Introduction

The Great North Road originally branched from Windsor Road at Baulkham Hills. It is now called Old Northern Road between there and Wisemans Ferry. In 1829 Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell developed a shorter route which branched north from the Parramatta Road at Five Dock. A ferry crossed the Parramatta River from Abbotsford to Bedlam Point at Gladesville where part of the convict-built ferry landing remains. The route of the original road then runs along what are now a series of major and minor suburban roads to eventually become New Line Road at Pennant Hills and then join the original line from Castle Hill at Dural.

A convict-built causeway remains on Devlins Creek, Epping, just under the bus flyover of the M2.