Length:

338 km

Termini:

Northern: NSW / QLD Border, north of Barringun

Southern: Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Mitchell Hwy (NR32), Nyngan

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Mitchell Hwy (A71) in QLD and continues as Mitchell Hwy (NR32) from Nyngan NSW

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Nyngan, Girilambone, Coolabah, Byrock, Bourke, Enngonia and Barringun

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 and services several small towns and villages and passes through rural and bushland areas.

1930s: Formation of the route to Bourke. ²

9 October 1936: A proclamation was published in the Government Gazette, indicating the road from Bathurst, through Bourke to the Queensland border at Barringun, formerly known as the North-western Highway was named the Mitchell Highway in order to perpetuate the name of Sir Thomas Mitchell, one time Surveyor-General of New South Wales and a noted Australian explorer. ³

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

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: NR71 decommissioned and replaced by B71.

Click or tap here for the former alignment between Nyngan and QLD Border

Nyngan to QLD Border

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Nyngan on the outskirts of town. August 2008. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003.

Image © Rick Wardle

Distance Sign:

Another distance sign but for rest areas, this time leaving Nyngan. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

No Fuel Sign:

Typical NSW sign indicating no service stations for a specified distance. This one is leaving Bourke. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

Black Intersection Directional Sign:

Black ID sign at Twin Rivers Rd, North Bourke. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

QLD Border to Nyngan

NSW Welcome Sign:

Crossing from QLD into NSW, southbound, at Barringun. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

Kidman Way Sign:

Southbound sign on Mitchell Hwy (NR71) at Barringun showing the towns along the Kidman Way, which starts in Bourke. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

Advance Directional Sign:

Southbound AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (NR71) (Warraweena St) in Bourke as you approach the intersection with Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) (Mitchell St). Kidman Way reference should be prefixed with "To" as it does not originate as this junction. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle

Entering Nyngan:

Mitchell Hwy (NR71) as it enters the town of Nyngan. August 2008.

Image © Rick Wardle