Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Route Number
Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Southern Freeway, Mount Ousley Road & Princes Highway (National Route 1) (Decommissioned) - Ballina to Maclean

Statistics:

Route Numbering:

General Information:

National Route 1 forms part of the main coastal route between Victoria and Queensland. The route features a mix of rural highway, arterial and freeway design standards. The route forms part of what is collectively known as Highway 1. It is Australia's coastal highway joining all mainland's state capitals and coastal towns circumnavigating the entire Australian continent. It is also the longest numbered highway in the world, covering more than 14 500 km.

In New South Wales, National Route 1 was truncated by National Highway 1 between Beresfield and Wahroonga, by Metroad 1 between Wahroonga and Waterfall and by M1 at Tweed Heads West.

Northern Section:

The northern section of National Route 1 took in a small section of New England Highway and the rest was made up by the Pacific Highway. The route varies from dual carriageway arterial and highway standard, to motorway standard and the rest is generally undivided rural highway conditions. The Pacific Highway is very well trafficked, and as a result notorious for a large amount of road trauma within the state. These crashes have resulted in more than 50% of the route being divided since the late 1980s.

The Pacific Highway section of NR1 runs between Brunswick Heads and Hexham, and also between Wahroonga and the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. The northern section between Brunswick Heads and Hexham is a mix of dual carriageway, rural highway and urban arterial roadway. The southern section between Wahroonga and Artarmon is urban arterial standard and passes through one of Sydney's more affluent areas.

The highway traces its origins back to an early settler, George Peat, who owned the land between the Hawkesbury River and Mooney Mooney Creek. To provide access to his property, Peat began a ferry service across the Hawkesbury River in 1844 and surveyed, then constructed a road between Hornsby and Kariong in 1854. After his death in 1870, the ferry service was abandoned and the road fell into disrepair, finally closing to all traffic in 1899, following the completion of the Sydney-Newcastle railway.

Demand for a route between Sydney and Newcastle dates back to the early 20th century. When the only access was via the sea or via a long route through the town of Wiseman's Ferry. In the 1920s, the then Main Roads Board undertook a series of surveys to form an easier and more reliable route north from Sydney. In 1928 construction began on upgrading the old road and converting it to a modern standard, plus creating  a new route north, utilising some of the abandoned Peat's Ferry Rd, while improving the horizontal and vertical alignments. In May 1930 the ferry service across the Hawkesbury River was re-established to service the new road until such times that a bridge became necessary. June 1930 marked the completion of the concrete surfacing.

During the time of the Hornsby to Gosford contruction, improvements were made to roads between Gosford to Newcastle as part of the link. On May 17 in 1929, the route was named as the Great Northern Highway. The work from Hornsby to Gosford cost almost £1 million, however it was money well spent, reducing the trip from Sydney to Newcastle from 9 hours to 4 ½ hours.

History:

Pacific Highway:

Click here for historic photos of the Pacific Hwy between Ballina and Maclean
Click here for photos of former alignments between Ballina and Maclean

Ballina to Maclean   Maclean to Ballina
Preview: Description:   Preview: Description:
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Uralba, approaching Bruxner Hwy (NR44), November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Services Sign:
Services sign at Maclean approaching Ferry Park, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Uralba, approaching Bruxner Hwy (NR44), November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Bypassed Town Sign:
Bypassed town sign sign approaching Cameron St, Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bruxner Highway:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Bruxner Hwy (NR44) at at Uralba, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Paul Rands of this location from July 2007.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Maclean, approaching Cameron St (former Pacific Hwy alignment), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Uralba, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Services Sign:
Services sign approaching Ferry Park & Cameron St, Maclean, June 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional sign:
AD sign at Wardell, approaching Fitzroy St East and Carlisle St, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Direction Sign:
AD sign approaching Cameron St, Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Oversized Warning Sign:
Oversized vehicle warning sign at Wardell, approaching Richmond River, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Cameron Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Cameron St, Maclean, June 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1), Fitzroy St East and Carlisle St, Wardell, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Cameron Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Cameron St, Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Flashing Warning Sign:
Flashing warning sign approaching Richmon d River, Wardell, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bridge SIgnals:
Special traffic signals approaching the Wardell Bridge over the Richmond River at Wardell, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign, Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Wardell bridge:
The lift-span Wardell bridge over the Richmond River at Wardell, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Flashing Warning Sign:
Flashing warning sign at Maclean approaching Harwood Bridge over Clarence River, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

River Drive:
Intersection directional sign at the corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and River Dr (former Pacific Hwy) at East Wardell, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Maclean approaching Yamba Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Broadwater approaching McDonald St (TD26), November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign near Yamba Rd, Maclean for Iluka Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Broadwater:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Broadwater, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Yamba Rd, Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Broadwater, approaching MacDonald St (TD26), November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Yamba Road:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Yamba Rd interchange at Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

