Old Hume Highway
Encyclopedia
The Old Hume Highway may be described as any part of an earlier route of the Hume Highway
, which traverses Victoria
and New South Wales
between the cities of Melbourne
and Sydney
in Australia
. In some places, the highway has been deviated several times since the first rough track was made between Sydney and Melbourne in November 1842.
link between the two biggest cities in Australia — Sydney and Melbourne. Since February 1960 a freeway standard of road has been developed along this route. Where the alignment of the original road is reasonably flat and straight it has been duplicated and retained for traffic in one direction. In some locations the original road has been replaced by a dual carriageway road beside the original road. In other locations the new road deviates from the original by many kilometres.
In Victoria, 100% of the Hume Highway has been upgraded to at least dual carriageway
standard and is called the Hume Freeway. In New South Wales
, 97% of the highway has been upgraded to at least dual carriageway
standard by December 2009, with 283 km between Tarcutta and Berrima being dual carriageway, and 130 km between Berrima and Sydney being a freeway-grade road.
The remaining single carriageway lengths are currently going under a dual carriageway construction facelift, and were duplicated in December 2009 (Except for 20 km bypassing Tarcutta
, Holbrook
, Woomargama
which will be bypassed and duplicated by 2012).
Many of the superseded sections of the Hume Highway are of historical interest as they provide insights into the small historical towns which have since been bypassed
. In the past when the highway passed through these towns, many were thriving centres. Many of the superseded sections of the highway still form the main access roads into and through these towns. One section of the Old Hume Highway travels through Yass
in southern New South Wales. This section of road is now known as the Yass Valley Way
.
Most of the highway route between Breadalbane, west of Goulburn, and Derringullen Creek, west of Yass, was replaced during 1994. This included a bypassing of the Cullerin Range. The previous route of the highway over the Cullerin Range was itself a deviation built in 1920, using sections of railway formation abandoned several years earlier when the Main Southern Railway was deviated at the time it was duplicated. The deviations were an attempt to ease the gradients against heavily-laden Sydney-bound steam trains.
The Breadalbane-Derringullen Creek deviation is in most places quite close to the previous highway, most of which remains for local use. This section also included the abandoning of the route over the Mundoonen Range which, when it was rebuilt in the 1960s, was designed to be duplicated.
Between Conroys Gap and Coolac, most of the earlier alignment was replaced in 1983 and 1996 by realignment associated with dual carriageway construction, although sections such as that south of Connors Creek were rebuilt in 1979 with the earthworks being done for a second carriageway, which was subsequently built in 1994.
The current route of the highway between Tumblong and Tarcutta is the third route of the highway in this location. The original route led west from Tumblong along the Murrumbidgee River, before turning south over difficult country, crossing what is now the Sturt Highway and rejoining the current route of the highway as Lower Tarcutta Road. This was replaced in December 1938 by the first Tumblong deviation, to the east of the current route. The main features of this section of the highway were a deep, narrow cutting and the reinforced concrete bowstring arch bridge over Hillas Creek. This has been preserved, and is visible on the western side of the highway close to the interchange with the Snowy Mountains Highway.
North of Albury, a major deviation of the highway was constructed in the 1930s due to the inundation of the original route caused by the raising of the wall of the Hume Dam on the Murray River. The deviation commences at Bowna and terminates at Guinea St Albury (the first part of the Riverina Highway east from Albury as far as what is now Old Sydney Road was until then the Hume Highway). At either end of the original route is the strange sight of the road disappearing into the waters of Lake Hume.
Hume Highway
The Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
, which traverses Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
between the cities of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In some places, the highway has been deviated several times since the first rough track was made between Sydney and Melbourne in November 1842.
History
Since the time of the first track, the route of what is now the Hume Highway has been the main roadRoad
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
link between the two biggest cities in Australia — Sydney and Melbourne. Since February 1960 a freeway standard of road has been developed along this route. Where the alignment of the original road is reasonably flat and straight it has been duplicated and retained for traffic in one direction. In some locations the original road has been replaced by a dual carriageway road beside the original road. In other locations the new road deviates from the original by many kilometres.
