This is Australias premier highway in 1951, somewhere on the Victorian side of Gundagai. The name Hume Highway goes back to 1928 when the Victorian and NSW Governments gave that name to a collection of tracks which roughly followed Hume and Hovells 1824 trek from Sydney to the Vic. Coast. (Photo: Canberra Times. Info: NSW Roads & Maritime Services)
Cheers - John
Meredith said
12:31 PM Mar 30, 2018
The Hume was fully sealed by 1940 so either this photo is from earlier or it was a section of roadworks.
This is from that history - During the Depression years from the late 1920s several projects on the Hume Highway were funded by the Unemployment Relief Works Program, which funded a wide range of capital works aimed at providing work for the unemployed. Examples on the Hume Highway include the Governors Hill Deviation at north Goulburn, the Tumblong-Tarcutta deviation and the Razorback deviation. As a result of these projects, the Hume Highway had by 1940 been sealed over its full length in NSW, and similarly through Victoria to Melbourne.
And this picture appears again ... and also stating 1951 ... so I guess it must have been roadworks ..... they sure have been going at it for a VERY long time.
Cheers - John
vanman said
01:20 PM Mar 30, 2018
The photo even pictures an old caravan behind the also old Rover.
Chris
Roving-Dutchy said
01:50 PM Mar 30, 2018
In July 1956 after very heavy rain, the road surface broke down completely resulting in a complete closure of the road with many trucks bogged to the axles.
I can remember driving back and forth to Melbourne in the sixties when there were quite a number of single lane bridges the most memorable bridge was the one at Gundagai across the Murrumbidgee.
Wow! Great pics there everyone. I can remember when the highway went through all the little towns before the now freeway. The freeway does make for a quick trip though and can never understand the major accidents along it's length.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Craig1 said
10:04 PM Mar 30, 2018
The first time I dove into Sydney from Albury in 1970, the concrete road was in about 6 foot bits,maybe Picton ? area. talk about clunk rattle rock and roll. the gaps were 2" wide at least.(maybe 6ft deep) We did see Jose Feliciano live at a Sydney Venue and that made up for it though.
Dickodownunder said
10:58 AM Mar 31, 2018
Hi Rocky, Great link and fantastic history.
From the same link the same photo appears with an entirely different title with rgards to the date of the picture.
From the same link the same photo appears with an entirely different title with rgards to the date of the picture.
Here it is...
I doubt the accuracy of that title. The Austin A40 only came out in 1948 I believe.
Dickodownunder said
01:12 PM Mar 31, 2018
Delta18 wrote:
Dickodownunder wrote:
Hi Rocky, Great link and fantastic history.
From the same link the same photo appears with an entirely different title with rgards to the date of the picture.
Here it is...
I doubt the accuracy of that title. The Austin A40 only came out in 1948 I believe.
Hi Delta18
yes I had the same thought about the validity if that is an Austin A40.
I found it strange that the same pic was displayed within the same link with such varying dates.
I even wondered if the vehicle behind the Austin was an FX Holden or a Chev or Dodge of around the same vintage.
Rob Driver said
10:50 PM Mar 31, 2018
My Dad rest his sole, drove trucks on the Hume Highway in the late '40s 50's and 60's.
He always said that the road followed the farmers fence lines in those days.
I will never forget that he used to comment about a narrow bridge that they called The Little Sydney Harbour.
He used to say it was very dangerous as you couldnt see over the bridge until you were virtually on it.
Thanks for the link, I know my husband and I will enjoy the read and the great history on the road.
Long Weekend said
01:42 PM Apr 1, 2018
The 'Little Sydney Harbour' bridge still exists and can be seen off to the west of the main Hume Highway somewhere around Gundagai (I never took any notice of exactly where!). The bridge is down a slope in what is obviously private land now. I believe that it can only be seen from the northbound side of the Hume.
Each time I see it I tell my wife it is a 'baby Sydney Harbour bridge!'
Regards,
Murray
Long Weekend said
01:51 PM Apr 1, 2018
The little Sydney Harbour Bridge still exists. It is off to the west of the Hume Highway just to the south of Gundagai (I think - I never took notice of exactly where it is). It is down a slope and crosses a creek or gully, obviously no longer used as the road at each end has disappeared. I believe that it can only be seen from the northbound side of the Hume.
Each time I see it I tell my wife that it is a 'baby Sydney Harbour Bridge!'
Regards,
Murray
Rob Driver said
08:50 AM Apr 2, 2018
Hi Long Weekend,
I have read most of the information in the link provided above on the history of the Hume Highway and I have found the bridge.
It appears you are correct and it has no public access at present although it is still visible from parts of the surrounding roads.
It gives more precise detail than I had - despite passing by it more than fifty times since 1985.
For those who want more details there is a lot of information available by Googling 'Hillas Creek Concrete Bowstring Arch Bridge.' It seems that the bridge has historical significance which is apparently why it has been left standing.
Regard,
Murray
msg said
11:42 AM Apr 2, 2018
That looks like us. The last one. Heading Melbourne to Narranderra, as we did every Christmas. lol
dogbox said
08:47 PM Apr 2, 2018
bentaxlebabe wrote:
Hi Long Weekend,
I have read most of the information in the link provided above on the history of the Hume Highway and I have found the bridge.
It appears you are correct and it has no public access at present although it is still visible from parts of the surrounding roads.
The detail appears on page 89 of the article.
