Expressway - The Australian Highway Site: Road Photos & Information: NSW: Decommissioned NR1 (Ulladulla to Batemans Bay)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Southern Freeway, Mount Ousley Road and Princes Highway (National Route 1) (Decommissioned)

Ulladulla to Batemans Bay

Statistics:

Length:: 1161 km (Ulladulla to Batemans Bay: 53 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:: Burrill Lake, Lake Tabourie, Termeil, Cockwhy, East Lynne, Benandarah, North Batemans Bay and Batemans Bay

Route Numbering:

Current: A1
Former: 1
Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹: HW1 (Yallah to NSW-VIC Border)

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.

Princes Highway:

The Princes Highway was formed from a string of roads linking Sydney to the Illawarra, which later was renumbered as National Route 1. During the 1990s National Route 1 was renumbered to Metroad 1 to improve navigation through the Sydney metropolitan area.

At the time of decommissioning, the Princes Highway section of NR1 formed a coastal route from Yallah, in Wollongong's southern suburbs to the NSW-VIC border, before continuing to Melbourne and into South Australia. The route was a mix of urban arterial road, dual carriageway and also rural highway.

History:

Princes Highway:: 7 June 1926: the Princes Highway comes under a federal and state government £ for £ funding scheme, thus recognising the importance of the highway as major route.; July 1927: Construction begins on a new 60 by 28 feet oil driven vehicular punt over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay. It replaced an existing punt that had been running continuously without overhaul for over 11 years. ²; 1932: Minor widening between East Lynne and Benandra, between Benandra and Bateman's Bay. ³; 1933: A deviation of 3481 feet long was completed at Ulladulla, eliminating two right-angled bends. ⁴; February 1936: Work starts on a 11.75 mile deviation between Milton and Bateman's Bay, and eliminated a narrow and tortuous route of the Highway over the Cockwhy Range between Termeil and Cockwhy Creek. ⁵; 1937: Planting and landscaping program started along Princes Highway. ⁵; 1938: Construction of bridges on Princes Highway over Conjola Creek at Conjola and Higgins Creek south of Termeil. ⁶; 1939: by the middle of the year, 300 miles (or 50% of the then highway) had been paved with bituminous surface.; 1949: Construction began on the steel and concrete bridge over the Clyde River at Bateman's Bay (length 1008 feet). ⁷; 1956: Bitumen surfacing on Princes Hwy between Sydney and Eden totalling 305 miles out of 321 miles. ⁸; 21 November 1956: bridge built by the Department of Main Roads over the Clyde River at Bateman's Bay was officially opened for traffic by the Hon. J. B. Renshaw, M.L.A., Minister for Local Government and Minister for Highways. The bridge replaced the only remaining vehicular ferry on the Princes Highway between Sydney and the Victorian border.; 1957: Completion of the steel and concrete bridge over the Clyde River at Bateman's Bay. Length 1,008 feet. The structure, which replaced a ferry service, features ten spans, including a lift span. ⁹; 1958: The low-level Princes Highway bridge and 150 metre long causeway over Burrill Lake built. It is a composite prestressed unit bridge with six spans of 9.14 metre each and an overall length of 54.86 metres. The bridge has a carriageway that is 8.5 metres wide with a 1.53 metre footway on the western side of the bridge. ¹⁰ Completion of a bridge over Burrill Lake comprising prestressed concrete piles, pre-stressed concrete girders, reinforced concrete deck and handrails. Length 180 feet. It replaced a timber beam bridge. ¹¹; 1964: Curve advisory speed signs installed on Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian Border. ¹²; 1967: The southern approach to the bridge over the Clyde River at Bateman's Bay was reconstructed and the intersection at the southern end of the bridge improved. Channelisation completed at the intersection with Clyde Street at southern approach to Batemans Bay Bridge. ¹³; 2013: NR1 decommissioned with the introduction of alphanumeric route numbering.

Click or tap here for historic photos between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay

Ulladulla to Batemans Bay

Burrill Lake:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it passes through the town of Burrill Lake, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Burrill Lake:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Burrill Lake, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Dolphin Point Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the junction with Dolphin Point Rd, Burrill Lake, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Wallaroy Dr at Burrill Lake, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Wallaroy Dr at Burrill Lake, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Burrill Lake, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Lake Tabourie approaching Weymouth Rd, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Weymouth Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Weymouth Rd at Lake Tabourie, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Lake Tabourie, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Lake Tabourie, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it passes through Lake Tabourie, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

River Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and River Rd, Lake Tabourie, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Lemon Tree Creek:

Narrow bridge sign approaching Lemon Tree Creek at Lake Tabourie, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Lemon Tree Creek:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Lemon Tree Creek at Lake Tabourie, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Termeil:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Termeil, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Monkey Mountain Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Monkey Mtn Rd at Termeil, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Termeil approaching Bawley Point Rd and Old Highway, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Termeil:

Princes Hwy (NR1) passing through the village of Termeil, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Highway:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Old Highway at Termeil, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Bawley Point Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Bawley Point Rd at Termeil, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Termeil, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Pebbly Beach Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Pebbly Beach Rd at East Lynne, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering East Lynne:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters the village of East Lynne, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

East Lynne:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it passes through the village of East Lynne, October 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Mount Agony Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Mt Agony Rd at East Lynne, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Benandarah approaching Durras Rd, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Durras Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Durras Rd at Benandarah, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Benandarah:

