Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Mitchell Highway (B71)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 337 km
- Termini:
- Northern: NSW-QLD Border north of Barringun
- Southern: Barrier Hwy (A32) and Mitchell Hwy (A32) at Nyngan
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as Mitchell Highway (A71) in QLD and as Mitchell Highway (A32) in NSW
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Nyngan, Girilambone, Coolabah, Byrock, Bourke, Enngonia and Barringun
Route Numbering:
- Current: B71
- Former: 71
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW7
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.The route consists of typical NSW rural highway standard, undivided single carriageway.
History:
- 1930s: Formation of the route to Bourke. 2
- 1958: Reconstruction between Bourke and Queensland border and bituminous 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
- 5 November 1968: Reconstruction of Mitchell Hwy north of Bourke completed. Works included sealing of road southwards from the Queensland Border to Enngonia and works on a deviation immediately south of Enngonia. 3
- October 1969: Works begin on reconstruction and bitumen Sealing of the Mitchell Highway north of Bourke. Construction took place between 20 miles and 40 miles north of Bourke. 4
- 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
- 2013: Introduction of B71 route number as part of the alphanumeric route numbering scheme rollout.
Queensland Border to Nyngan
New South Wales / Queensland Border:
Crossing from Queensland into New South Wales at Barringun, November 2016. The Mitchell Hwy changes at this location from A71 in Queensland to B71 in New South Wales.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Tourism-based distance sign at Barringun, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Barringun:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Barringun, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Barringun:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it passes through the town of Barringun, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Services sign leaving Barringun town centre, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Kidman Way Sign:
Southbound sign on Mitchell Hwy (B71) at Barringun showing the towns along the Kidman Way, which starts in Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Enngonia:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Engonnia, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
McCabe Street:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and McCabe St, Engonnia, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Shearer Street:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Shearer St, Engonnia, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Lower Lila Road:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Lower Lila Rd at North Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Twin Rivers Road:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Twin Rivers Rd at North Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Bundy Road:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Bundy Rd at North Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at North Bourke approaching Hungerford Rd, November 2016. B71 turns left at this intersection.
Image © Paul Rands
Darling River:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses Darling River via Gateway Bridge at North Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Polygonum Swamp:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses Polygonum Swamp at Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Polygonum Swamp:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses the Billabong of Polygonum Swamp at Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bourke approaching Mitchell St and Richard St, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Street & Richard Street:
Intersection directional sign on the junction with Mitchell St and Richard St in Bourke, November 2016. B71 turns left at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bourke approaching Kidman Way (B87) and Anson St, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Kidman Way & Anson Street:
Intersection directional sign on the junction with Kidman Way (B87) and Anson St in Bourke, November 2016. B71 turns left at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign leaving Bourke, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Byrock:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Byrock, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
Non-standard fingerboards at the corner of Gongolgon St and Cobar St in Byrock, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing the entrance to Glenariff Station, Byrock, March 2024.
Image © Richy Qingyuan Han
Cooneybar Road:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Cooneybar Rd at Coolabah, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Arthur Hall VC Way at Coolabah, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Arthur Hall VC Way:
Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Arthur Hall VC Way at Coolabah, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Coolabah, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Girilambone:
Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Girilambone, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Booramugga Road:
ID sign assembly at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Booramugga Rd at Girilambone, March 2024. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2016
Image © Andrew Swinn
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Nyngan approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Barrier Hwy (A32), November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway:
Southern terminus of B71, Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Barrier Hwy (A32) at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.
3 Western Herald, Mitchell Highway Bitumen Sealed Between Enngonia and Barringun, 1 Nov 1968.
4 Western Herald, Construction of Mitchell Highway North of Bourke, 10 Oct 1969.