive buttresses, drainage systems and quarries. The walls, up to 13m high, are made of interlocking stone blocks of varying shapes and sizes without mortar to hold them together. Some of the blocks weigh up to 660 kg. Examples of stone work at Clares Bridge and Circuit Flat Bridge are preserved within Dharug and Yengo National Parks. These areas are closed to vehicular access to preserve the remaining convict road works. Other sections of convict work can be seen at Mt McQuoid, Ramseys Leap and the Murrays Run Culvert.^[3]^[1]

Heritage listing

The Old Great North Road is a signifier of the outlooks of early colonial society. Its magnificent structures were powerful, tangible symbols of the colony's perceived place and role in the course of empire, unmistakable evidence that the civilised state was being attained and a triumph over a rugged and inhospitable landscape. It is associated with several notable figures in colonial administration, surveying and engineering including Governor Darling, Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell and Percy Simpson, one of Australia's earliest scientific road engineers.^[4]^[1]

The Old Great North Road physically demonstrates the work patterns, skills and organisation of convict work gangs. This evidence is unavailable in documentary sources and has been essential in changing our views of work gangs. It has technological value in that it demonstrates the standards and practice of road engineering in the colony during the "Great Roads" period of the late 1820s and 1830s.^[4]^[1]

Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

The Great North Road is a signifier of the outlooks of early colonial society. Its magnificent structures were powerful, tangible symbols of the colony's perceived place and role in the course of empire and unmistakable evidence that the civilised state was being attained. It was a triumph over a rugged and inhospitable landscape. It is associated with several notable figures in colonial administration, surveying and engineering. These include, Governor Darling, Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell and Percy Simpson, one of Australia's earliest scientific road engineers.^[4]^[1]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The Great North Road physically demonstrates the work patterns, skills and organisation of convict work gangs. This evidence is unavailable in documentary sources and has been essential in changing our views of work gangs. It has technological value in that it demonstrates the standards and practice of road engineering in the colony during the "Great Roads" period of the late 1820s and 1830s^[1]

Related Research Articles

The Dharug National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 14,850-hectare (36,700-acre) national park is situated approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) north of the Sydney and 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Gosford.

Castle Hill is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, located 34 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and 9.5 kilometres north of Parramatta. It is within the Hills District region, split between the local government areas of The Hills Shire and Hornsby Shire.

Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, often called Major Mitchell, was a Scottish surveyor and explorer of Southeastern Australia. He was born in Scotland and served in the British Army during the Peninsular War. In 1827 he took up an appointment as Assistant Surveyor General of New South Wales. The following year he became Surveyor General and remained in this position until his death. Mitchell was knighted in 1839 for his contribution to the surveying of Australia.

St Albans is a small and historic village on the Macdonald River, New South Wales, Australia, about 94 kilometres (65 mi) north west of Sydney. At the 2011 census, St Albans and the surrounding area had a population of 305 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great North Road (New South Wales)</span> Historic road in New South Wales, Australia

The Great North Road is a historic road that was built to link early Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, now Australia, with the fertile Hunter Valley to the north. Built by convicts between 1825 and 1836, it traverses over 260 kilometres (162 mi) of the rugged terrain that hindered early agricultural expansion.

Lake Parramatta is a heritage-listed man-made reservoir and a recreational area located in North Parramatta, City of Parramatta, in the Western Sydney region of New South Wales, Australia. The masonry arch-walled dam across Hunts Creek was completed in 1856 to supply water for domestic purposes; and was operational until 1909. The dam has since been decommissioned and the lake and the surrounding nature reserve are a popular recreational area.

Wisemans Ferry is a town on the northern outskirts of Sydney and the south-west of the Central Coast region in the state of New South Wales, Australia, located 75 kilometres north north-west of Sydney. It is located in the Sydney local government areas of the Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and the Central Coast Council. The town is a tourist spot with picnic and barbecue facilities. As well as a rich convict and colonial heritage in the area, the Dharug National Park and Yengo National Park are close by.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Lennox</span>

David Lennox was a Scottish-Australian bridge builder and master stonemason born in Ayr, Scotland.

The Sackville Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The vehicular ferry connects the communities of Sackville, on the north/west bank of the river, and Sackville North, on the south/east bank. Because of the tortuous course of the river, the ferry actually runs north-west from Sackville to Sackville North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollombi</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Wollombi is a small village in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is within the Cessnock City Council LGA, situated 29 kilometres (18 mi) southwest of Cessnock and 128 km (80 mi) north of Sydney. To the south is the village of Laguna, to the east, the village of Millfield and to the north, the village of Broke.

