| Old Great North Road, The |
| Item |
| Name of Item: |
Old Great North Road, The |
| Other Name/s: |
Section 3 (in CMP) |
| Type of Item: |
Complex / Group |
| Group/Collection: |
Transport - Land |
| Category: |
Road |
| Location: |
Lat:150.98738924 Long:-33.36612269 |
| Primary Address: |
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning, Wiseman's Ferry, NSW 2775 |
| Local Govt. Area: |
Hawkesbury
|
Property Description:
| Lot/Volume Code |
Lot/Volume Number |
Section Number |
Plan/Folio Code |
Plan/Folio Number |
|
|
All Addresses |
| Street Address |
Suburb/Town |
LGA |
Parish |
County |
Type |
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning
|
Wiseman's Ferry
|
Hawkesbury
|
Spencer
|
Northumberland
|
Primary
|
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning
|
Wiseman's Ferry
|
Hawkesbury
|
Spencer
|
Northumberland
|
Alternate
|
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning
|
Wiseman's Ferry
|
Gosford
|
Mangrove
|
Northumberland
|
Alternate
|
|
|
Owner/s
| Organisation Name |
Owner Category |
Date Ownership Updated |
| Department of Environment and Climate Change |
State Government |
26 Nov 98 |
|
|
| Statement of Significance |
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 truimph over a rugged and inhospitible 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 (Karskens 1991: 12).
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 (Karskens 1991: 12).
Date Significance Updated: 20 Dec 06
Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed on the State Heritage Register. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance for these items as resources become available. |
|
| Description |
| Designer: |
Thomes Mitchell (surveyor general) |
| Builder: |
convict road gangs |
| Construction Years: |
1826 - 1834 |
| Physical Description: |
The Great North Road runs from the Windsor Road in Baulkham Hills to Wiseman's Ferry 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.
There are still some places where well-preserved sections of the original Road can be seen. The 43km 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 ares 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. (Convict Trail Project 1997) |
Physical Condition and/or
Archaeological Potential: |
Archaeological potential is high. Physical condition varies.
Date Condition Updated: 02 Oct 97
|
| Modifications and Dates: |
1830: Five Dock to Dural section constructed. |
| Further Information: |
A Conservation Management Plan is currently being prepared for the entire length of the Road. |
| Current Use: |
Walking Track, Service Road |
| Former Use: |
Public Road |
|
| History |
| Historical Notes: |
The Great North Road, over 240km 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, 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 (Convict Trail Project: 1997).
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.
Construction was completed by 1833. Many travellers however, found sections of too isolated with insufficient water and feed for stock. As a result, alternative tracks were quickly searched out along the fertile Hawkbury and Macdonald valleys, providing a safer and faster alternative for travellers. Sections of the Great Road soon fell into disrepair. |
|
| Historic Themes |
| Australian Theme (abbrev) |
New South Wales Theme |
Local Theme |
| 2. Peopling - Peopling the continent |
Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities |
Working for the Crown - |
| 2. Peopling - Peopling the continent |
Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities |
Experiencing secondary punishment - |
| 2. Peopling - Peopling the continent |
Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities |
Demonstrating convicts' experiences and activities - |
| 3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies |
Environment - cultural landscape - Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings |
Landscapes of cultural and natural interaction - |
| 3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies |
Technology - Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences |
Technologies of road building and maintenance - |
| 3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies |
Transport - Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements |
Building and maintaining public roads - |
| 3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies |
Transport - Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements |
Engineering the public road system - |
|
|
| Assessment of Significance |
SHR Criteria a)
[Historical Significance] |
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 truimph over a rugged and inhospitible landscape. It is associated with several notable figures in colonial administration, surveying and engineering. These inlclude, Governor Darling, Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell and Percy Simpson, one of Australia's earliest scientific road engineers (Karskens 1991: 12). |
SHR Criteria e)
[Research Potential] |
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 |
| |
| Assessment Criteria |
Items are assessed against the  State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance.
Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection. |
|
|
| Procedures /Exemptions |
| Section of Act |
Description |
Title |
Comments |
Action Date |
| 21(1)(b) |
Conservation Plan submitted for comment |
Old Great North Road, Dharug National Park, Draft CMP, prepared by Griffin NRM Pty Ltd for NPWS, dated March 2004. |
Comment provided on draft CMP by 21 June 2005 |
Jun 21 2005 |
| 57(2) |
Exemption to allow work |
Standard Exemptions |
SCHEDULE OF STANDARD EXEMPTIONS
HERITAGE ACT 1977
Notice of Order Under Section 57 (2) of the Heritage Act 1977
I, the Minister for Planning, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, do by this Order:
1. revoke the Schedule of Exemptions to subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act made under subsection 57(2) and published in the Government Gazette on 22 February 2008; and
2. grant standard exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977, described in the Schedule attached.
FRANK SARTOR
Minister for Planning
Sydney, 11 July 2008
To view the schedule click on the Standard Exemptions for Works Requiring Heritage Council Approval link below. |
Sep 5 2008 |
|
| |
Standard Exemptions for Works Requiring Heritage Council Approval |
|
| Listings |
| Heritage Listing |
Listing Title |
Listing Number |
Gazette Date |
Gazette Number |
Gazette Page |
| Heritage Act - State Heritage Register |
|
00991 |
02 Apr 99 |
27 |
1546 |
| Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register |
|
|
|
|
|
| National Heritage List |
|
|
01 Aug 07 |
|
|
|
| Study Details |
| Title |
Year |
Number |
Author |
Inspected by |
Guidelines Used |
| National Parks & Wildlife Service Section 170 Register |
|
|
National Parks & Wildlife Service |
|
No |
|
|
| References, Internet links & Images |
| Type |
Author |
Year |
Title |
Internet
Links |
| Tourism |
|
2007 |
The Great North Road |
Click here
|
| Tourism |
Attraction Homepage |
2007 |
The Great North Road |
Click here
|
| Tourism |
Convict Trails Organisation |
2007 |
Convict Trails |
Click here
|
| Written |
Grace Karskens |
1991 |
The Great North Road: Interpretation and Statement of Cultural Significance |
|
| Written |
The Convict Trail Project |
1997 |
The Great North Road and the Convict Trail Project (pamphlet) |
|
|
| Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images. |
|
|
|
(Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image and Image Details)
|
|
| Data Source |
| The information for this entry comes from the following source: |
| Name: |
Heritage Branch |
| Database Number: |
5051461 |
| File Number: |
S97/00244 (CMP), H06/00285 |
|
Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the
Database Manager.
All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of the Heritage Branch or respective copyright owners.
|
Listings