30 klm south of gundagi only visible north bound nearly grown over
second one at shark creek north of grafton visible from road
Dickodownunder said
08:08 AM Apr 4, 2018
I drove the Hume with trucks in the late 70s and early 80s and that bridge was a nightmare.
It was in the days of AM cb radios and the procedure was to call when approaching but many times there was just too much chatter on the air or there may be a driver who has not travelled that road and did not realise that the bridge posed such a danger.
I can vividly remember my first time onto that bridge...
IMO I am glad it has gone but the history should be preserved.
Its a shame there is no access for the public at least to view the structure.
dogbox said
08:14 AM Apr 4, 2018
first time I kept hearing north bound harbour bridge an thought gee this is a good radio I can hear Sydney from here
then" holy crap"
Dickodownunder said
08:50 AM Apr 4, 2018
dogbox wrote:
first time I kept hearing north bound harbour bridge an thought gee this is a good radio I can hear Sydney from here
Gday...
HUME HIGHWAY 1951
This is Australias premier highway in 1951, somewhere on the Victorian side of Gundagai.
The name Hume Highway goes back to 1928 when the Victorian and NSW Governments gave that name to a collection of tracks which roughly followed Hume and Hovells 1824 trek from Sydney to the Vic. Coast.
(Photo: Canberra Times. Info: NSW Roads & Maritime Services)
Cheers - John
Gday...
Well picked Meredith
This is a History of the Hume - http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/south-western/hume-highway/history-begins-with-a-road.pdf
This is from that history - During the Depression years from the late 1920s several projects on the Hume Highway were funded by the Unemployment Relief Works Program, which funded a wide range of capital works aimed at providing work for the unemployed. Examples on the Hume Highway include the Governors Hill Deviation at north Goulburn, the Tumblong-Tarcutta deviation and the Razorback deviation. As a result of these projects, the Hume Highway had by 1940 been sealed over its full length in NSW, and similarly through Victoria to Melbourne.
And this picture appears again ... and also stating 1951 ... so I guess it must have been roadworks ..... they sure have been going at it for a VERY long time.
Cheers - John
Chris
In July 1956 after very heavy rain, the road surface broke down completely resulting in a complete closure of the road with many trucks bogged to the axles.
http://www.fairfaxsyndication.com/archive/Trucks-and-drivers-sit-stranded-2F3XC5N7JH7Q.htm
I can remember driving back and forth to Melbourne in the sixties when there were quite a number of single lane bridges the most memorable bridge was the one at Gundagai across the Murrumbidgee.
http://www.visitgundagai.com.au/2011/historic-bridges/
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-gundagai-historic-bridges-landscape-dominated-four-spanning-murrumbidgee-flats-prince-alfred-bridge-image51261996
Cheers
David
Wow! Great pics there everyone. I can remember when the highway went through all the little towns before the now freeway. The freeway does make for a quick trip though and can never understand the major accidents along it's length.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Hi Rocky,
Great link and fantastic history.
From the same link the same photo appears with an entirely different title with rgards to the date of the picture.
Here it is...
I doubt the accuracy of that title. The Austin A40 only came out in 1948 I believe.
Hi Delta18
yes I had the same thought about the validity if that is an Austin A40.
I found it strange that the same pic was displayed within the same link with such varying dates.
I even wondered if the vehicle behind the Austin was an FX Holden or a Chev or Dodge of around the same vintage.
He always said that the road followed the farmers fence lines in those days.
I will never forget that he used to comment about a narrow bridge that they called The Little Sydney Harbour.
He used to say it was very dangerous as you couldnt see over the bridge until you were virtually on it.
Thanks for the link, I know my husband and I will enjoy the read and the great history on the road.
The 'Little Sydney Harbour' bridge still exists and can be seen off to the west of the main Hume Highway somewhere around Gundagai (I never took any notice of exactly where!). The bridge is down a slope in what is obviously private land now. I believe that it can only be seen from the northbound side of the Hume.
Each time I see it I tell my wife it is a 'baby Sydney Harbour bridge!'
Regards,
Murray
The little Sydney Harbour Bridge still exists. It is off to the west of the Hume Highway just to the south of Gundagai (I think - I never took notice of exactly where it is). It is down a slope and crosses a creek or gully, obviously no longer used as the road at each end has disappeared. I believe that it can only be seen from the northbound side of the Hume.
Each time I see it I tell my wife that it is a 'baby Sydney Harbour Bridge!'
Regards,
Murray
Hi Long Weekend,
I have read most of the information in the link provided above on the history of the Hume Highway and I have found the bridge.
It appears you are correct and it has no public access at present although it is still visible from parts of the surrounding roads.
The detail appears on page 89 of the article.
Thanks Angie (Bentaxlebabe)
It gives more precise detail than I had - despite passing by it more than fifty times since 1985.
For those who want more details there is a lot of information available by Googling 'Hillas Creek Concrete Bowstring Arch Bridge.' It seems that the bridge has historical significance which is apparently why it has been left standing.
Regard,
Murray
30 klm south of gundagi only visible north bound nearly grown over
second one at shark creek north of grafton visible from road
It was in the days of AM cb radios and the procedure was to call when approaching but many times there was just too much chatter on the air or there may be a driver who has not travelled that road and did not realise that the bridge posed such a danger.
I can vividly remember my first time onto that bridge...
IMO I am glad it has gone but the history should be preserved.
Its a shame there is no access for the public at least to view the structure.
then" holy crap"
Hahaha!!
I laugh now but it was not funny at the time...
