Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Mitchell Highway (National Route 71) (Decommissioned)
Statistics:
- 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
Route Numbering:
- 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.
History:
- 4 May 1883: Opening of the North Bourke Bridge over Darling River.
- 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
- 1997: Opening of new bridge over Darling River at North Bourke.
- 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
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Kidman Way (SR87) at Bourke, approaching Mitchell Hwy (NR71) and Gorrella Av, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bourke approaching Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) and Warraweena St, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign as Mitchell Hwy (NR71) leaves Bourke, May 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign as Mitchell Hwy (NR71) leaves North Bourke, May 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
No Fuel Sign:
Typical NSW sign indicating no service stations for a specified distance. This one is leaving North Bourke. August 2008.
Image © Rick Wardle
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Black ID sign at Twin Rivers Rd, North Bourke. August 2008.
Image © Rick Wardle
NEW Entering Enngonia:
Mitchell Hwy (NR71) as it enters the town of Enngonia, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
NEW Entering Barringun:
Mitchell Hwy (NR71) as it enters the town of Barringun, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
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
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at North Bourke approaching Culgoa St, 2003. NR71 turns left at this location. Note the missing NR71 shield.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
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), August 2008.
Image © Rick Wardle
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (NR71), approaching Mitchell St, Bourke, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign using incorrect font, as Mitchell Hwy (NR71) departs Bourke, 2003.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
Entering Nyngan:
Mitchell Hwy (NR71) as it enters the town of Nyngan. August 2008.
Image © Rick Wardle
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Nyngan, approaching Barrier Hwy (NR32), 2003. This is the southern terminus of NR71 and Mitchell Hwy becomes NR32 at this location.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.
3 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Main Roads Journal, June 1956.