Length:

1154 km

Termini:

Eastern: Florence St (former A1 and unnumbered) and Sheridan St (unnumbered), Cairns

Western: NT-QLD Border, Nicholson

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Wollogorang Rd (B1) in Northern Territory

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Nicholson, Doomadgee, Gregory, Burketown, Carpentaria, Normanton, Blackbull, Croydon, Gilbert River, Georgetown, Mount Surprise, Forty Mile, Mount Garnett, Innot Hot Springs, Millstream, Ravenshoe, Evelyn, Upper Barron, Atherton, Tolga, Walkamin, Mareeba, Koah, Kuranda, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, Barron, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Aeroglen, Stratford, Cairns North and Cairns

Current: 1

Multiplexed with: 83 52 84

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

20A (Cairns to Smithfield)

32A (Smithfield to Mareeba)

32B (Mareeba to Ravenshoe)

32C (Ravenshoe to Mt Garnet)

32D (Mt Garnet to Minnamoolka)

78A (Burketown)

89B (Normanton)

92A (Normanton to Croydon)

92B (Croydon to Georgetown)

92C (Georgetown to Minnamoolka)

General Information:

National Route 1 is a route connecting Cairns CBD with the Atherton Tablelands and also several small towns in the gulf country. The route forms part of the Savannah Way which traverses northern Queensland and Northern Territory.

The route is divided arterial road standard in the Cairns area, before becoming a single carriageway highway, and eventually becoming an unsealed road further west. The route passes through commercial, residential, rural and bushland areas, and also passes Cairns Airport.

The road is a sealed route that is named after explorer William John Wills, who along with Robert O'Hara Burke, John King and Charles Gray became the first Europeans to cross Australia south to north when they reached the Gulf of Carpentaria in February 1861. ²

The Gulf Developmental Road is a sealed route and is the principal freight and tourism route connecting Carpentaria Shire via the Kennedy Highway, with the Bruce Highway coastal route. ³

The Kennedy Highway is named after Edmund Kennedy (1818-1848). He was an educated Englishman and a qualified surveyor when he migrated to NSW in 1840. He joined the Surveyor General's Department and became second in charge to Thomas Mitchell the Surveyor General. During the next few years he made several exploratory trips into northwestern Queensland. ⁴

In 1848 during Mitchell's absence in England he was commissioned by the NSW Government to explore the Cape York Peninsula. Starting from Cardwell, the most northern settlement at the time, his instructions were to explore the eastern coast as far as Albany Bay to re-provision from a ship that was to be sent and then to explore the west coast as far as Gulf of Cape Carpentaria and then travel overland back to Sydney. ⁴

The name of Kennedy can be found in many places in North Queensland, for example, Kennedy Bay, Kennedy National Park, Kennedy township, Kennedy Creek, Kennedy Hill, Kennedy Highway, and Kennedy Electorate. ⁴

Captain Cook Highway is named after James Cook (1728–1779). He was an explorer, navigator and cartographer, and was the first Englishman to reach the unexplored eastern coast of Australia, which he chartered and claimed for Great Britain. He did this on board the ship The Endeavour. As part of this trip, which also took in New Zealand, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, and the coast of South America, Captain Cook surveyed about 3200 km of Australian coast. ⁵

Captain Cook Highway is used by many tourists to travel to Port Douglas north of Cairns. It's a vital link between two tourist locations. ⁶

The highway can be divided into three sections; each reflecting a separate era in the development of the area north of Cairns. Cairns to Buchans Point is a major arterial serving the rapidly expanding Marlin Coast and intersects the Kennedy Highway at Smithfield. The countryside is relatively flat and, until recently, was predominantly cane fields. ⁶

The standard of the road has vastly improved from the earlv davs when it was only a rough track connecting Cairns to the isolated communities of Port Douglas and Mossman. ⁶

National Route 83, for 2 km, Normanton.

State Route 52, for 700 m, Atherton.

State Route 84, for 26 km, between Gregory and Burketown.

Great Tropical Drive, for 12 km, between Smithfield and Cairns.

1930: The Cook Highway gazetted as Cook State Highway No. 11. ⁶

1932: A new bridge over the Barron River at Stratford was constructed. ⁶

17 December 1933: The Cook Highway was officially opened at Hartleys Creek by the then Minister for Public Works, the Honorable HI Bruce. However, the cost of the road's construction had been high and, as it was to be used extensively by tourist traffic, arrangements were made for the institution of a toll. The proceeds from the toll were to go towards the cost of road's maintenance. ⁶

June 1937: A timber bridge over Thomatis Creek was completed. Thomatis Creek was formed when the Barron River broke its banks in the flood of 1932. This link provided a shorter route for the Cook Highway across the Barron Delta from Stratford to Smithfield. ⁶

1938: Bitumen surfacing commenced at the Cairns end. ⁶

1940: Completion of bitumen sealing. Cairns Shire was replaced by Mulgrave Shire and work was undertaken on what was to be the Kennedy Highway which intersects the Cook Highway at Smithfield. ⁶

1946: Toll abolished, having raised a gross revenue of $12 755 during 12 years. ⁶

1946-1956: Widening of the highway to accommodate higher traffic volumes and larger vehicles. ⁶

1964: The new road plan for Queensland was gazetted and the Cook Highway was renumbered as Highway No. 20. ⁶

1966: Timber bridge over Saltwater Creek in Cairns replaced with concrete bridge. ⁶

16 December 1977: A new higher level bridge over the Barron River (current bridge) was officially opened by the, then Minister for Local Government and Main Roads, (the Honorable RJ Hinze, MLA). ⁶

1980: The four lanes on what was then a new alignment past the airport between Saltwater Creek and Arnold Street was completed. ⁶

1981: Bridge over Avondale Creek replaced. ⁶

1982: Bridge over Thomatis Creek replaced. ⁶

1987: Work commenced on extending the four lanes north from Cairns to the Holloways Beach intersection.

