Points of interest on the Old Great North Road
Thomas James bridge
On the sealed road beside the entrance to Devines Hill. This is the oldest bridge in use in continental Australia - stone foundations were constructed by the 25 th Road party in 1830 under convict overseer Thomas James.
Devines Hill
Massive buttresses, elaborate walls and culverts. Contains some of the finest engineering and convict workmanship on the Road
Culverts
Drainage was an important feature of the 19th century road building revolution. 41 stone-lined culverts take water away from the road on Devines Hill.
Buttresses
Five large buttresses supported the road against the face of the hill. The fourth buttress slipped down the hill after heavy rain in 1856.
Hangmans Cave
A natural overhang with a hole in the roof. Legend says it was used to hang convicts, but more likely it was used to store gunpowder, or as an observation post for overseers.
Stockade site
Up to 150 convicts camped here at any one time. Little physical evidence remains, but due to its high usage the area has never fully revegetated.
Finchs Line
Constructed in 1828 and abandoned the following year, this early ascent reveals Jonathon Warner's more rough and ready approach to road-building.
Shepherds Gully
Travellers chose this route to the Macdonald Valley and follow a less isolated way north.
The Darkinjung people
The Darkinjung people occupied this area north of the Hawkesbury River. They showed their tracks to early white surveyors, explorers and adventurers. Some of these became the route for the Great North Road. There are many signs of aboriginal occupation in this area.
Mitchells Loop
An earlier section abandoned in favour of a slightly shorter route. Although requiring additional construction, it fulfilled Thomas Mitchell's desire to keep the road as straight as possible
Ten Mile Hollow
Originally Twelve Mile Hollow until Devines Hill reduced the distance from Wisemans Ferry by 2 miles.
Timber culvert
One of the few remaining timber culverts on the road, now bypassed for its protection. Many other timber culverts along the Road have been burned by bushfires or were unwittingly destroyed by heavy 4WD and service vehicles in recent years.
Simpsons Track
An alternative shorter route to the Hunter, discovered by convict John Macdonald. Sections remained in use as the main road to the Central Coast until the Pacific Highway opened in 1930.
Stone foundations
Believed to be an early inn. Samuel Paley operated an establishment providing "water, accommodation, a cup of tea and feed for horses".
Clares bridge
The largest and most elaborate of the 7 surviving GNR bridges - built in 1830 by a bridge party under overseer Arnold Clare.
12 mile marker
Distance markers were carved into rock faces to reassure travellers of the distances. A number of timber mile markers have disappeared over time.
Drinking trough
A hollowed basin cut into a rock shelf, replenished by water seeping into it. Provided water for convict workers and travellers.
Frog Hollow
About 100 metres west of the road are hut foundations believed to have been erected by Solomon Wiseman to store food he supplied to the gangs.
Mt Baxter ascent
Called Gibber Gunyah in early records. Stone quarried out of the mountainside was used to build the substantial battered retaining wall.
Hungry Flat
A good campsite with reliable spring water.
Sampsons Pass
Features over 1 km of stone walling, a bridge, chiselled side cuttings, natural stone surfaces, and colonial graffiti. Some of the relics were damaged and the gully under the bridge filled when the Mangrove Creek Dam was being built.
Circuit Flat bridge
Circa 1831-2. Projecting buttresses flank each corner, and the seven stone supports projecting from each abutment would have braced the timber deck which has now gone. The stone was quarried from a hill about 1 km to the north west.