McDonald Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and McDonald St (TD26), Broadwater, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Safe-T-Cam:
Safe-T-Cam heavy vehicle monitoring system at Maclean near Harwood Bridge, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Rileys Hill Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Rileys Hills Rd at Broadwater, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Harwood bridge:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clarence River, via Harwood Bridge at Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign on the outskirts of Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Harwood bridge:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clarence River, via Harwood Bridge at Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Woodburn:
Town welcome sign at Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Harwood bridge:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clarence River, via Harwood Bridge at Maclean, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Alfred St, Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Harwood, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Alfred Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Alfred St, Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Harwood, approaching Watts Ln, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Court Steet & Cedar Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1), Court St & Cedar St, Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Serpentine Channel:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Serpentine Channel at Harwood, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Woodburn, approaching Coraki Rd, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance DIrectional Sign:
AD sign at Chatsworth approaching the southern end of Chatsworth Rd (former Pacific Hwy), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Coraki Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Coraki Rd at Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Divided Road 1km Ahead:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) at Chatsworth approaching the divided section, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign at Woodburn, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Divided Road for 1.2km:
The small section of divided road at Chatsworth, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Woodburn, November 2010. Click here for a close up of this sign by Rob Tilley from May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Chatsworth Road & Fischers Lane:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the junction with Chatsworth Rd and Fischers Ln, Chatsworth, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:
Rest area reassurance directional sign at Trustrums Hill, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Mororo bridge:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clarence River via Mororo Bridge at Chatsworth, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Trustrums Hill approaching Gap Rd, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Mororo bridge:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clarence River via Mororo Bridge at Chatsworth, July 2007. The bridge once carried two-way traffic.

Image © Paul Rands

Gap Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Gap Rd at Trustrums Hill, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Woombah approaching Iluka Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at The Gap for Swan Bay-New Italy Rd, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Iluka Rd at Woombah, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign for New Italy Rest Area, approaching Swan Bay-New Italy Rd at The Gap, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Iluka Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Iluka Rd at Woombah
Swan Bay-New Italy Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Swan Bay-New Italy Rd at The Gap, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Woombah, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:
Rest area reassurance directional sign at The Gap, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign at Woombah, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign at Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Tabbimobile Creek:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Tabbimobile Ck at Tabbimobile, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Jacky Bulbin Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Jacky Bulbin Rd at Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign at Tabbimoble, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Iluka Rd at Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at New Italy approaching Swan Bay-New Italy Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Iluka Rd, Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Swan Bay-New Italy Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Swan Bay-New Italy Rd at New Italy, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Iluka Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Iluka Rd, Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at New Italy, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Iluka Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Iluka Rd, Mororo, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Divided Road:
Divided section of Pacific Hwy (NR1) using Brifen fencing at New Italy, July 2007. This is one of several two-way sections along the highway using this treatment.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign, Moror, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Supplemental Advance Diretional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Woodburn approaching Coraki-Woodburn Rd (TD24) and Alfred St (DTD26). Click here for a close up by Paul Rands of this sign from September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Mororo, approaching Chatsworth Rd, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Entering Woodburn:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Mororo Bridge:
Mororo Bridge over Chatsworth River at Moroso, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Coraki-Woodburn Rd (TD24) at Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Fischers Lane & Chastworth Road:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Fischers Ln and Chatsworth Rd, Chatsworth, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Court St & Cedar St, Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Chatsworth Road:
Southern end of Chatsworth Rd with Pacific Hwy (NR1) at Chatsworth, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Court Street & Cedar Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1), Court St and Cedar St in Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Flashing Warning Sign:
Flashing warning sign at Harwood for the Harwood Bridge over the Clarence River, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Woodburn, approaching Alfred St (TD26), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bypassed Town Sign:
Bypassed town sign at Harwood approaching River St & Yamba Rd (TD22), May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Services Sign:
Services sign at Woodburn, approaching Alfred St (TD26), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

River Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and River St, Harwood, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Alfred Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Alfred St (TD26) at Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Harwood approaching Yamba Rd (TD22), November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Rest area distance sign at Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Harwood bridge:
Harwood Bridge over Clarence River, Harwood, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Distance sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Woodburn, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Harwood bridge:
Harwood Bridge over Clarence River at Harwood, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Entering Broadwater:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Broadwater, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Yamba Road:
Pacific Hwy at the ramp to Yamba Rd (TD22) at Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Pitt Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Pitt St, Broadwater, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Flashing Warning Sign:
Flashing warning sign at Wardell approaching Wardell Bridge over Richmond River, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Services SIgn:
Services sign at Maclean, approaching Ferry Park Rest Area & Cameron St, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  River Drive:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the junction with River Dr (former Pacific Hwy) at Wardell, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Cameron St, Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Richmond River:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Richmond River via the lift-span Wardell Bridge at Wardell, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Services Sign:
Services sign at Maclean, approaching Ferry Park Rest Area & Cameron St, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Wardell approaching Bridge Dr, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Sign:
Advance directional sign approachign Cameron St, Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Carlisle Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Carlisle St (TD28) at Wardell, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Cameron Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Cameron St, Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Reast area distance sign at Wardell, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Cameron Street:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Cameron St, Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Uralba approaching Bruxner Hwy (NR44), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Maclean, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Uralba, approaching Bruxner Hwy (NR44), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Uralba, near Pimlico Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

      Bruxner Highway:
Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Bruxner Hwy (NR44) at Uralba, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Uralba, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

      Uralba:
Pacific Hwy (NR1) at Uralba with Ballina Bypass works in the distance, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Click here for the continuation of National Route 1 beteen Maclean and South Grafton
Click here for the continuation of National Route 1 between Brunswick Heads and Ballina

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1932-33
3 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1933-34
4 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1934-35
5 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1936-37
6 RTA Thematic History, 2nd Edition, 2006
7 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1954-55
8 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1955-56
9 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1957-58
10 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1962-63
11 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1944-45
12 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1964-65
13 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1966-67
14 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1967-68
15 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1976-77

Last updated: 11-Jul-2017 15:31

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