Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning

Item details


Name of item:	Old Great North Road, Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning
Other name/s:	Section 3 (in CMP)
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Land
Category:	Road
Location:	Lat: -33.3661226929 Long: 150.9873892400
Primary address:	between Wisemans Ferry and Mount Manning, Wisemans Ferry, NSW 2775
Parish:	Spencer
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Hawkesbury
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	41		DP	755257

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
between Wisemans Ferry and Mount Manning	Wisemans Ferry	Hawkesbury	Spencer	Northumberland	Primary Address
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning	Wisemans Ferry	Hawkesbury	Spencer	Northumberland	Alternate Address
Between Devine's Hill and Mount Manning	Wisemans Ferry	Central Coast	Mangrove	Northumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
National Parks and Wildlife Service	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: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Thomes Mitchell (surveyor general)
Builder/Maker:	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
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
CMP-Comment	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	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

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

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	View detail
Written	Abad, Sarah (producer)	2020	Old Great North Road (video)	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	The Great North Road	View detail
Tourism	Convict Trails Organisation	2007	Convict Trails	View detail
Written	Grace Karskens	1991	The Great North Road: Interpretation and Statement of Cultural Significance
Written	NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service; Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations & Communities	2013	I Phone app - The Great North Road	View detail
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 NSW
Database number:	5051461
File number:	S97/00244 (CMP), H06/00285

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