Length:

1161 km (Brunswick Heads to Ballina: 40 km)

Termini:

Northern: Gold Coast Hwy (SR2) and Pacific Mwy (Tugun Bypass) (M1) at Tweed Heads West

Southern: NSW / VIC Border

Miscellaneous:

Continues Princes Hwy (A1) in Victoria and as Pacific Mwy (M1) at Tweed Heads West

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Brunswick Heads, Tyagarah, Ewingsdale, McLeods Shoot, Talofa, Bangalow, Newrybar, Knockrow, Tintenbar, Cumbalum and Ballina

Current: M1

Former: 1

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

HW10 (Tweed Heads West to Hexham)

General Information:

National Route 1 formed 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. At the time it was 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 later by M1 at Tweed Heads West, as a result the route was split into 2 sections.

When National Route 1 was initially established, the Pacific Highway section began at the Tweed Heads town centre at the NSW-QLD border. It meandered south, mostly following the coast to Newcastle, then passed through Gosford, Brooklyn, Hornsby, Wahroonga, Chatswood, Artarmon, and North Sydney, concluding at Milsons Point. Subsequently, NR1 transitioned into the Bradfield Hwy, traversed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, weaved through the Sydney CBD via several streets, and finally journeyed south through Wollongong, the NSW South Coast, and towards the Victorian border along the Princes Highway. Since the 1950s, the route has been continually modified and redirected in response to evolving road conditions and changing traffic demands. By the time National Route 1 was decommissioned, substantial segments of the route had been significantly diverted from their original alignments or had undergone major transformations, bearing minimal resemblance to their initial configurations.

At the time of decommissioning, the National Route 1 section of the Pacific Hwy ran between Tweed Heads West and Hexham (west of Newcastle). The route was a mix of undivided rural highway standard, motorway or dual carriageway highway conditions. During the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the route was altered significantly to bypass towns, tortuous mountain passes and sub-standard alignments.

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 construction, 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.

Pacific Highway:

1932: Two new small concrete bridges were commenced over Cut Rock and Bangalow Creeks. ²

1934: Near Ballina, the section between Burn's Point Ferry (along Burns Point Ferry Road and the Ballina-Lismore trunk road ((Bruxner Highway) recently bypassed by Ballina Bypass), a length of approximately 1 km, was reconstructed in cement concrete. ³

1939: By this time, two thirds of the Pacific Highway was bitumen paved. ⁴

9 March 1945: Gazette showing the route of the Pacific Highway was deviated via Brunswick Heads eliminating a section of road via Mullumbimby, previously part of the Pacific Highway. ⁵

1947: Construction of a subway under the railway south of Crabbe's Creek. Construction of concrete bridge over Byron Creek at Bangalow. ⁶

1951: Construction of Tintenbar deviation. ⁷

1953: Work began on a reinforced concrete bridge 220 feet long over North Creek Canal at 1.5 miles west of Ballina and another reinforced concrete bridge 220 feet long over the same creek 1.5 miles north of Ballina. ⁸

1956: 543 miles out of 574 miles of Pacific now with a bitumen surface. ⁹

1957: On the Pacific Hwy at Burns Point near West Ballina, additional ferry ramps and approaches were constructed close to the existing ramps so that a second ferry vessel can be operated in holiday and other periods when required by traffic. ¹⁰

1958: The bitumen surfacing of the Pacific Highway (576 miles in length) was completed. ¹¹

1961: A new 16-vehicle ferry vessel with steel hull was put into service at Burns Point. As a result, the service at peak periods was operated by two 16-vehicle vessels operated in parallel. ¹²

1962: Construction began on an eight-span prestressed concrete bridge with vertical lift span over the Richmond River at Wardell. The bridge, 736 feet long, forms part of a major deviation of the Highway between Wardell and Burns Point and eliminated the Burns Point ferry crossing from the Highway as well as the Wardell Ferry. ¹³

1963: Work began between Wardell and Ballina, on the construction of a deviation of the Highway. Widening of the Pacific Highway between Bangalow and Tweed Heads. Work began on a six-span steel and reinforced concrete bridge, 363 feet long, over Duck Creek on the then new route of the Highway built between Wardell and Ballina. Climbing lanes were constructed on the Pacific Highway north of Bangalow. ¹⁴

1964: Completion of the six-span steel and reinforced concrete bridge, 363 feet long, over Duck Creek near Ballina on what became a part of a major deviation of the Highway between Wardell and Burn's Point. ¹⁵