The Princes Hwy (NR1) as it passes through Benandarah, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Benandarah approaching Cullendulla Dr, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Cullendulla Drive:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Cullendulla Dr at Benandarah, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at North Batemans Bay approaching Berrima Pde, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Berrima Parade:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the junction with Berrima Pde, Batemans Bay, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Batemans Bay:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Batemans Bay approaching Peninsula Dr and Kings Hwy (NR52), September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the junction with Peninsula Dr and Kings Hwy (NR1) at Batemans Bay, October 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the junction with Peninsula Dr and Kings Hwy (NR1) at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Opening Bridge Warning Lights:

Warning lights approaching Clyde River at Batemans Bay, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Clyde River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clyde River at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Clyde River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Clyde River at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Batemans Bay approaching Beach Rd and the entrance to Mackay Park, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Beach Road & Mackay Park:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and the entrance to Mackay Pk at Batemans Bay, November 2010. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Beach Rd, Batemans Bay, approaching Princes Hwy (NR1) and Mackay Park, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign facing Beach Rd, Batemans Bay, at the junction with Princes Hwy (NR1) and Mackay Park, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign assembly on the corner of Beach Rd and Orient St, Batemans Bay, March 2025.

Image © Kyle Hanley

Old Princes Highway:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Old Princes Hwy at Batemans Bay, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Cranbrook Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Cranbrook Rd at Batemans Bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Cranbrook Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Cranbrook Rd at Batemans Bay, October 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Tourism Region Reassurance Directional Sign:

Tourism region distance sign at Batemans Bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Batemans Bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Batemans Bay to Ulladulla

Entering Batemans Bay:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Hughes Street:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Hughes St, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Highway:

Princes Hwy (NR1) approaching the Old Princes Hwy, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the junction with Old Princes Hwy at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Divided Road:

Old text divided road sign at the divided section of highway, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Beach Rd and Mackay Park, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Mackay Park and Beach Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1), Mackay Park entrance and Beach Rd at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

North Street:

Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and North St, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Flashing Warning Sign:

Flashing warning sign approaching Clyde River, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Clyde River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) crossing the Clyde River at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Clyde River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) crossing the Clyde River at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Batemans Bay, approaching Kings Hwy (NR1) and Peninsula Dr, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Kings Highway & Peninsula Drive:

ID sign at the roundabout with Kings Hwy (NR1) and Peninsula Dr, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Kings Highway & Peninsula Drive:

ID sign at the roundabout with Kings Hwy (NR1) and Peninsula Dr, Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Batemans Bay, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Surfside, approaching Berrima Pde, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Berrima Parade:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Berrima Parade, Surfside, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Surfside, approaching Cullendulla Dr, September 2009.

Cullendulla Drive:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Cullendulla Dr, Surfside, September 2009.

Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay Sign:

AD sign for heavy vehicle inspection bay at Benandarah, September 2009.

Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay Sign:

Sign for heavy vehicle inspection bay at Benandarah, September 2009.

Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the heavy vehicle inspection bay at Benandarah, September 2009.

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Rest area distance sign at Benandarah, September 2009.

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching Durras Dr, Benandarah, September 2009.

Durras Drive:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Durras Dr, Benandarah, September 2009.

Entering East Lynne:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of East Lynne, September 2009.

Mt Agony Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Mt Agony Rd at East Lynne, September 2009.

Police Enforcement Sign:

Police enforcement sign from the 90s, East Lynne, September 2009.

Pebbly Beach Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Pebbly Beach Rd at East Lynne, September 2009.

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Cockwhy, September 2009.

Welcome to Shoalhaven Coast Wine Region:

Tourism sign at Termeil, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Termeil, approaching Bawley Point Rd and Old Princes Hwy, September 2009.

Bawley Point Road & Old Princes Highway:

Corner of Bawley Point Rd and Old Princes Hwy, Termeil, September 2009.

Bawley Point Road & Old Princes Highway:

Corner of Bawley Point Rd and Old Princes Hwy, Termeil, September 2009.

Bawley Point Road & Old Princes Highway:

Corner of Bawley Point Rd and Old Princes Hwy, Termeil, September 2009.

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Termeil, September 2009.

Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) entering Lake Tabourie, September 2009.

River Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and River Rd, Lake Tabourie, September 2009.

Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) passing through Lake Tabourie, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Lake Tabourie, approaching the entrance to Lake Tabourie Caravan Park, September 2009.

Lake Tabourie:

Princes Hwy (NR1) crossing Lake Tabourie, September 2009.

Lake Tabourie Caravan Park:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the entrance to Lake Tabourie Caravan Park, September 2009.

Welcome To Ulladulla and Districts:

Council welcome sign near Lake Tabourie, September 2009.

Wheelbarrow Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Wheelbarrow Rd at Burrill Lake, September 2009.

Entering Burrell Lake:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it enters the town of Burrell Lake, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Burrill Lake, approaching Wallaroy Rd and Dolphin Point Rd, September 2009.

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the roundabout with Wallaroy Rd, Dolphin Point Rd and Princes Hwy (NR1) at Burrill Lake, September 2009.

Burrill Lake:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Burrill Lake, September 2009.

Click or tap here for the continuation of NR1 between Batemans Bay to Bodalla
Click or tap here for the continuation of NR1 between South Nowra to Ulladulla

¹ NSW Government, Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011.
² NSW Government, Main Roads Board, Annual Report, 1926-27.
³ NSW Government, Main Roads Board Annual Report, 1932.
⁴ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1932-33.
⁵ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1936-37.
⁶ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1937-38.
⁷ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1948-49.
⁸ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1955-56.
⁹ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1956-57.
¹⁰ NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Burrill Lake.
¹¹ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1957-58.
¹² NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1963-64.
¹³ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1966-67.