1988: Completion of widening of Captain Cook Hwy from Cairns to Holloways Beach Access Rd. ⁶

June 2009: Widening of a 1.9 kilometre section of Kennedy Highway between Battle Creek and Little Dinner Creek completed. ⁷

July 2009: Works commence on widening a 3.3 kilometre section of Kennedy Highway between Big Dinner Creek and Mt Garnet. ⁷

December 2009: Completion of widening works between Big Dinner Creek and Mt Garnet. ⁷

5 September 2011: Work begins on widening the last single lane section of Kennedy Highway, between Cairns and the Gulf Developmental Road junction. Work included widening traffic lanes to 3.5 m with 1 m wide sealed shoulders. ⁸

2012: Work completed on widening the final section of the Kennedy Highway between Cairns and the Gulf Developmental Road intersection west of Mount Garnet. ⁹

February 2012: Work commences on improved drainage and approaches to Barron River Bridge. ¹⁰

Click or tap here for the former alignment between NSW Border and Tugun

NT Border to Cairns

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign, Normanton near Burke Developmental Rd (NR1 / NR83) junction, August 2015.

Image © Richard Wardle

Intersection Directional Sign:

Council ID sign detailing distances to farm properties and localities, corner of Kennedy Hwy (NR1) and Gunnawarra Rd at Mt Garnet, September 2018.

Image © Richard Wardle

Cairns to NT Border

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Florence St approaching Captain Cook Hwy (NR1) at Cairns, July 2012. Note the incorrect Mulgrave Rd name patch.

Image © Terry Siva

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Florence St (former A1) approaching Captain Cook Hwy (NR1), Sheridan St and Florence St (unnumbered), Cairns, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the corner of Florence St (former A1), Captain Cook Hwy (NR1), Sheridan St and Florence St (unnumbered), Cairns, June 2018. A1 used to end at this location.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Captain Cook Hwy (NR1) at Cairns North, approaching Airport Av, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Cairns North, near Lily Creek, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Captain Cook Hwy (NR1) at Aeroglen approaching Whitfield St and Stratford Connection Rd, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Captain Cook Hwy (NR1) approaching the roundabout with Machans Beach Rd at Machans Beach, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Holloways Beach, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Smithfield showing both Kennedy Hwy (NR1) and Captain Cook Hwy (SR44) distances, May 2005. NR1 become Kennedy Hwy beyond the SR44 junction.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Smithfield approaching Captain Cook Hwy (SR44) and Mt Millman Rd, June 2018. NR1 becomes Kennedy Hwy at this location

Image © Dean Sherry

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the signalised rounabout with Captain Cook Hwy (SR44) and Millman Rd, June 2018. NR1 becomes Kennedy Hwy at this location

Image © Dean Sherry

Distance Sign:

RD sign on Kennedy Hwy (NR1) at Smithfield, after the Captain Cook Hwy (SR44) split, June 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2005.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Kennedy Hwy (NR1) approaching Mulligan Hwy (SR81) (Byrnes St) in Mareeba, June 2018. Note the missing SR81. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2005.

Image © Dean Sherry

Distance Sign:

RD sign as Kennedy Hwy (NR1) leaves Mareeba, June 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2005.

Image © Dean Sherry

Trailblazer:

NR1 / Savannah Way trailblazer at Mareeba, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign near Priors Creek in Atherton, approaching Cook St and Railway Av, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign in Atherton approaching Silo Rd and Atherton-Herberton Rd (SR52), May 2005. Note the mixed case text for Silo Rd, it should be in all capitals. The SR52 duplex begins at this junction.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Kennedy Hwy (NR1 / SR52) at Atherton, approaching Gillies Hwy (SR52), May 2005. The SR52 duplex ends at this junction.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Atherton, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Tourism-Based Advance Directional Sign:

Tourism-based AD sign at Upper Barron approaching Mt Hypipamee Crater Rd, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Evelyn approaching Tumoulin Rd, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at East Evelyn approaching East Evelyn Rd (SR24), June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Silver Valley approaching Silver Valley Rd, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Innothot Springs, September 2018

Image © Richard Wardle

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign assembly facing Gunnawarra Rd at Mt Garnet, September 2018

Image © Richard Wardle

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Forty Mile approaching Kennedy Developmental Rd (SR62) and Gulf Developmental Rd (NR1), June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Forty Mile approaching Kennedy Developmental Rd (SR62) and Gulf Developmental Rd (NR1), June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Georgetown, approaching St Georges St, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign facing St Georges Street, Georgetown, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Richmond Road:

Corner of Gulf Dev Rd (NR1) and Richmond Rd at Gilbert River, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

Touring Route Sign:

Touring route sign at Croydon, June 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry