Mitchell Highway
Template: Infobox several high-level roads / maintenance / AU -AA
States:
Queensland
The Mitchell Highway is a highway in southeastern Australia. It runs over a length of 1,110 kilometers from Bathurst, west of Sydney by vast areas in the hinterland of New South Wales to Augathella in southwestern Queensland.
History
The road from Bathurst to orange to Wellington in 1928 declared Highway and was named Northwestern Highway. At that time, all highways are named after the direction in which they proceeded seen from Sydney. Some of these names are still preserved today. 1936 Northwestern Highway was renamed Mitchell Highway. This was in honor of Thomas Livingstone Mitchell. Mitchell had directed in the 30s of the 19th century several expeditions explored, while large parts of rural New South Wales and mapped.
Course
New South Wales
The Mitchell Highway starts at Bathurst, a town in New South Wales west of the Blue Mountains. From Sydney, the Great Western Highway ( R32) via the Blue Mountains. In Bathurst shares this in the Mid Western Highway ( R24), which leads in southwestern New South Wales to Hay, and the Mitchell Highway, which takes a more northern route.
The first important town in the history of the Mitchell Highway is the town of Orange, about 55 kilometers west of Bathurst. Orange is known as the birthplace of the Australian poet Banjo Paterson, whose most famous work Waltzing Matilda, the unofficial national anthem of Australia is. Another 30 kilometers along the Mitchell Highway is Molong, a small town in the immediate vicinity was once Australia's first copper mine. Behind the Molong Mitchell Highway continues towards the north, where after 60 kilometers, the city of Wellington is reached. Wellington was the first permanent settlement west of the Blue Mountains, founded in 1823.
The highway then continues in a northwesterly direction and after 50 kilometers Dubbo is reached. In Dubbo the Newell Highway ( N39 ) crosses in a north-south direction. In combination with other highways and provides direct and fast connection to Brisbane and Melbourne. Another branch of the Mitchell Highway leads to Adelaide, the Golden Highway ( S84 ) to Newcastle. If one considers the direct link to Sydney, so Dubbo becomes a kind of central point from where all the main cities in southern and eastern Australia are within easy reach.
In Nevertire, about 100 kilometers north- west of Dubbo, the Oxley Highway ( R34) of Port Macquarie on the east coast of New South Wales coming true, on the Mitchell Highway. About 60 kilometers to the northwest lies the town of Nyngan. Here is the Barrier Highway ( R32) begins. This leads towards the west to Broken Hill and on to South Australia until after Gawler north of the capital Adelaide.
From Nyngan out for the Mitchell Highway about 200 kilometers to the northwest towards Bourke. From this route running approximately 100 km as a straight line without any bend or curve. North of Bourke turns the Mitchell Highway to the north. The further course of over 135 kilometers to Barringun on the border of New South Wales to Queensland, in contrast to the last stage is very curvy again.
Queensland
After the Mitchell Highway crosses Barringun at the border of New South Wales to Queensland, it extends for about 120 kilometers to the north, to Cunnamulla is reached. In Cunnamulla the Balonne Highway that leads from there to the east to St. George begins.
A further 200 kilometers to the north is reached Charleville with the last major settlement in the course of the Mitchell Highway. In Charleville the beginning of the Warrego Highway ( alternative route A2). This leads from here to the east up to Ipswich on the western edge of the metropolitan area around the capital, Brisbane.
After a further 85 kilometers to the north of the Mitchell Highway meets south of Augathella on the Landsborough Highway ( NA2 ) and ends. The Landsborough Highway runs through Longreach further north up to Cloncurry.
Numbering and alternate names
In Bathurst the Mitchell Highway assumes the name of National Road 32 (R32 ) from the Great Western Highway and maintains them to Nyngan, where they turn the Barrier Highway takes over. From Nyngan is from the designated and leads to the border with Queensland Mitchell Highway as a National Road 71 ( R71 ). From the border, he is given the number A71, which he wears to Charleville. The last 77 km to Augathella were called Alternative Route A2.
From Bourke to the border with Queensland at Barringun is called the Mitchell Highway and Kidman Way. From there until his end in Augathella he is also known as Matilda Highway.
Source
Steve Parish: Australian Touring Atlas. Steve Parish Publishing. Archerfield QLD 2007 ISBN. 978-1-74193-232-4. Pp. 19, 26, 31 Bathurst (New South Wales)
- Road in New South Wales
- Road in Queensland