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Mitchell Highway (National Route 71) - Former Alignment (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: NSW: 337 km (QLD (A71) & NSW Total: 654 km)
• Northern Terminus: NSW / QLD Border north of Barringun
• Southern Terminus: Barrier Highway (NR32) / Mitchell Highway (NR32) intersection
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Mitchell Highway (A71) to Charleville QLD and continues as Mitchell Highway (NR32) from Nyngan NSW.
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Nyngan, Girilambone, Coolabah, Byrock, Bourke, Enngonia and Barringun

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: State Highway No. 7 1

General Information:

The Mitchell Highway, named after Major Thomas Mitchell, who was Surveyor-General of New South Wales in the 1820s and explored much of inland New South Wales and Victoria.

The route consists of typical NSW rural highway standard, undivided single carriageway.

History:

• 1930s: Formation of the route to Bourke. 2
• 9 October 1936: A proclamation was published in the Government Gazette, indicating the road from Bathurst, through Bourke to the Queensland border at Barringun, formerly known as the North-western Highway was named the Mitchell Highway in order to perpetuate the name of Sir Thomas Mitchell, one time Surveyor-General of New South Wales and a noted Australian explorer. 3
• 1958: Reconstruction between Bourke and Queensland border and bitumous surfacing construction for 13 miles in the Bourke area. 2
• 1965: Further reconstruction and sealing between Bourke and Queensland, in various sections, as required, eventually totalling 67 miles. 2
• 6 November 1972: Completion of sealing along entire length of Mitchell Hwy, with the finalisation of sealing along an 85 mile length from Bourke to Queensland Border. 2

This page covers the former Mitchell Hwy alignment.

Preview:	Description:
	Lift Span Bridge: Old lift span bridge over the Darling River at Bourke, September 2009. Image © Richard Wardle
	Lift Span Bridge: Old lift span bridge over the Darling River at Bourke, September 2009. Image © Richard Wardle

1 Roads & Traffic Authority
2 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4
3 Department of Main Roads New South Wales , Main Road Journal, June 1956

Last updated: 11-Sep-2020 20:14

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