1965: The final seal was applied to the Wardell Deviation located between Wardell and Ballina. This deviation eliminated a ferry from the route of the Highway. It also eliminated a ferry from the Wardell-Coonellabah Main Road. Construction was commenced on a deviation at Newrybar which eliminated a narrow winding section. The length of the deviation is 1.3 miles and is located approximately 14 miles north of Bangalow. ¹⁶

1967: Construction of the approaches to Emigrant Creek Bridge and on the deviation from the bridge to the Burns Point turnoff. Emigrant Creek bridge also opened to traffic. The relocation of buildings was carried out on the proposed deviation at Newrybar. ¹⁷

1968: Completion of the deviation at Newrybar. ¹⁸

1973: Reconstruction was completed between Tintenbar and Knockrow. ¹⁹

1974: Reconstruction was completed between Tintenbar and Newrybar. ²⁰

December 1994: The first stage of the Bangalow Bypass was opened to traffic. This was a single carriageway with overtaking lanes for both northbound and southbound traffic. ²¹ Bridges were constructed over the Byron Bay Road, Byron Creek and the North Coast Railway Line. A bridge was also constructed at the northern end of the bypass, taking southbound highway traffic destined for Bangalow and Lismore over the new highway. All major earthworks for the second carriageway were undertaken during the first stage of the Bangalow Bypass, to ensure minimal disruption to local residents during construction of Stage 2.

10 December 1997: The second carriageway of Bangalow Bypass was opened to traffic. Work also included duplication of bridges constructed under Stage 1. ²²

5 June 1998: Brunswick Heads Bypass Stage 1 opens to traffic after stop-start construction as a result of a contractor going into voluntary administration. The upgrade provides a 3.4 km bypass of Brunswick Heads including two bridges, fauna underpasses and wildlife fencing. The first stage was a single carriageway with at-grade intersections. ²³

16 October 1998: Ewingsdale to Tyagarah upgrade project opened to traffic. The upgrade provided over 4.3 km of dual carriageways, and extends from just north of the Byron Bay turn-off to north of the Tyagarah Railway Bridge. The project included construction of twin bridges over Tyagarah Creek, as well as new duplicate bridges over the Casino / Murwillumbah Railway and Tyagarah Swamp. ²⁴

February 1999: Construction started on the Ewingsdale Interchange at the Myocum Road / Ewingsdale Road intersection (Byron Bay turn-off). ²⁵

4 September 2000: Ewingsdale Interchange opens to traffic. ²⁵

February 2001: Completion of Ewingsdale Interchange. ²⁵

December 2001: Opening of the dual carriageway Tandy's Lane upgrade. ²⁶

May 2008: Construction begins on Ballina Bypass. The route is 12 kilometres of dual carriageway, extending from south of Ballina at the intersection of the Bruxner and Pacific highways to north of Ballina at the intersection of Ross Lane at Tintenbar. ²⁷

March 2011: The Cumbalum to Ross Lane section of Ballina Bypass was opened to traffic. ²⁷

1 March 2011: Ballina Bypass (Pacific Highway) opens to traffic, just after 4:30 pm. ²⁸

November 2011: The second stage of Ballina Bypass from Teven Road to Cumbalum interchange was opened. ²⁷

2012: Works start on the 17 kilometres of four-lane divided road from the northern end of the Ballina bypass at Ross Lane to the existing Ewingsdale interchange. ²⁷

May 2012: The final section of the Ballina Bypass project, which separated the Bruxner and Pacific highways, was opened to traffic. ²⁷

2013: NR1 decommissioned with the introduction of alphanumeric route numbering.

Click or tap here for the former alignment between Brunswick Heads and Ballina
Click or tap here for construction photos between Brunswick Heads and Ballina
Click or tap here for historic photos between Brunswick Heads and Ballina

Brunswick Heads to Ballina

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Brunswick Heads approaching Gulgan Rd, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Brunswick Heads:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it bypasses Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Brunswick River:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Brunswick River via Matthew Devine Bridge at Brunswick Heads, July 2007. The bridge is named after a local pioneer. ²⁸

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Brunswick Heads, December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2007.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brunswick Heads approaching Gulgan Rd, December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2007.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gulgan Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at Gulgan Rd interchange, Brunswick Heads, December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2007.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp to Gulgan Rd, Brunswick Heads, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Divided Road for 11km:

Sign indicating length of divided roadway at the start of the Tandy's Lane upgrade section, Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Brunswick Heads, May 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Tandys Lane:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes under Tandys Lane at Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brunswick Heads, approaching Gulgan Rd (former Pacific Hwy), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Gulgan Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Gulgan Rd interchange at Tyagarah, November 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Tyagarah, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tyagarah approaching Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd interchange, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Tyagarah approaching Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd interchange, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Tyagarah approaching Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd interchange, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tyagarah approaching Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd interchange, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Tourism-based distance sign at Ewingsdale, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Ewingsdale Road & Myocum Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the interchange with Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd at Ewingsdale, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Ewingsdale Road & Myocum Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the interchange with Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) & Myocum Rd at Ewingsdale, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp to Ewingsdale Rd (TD30) and Myocum Rd at Ewingsdale, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Ewingsdale, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

St Helena Hill:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at Mcleods Shoot climbing St Helena Hill, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Coolamon Scenic Drive:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Coolamon Scenic Dr at Mcleoads Shoot, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at St Helena, approaching Granuaille Rd, July 2007. Click or tap here for of this location by Paul Rands from September 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Services Sign:

Services sign at Bangalow, approaching Granuaille Rd, March 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Possum Creek Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Possum Ck Rd at Bangalow, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Rest area reassurance directional sign, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bangalow, approaching Granuaille Rd, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Granuaille Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Granuaille Rd interchange, Bangalow, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Granuaille Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Granuaille Rd interchange, Bangalow, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Byron Creek:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) crossing Byron Creek at Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Byron Bay Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) passing over Byron Bay Rd at Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Newrybar approaching Broken Head Rd, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Broken Head Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Broken Head Rd at Newrybar, November 2010. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2007.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Newrybar, approaching Old Pacific Hwy, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Pacific Highway:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Old Pacific Hwy at Newrybar, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Newrybar, approaching Ross Ln, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tintenbar, approaching Tintenbar Rd (TD28), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Tintenbar Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Tintenbar Rd (TD28) at Tintenbar, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Tintenbar Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Tintenbar Rd (TD28) at Tintenbar, November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Pacific Hwy (Ballina Bypass) (NR1), approaching Bruxner Hwy (NR44) interchange, September 2013. The Ballina Bypass route replaced NR1 through the Ballina town centre.

Image © Trent Thomson

Ballina to Brunswick Heads

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at West Ballina, May 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Tintenbar:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Tintenbar, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tintenbar, approaching Tintenbar Rd (TD28), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tintenbar, approaching Ross Ln, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Knockrow:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Knockrow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Byron Bay Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Old Byron Bay Rd at Knockrow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Newrybar, approaching Old Pacific Hwy, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Watsons Ln, Newrybar, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Newrybar:

The Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it winds its way through the Newrybar area, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bangalow:

The Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it winds its way through the Banglaow area, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Bangalow Rd, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Services Sign:

Services sign approaching Bangalow Rd, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bangalow Road Interchange:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Bangalow Rd interchange, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Bangalow Road Interchange:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Bangalow Rd interchange, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Granuaille Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Granuaille Rd overpass, Bangalow, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at St Helena, approaching Myocum Rd (TD30) interchange, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Divided Road 1 km Ahead:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at St Helena, approaching the divided section of highway, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

St Helena Hill:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it descends St Helena Hill, May 2013.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Myocum Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Myocum (TD30) interchange, Ewingsdale, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Ewingsdale, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Kennedy Ln & Old Pacific Hwy, Ewingsdale, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Tyagarah Road:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Tyagarah Rd at Tyagarah, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Tyagarah, approaching Gulgan Rd, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gulgan Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Gulgan Rd interchange, Tyagarah, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Tyagarah, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Rest area distance sign at Tyagarah, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brunswick Heads, approaching Gulgan Rd (former Pacific Hwy), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Gulgan Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Gulgan Rd interchange, Brunswick Heads, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp to Gulgan Rd at Brunswick Heads, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gulgan Road:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes under Gulgan Rd at Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brunswick Heads approaching Brunswick Valley Way (TD40), July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Brunswick Valley Way:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the Brunswick Valley Way (TD40) (former Pacific Hwy) interchange at Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Brunswick River:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Brunswick River via Matthew Devine Bridge at Brunswick Heads, July 2007. The bridge is named after a local pioneer. ²⁸

Image © Paul Rands

Brunswick Heads:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it bypasses Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Brunswick Heads:

Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it bypasses Brunswick Heads, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brunswick Heads, approaching Tweed Valley Way (TD40) (former Pacific Hwy) interchange, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Variable Message Sign:

VMS at Brunswick Heads, before Tweed Valley Way (TD40) interchange, July 2007.

Image © Paul Rands