The Lennox Bridge, Glenbrook is a heritage-listed road bridge that carries the Mitchell's Pass across Brookside Creek, located at Glenbrook, in the City of Blue Mountains local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by David Lennox and built from 1832 to 1833 by James Randall and other convicts. It is also known as Lennox Bridge or The Horseshoe Bridge. The property is owned by Blue Mountains City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The stone arch bridge is a single arch of 6 metres (20 ft) span and is 9 metres (30 ft) above water level, with a road width of 9 metres (30 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milbrodale, New South Wales</span>

Milbrodale is a village in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is in the local government area of Singleton Council.

Spicers Gap Road is a heritage-listed road at Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park, Tregony, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1859 to 1865. It is also known as Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park and Spicers Peak Road. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 July 1999.

Former Great Western Road Alignment, Prospect is a heritage-listed stretch of road, now divided into four separately-named sections of road and partially divided by the M4 Western Motorway at, Prospect, City of Blacktown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The road was initiated by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, likely surveyed by George Evans and built from 1815 to 1818 by William Cox. It is also known as The Western Road, The Great Western Road, The Old Western Road and The Great Western Highway. The property is owned by Blacktown City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 June 2014.

Rising Sun Inn is a heritage-listed former post office, inn, general store and residence and now museum, craft shop and art gallery at 95-97 Wollombi Road, Millfield, City of Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1832 to 1838. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is the heritage-listed site of a former convict government farm at Goliath Avenue, Winston Hills, City of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The farm was built by convict labour from 1791 to 1813. Its site includes areas today known as Palestine Park, Oakes Reserve and Settlers Walk and is also known as the Toongabbie Government Farm Convict Site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 11 December 2012.

The Cox's Road and Early Deviations - Woodford, Appian Way Precinct is a heritage-listed former colonial road and now access road off The Appian Way, near Woodford, in the City of Blue Mountains local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by William Cox between 1814 and 1825, with the assistance of a convict road party. It is also known as Bathurst Road; Old Bathurst Road and Coxs Road. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 March 2015.

Cox's Road and Early Deviations - Sodwalls, Fish River Descent Precinct is a heritage-listed former colonial road and now road and access road at off Cuthill Road, Sodwalls in the City of Lithgow local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by William Cox from 1814 to 1815 with the support of a convict road party. It is also known as Coxs Road and Old Bathurst Road. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 March 2015.

The Cox's Road and Early Deviations - Hartley, Clarence Hilly Range and Mount Blaxland Precinct is a heritage-listed road at The Old Bathurst Road, Hartley in the City of Lithgow local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by William Cox from 1814 to 1826 with the support of a convict road party. It is also known as Cox's Road and Early Deviations - Hartley, Clarence Hilly Range / Mount Blaxland Precinct and Coxs Road. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great North Road (Mount Manning to Wollombi Section)</span> Historic road in New South Wales, Australia

Great North Road (Mount Manning to Wollombi Section) is a heritage-listed road alignment, partly in use and partly abandoned, between Mount Manning and Wollombi, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1830 and 1832 by convict road gangs, having been surveyed by Heneage Finch (1830–1831) and thereafter by L. V. Dulhunty. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 June 2009.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00991. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
↑ Convict Trail Project: 1997
↑ Convict Trail Project 1997
1 2 3 Karskens 1991: 12

Bibliography

"The Great North Road". 2007.
Attraction Homepage (2007). "The Great North Road". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
Convict Trails Organisation (2007). "Convict Trails".
Karskens, Grace (1991). The Great North Road: Interpretation and Statement of Cultural Significance.
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service; Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations & Communities (2013), I Phone app - The Great North Road{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
The Convict Trail Project (1997). The Great North Road and the Convict Trail Project (pamphlet).
National Parks & Wildlife Service. National Parks & Wildlife Service Section 170 Register.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning , entry number 00991 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 2 June 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[nswshr-991-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00991. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .

[nswshr-991-1476-2] Convict Trail Project: 1997

[nswshr-991-1477-3] Convict Trail Project 1997

[nswshr-991-1478-4] 1 2 3 Karskens 1991: 12

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]