In Victoria, 100% of the Hume Highway has been upgraded to at least dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
standard and is called the Hume Freeway. In New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 97% of the highway has been upgraded to at least dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
standard by December 2009, with 283 km between Tarcutta and Berrima being dual carriageway, and 130 km between Berrima and Sydney being a freeway-grade road.
The remaining single carriageway lengths are currently going under a dual carriageway construction facelift, and were duplicated in December 2009 (Except for 20 km bypassing Tarcutta
Tarcutta, New South Wales
Tarcutta is a small town located 438 km south-west of Sydney, three kilometres east of the Hume Highway, in New South Wales, Australia. It was proclaimed as a village on 28 October 1890...
, Holbrook
Holbrook, New South Wales
Holbrook is a small town in Southern New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Hume Highway, 356 km North-East of Melbourne and 491 km south-west of Sydney between Tarcutta and Albury. The town is in the Greater Hume Shire Council area which was established in May 2004 from the merger of...
, Woomargama
Woomargama, New South Wales
Woomargama is a picturesque village community in the south east part of the Riverina, in the foothills of the great dividing range. It is situated by road, about north-east from Mullengandra and south-west from Holbrook...
which will be bypassed and duplicated by 2012).
Many of the superseded sections of the Hume Highway are of historical interest as they provide insights into the small historical towns which have since been bypassed
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
. In the past when the highway passed through these towns, many were thriving centres. Many of the superseded sections of the highway still form the main access roads into and through these towns. One section of the Old Hume Highway travels through Yass
Yass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
in southern New South Wales. This section of road is now known as the Yass Valley Way
Yass Valley Way
Yass Valley Way is the main road which links Yass, New South Wales and Hume Highway and Barton Highway . The road is about 18 km long and runs parallel to the Yass River. It was created when the Hume Highway bypass of Yass was built in the early 1990s...
.
Major Deviations
The section of the Hume Highway between the Cross Roads, at Prestons on Sydney's southwestern fringe, and the Medway Rivulet near Berrima, was completely superseded in the period 1973-1992 by a new route built as a freeway.Most of the highway route between Breadalbane, west of Goulburn, and Derringullen Creek, west of Yass, was replaced during 1994. This included a bypassing of the Cullerin Range. The previous route of the highway over the Cullerin Range was itself a deviation built in 1920, using sections of railway formation abandoned several years earlier when the Main Southern Railway was deviated at the time it was duplicated. The deviations were an attempt to ease the gradients against heavily-laden Sydney-bound steam trains.
The Breadalbane-Derringullen Creek deviation is in most places quite close to the previous highway, most of which remains for local use. This section also included the abandoning of the route over the Mundoonen Range which, when it was rebuilt in the 1960s, was designed to be duplicated.
Between Conroys Gap and Coolac, most of the earlier alignment was replaced in 1983 and 1996 by realignment associated with dual carriageway construction, although sections such as that south of Connors Creek were rebuilt in 1979 with the earthworks being done for a second carriageway, which was subsequently built in 1994.
The current route of the highway between Tumblong and Tarcutta is the third route of the highway in this location. The original route led west from Tumblong along the Murrumbidgee River, before turning south over difficult country, crossing what is now the Sturt Highway and rejoining the current route of the highway as Lower Tarcutta Road. This was replaced in December 1938 by the first Tumblong deviation, to the east of the current route. The main features of this section of the highway were a deep, narrow cutting and the reinforced concrete bowstring arch bridge over Hillas Creek. This has been preserved, and is visible on the western side of the highway close to the interchange with the Snowy Mountains Highway.
North of Albury, a major deviation of the highway was constructed in the 1930s due to the inundation of the original route caused by the raising of the wall of the Hume Dam on the Murray River. The deviation commences at Bowna and terminates at Guinea St Albury (the first part of the Riverina Highway east from Albury as far as what is now Old Sydney Road was until then the Hume Highway). At either end of the original route is the strange sight of the road disappearing into the waters of Lake Hume.
New South Wales
- Camden Valley WayCamden Valley WayCamden Valley Way is an important link between Sydney and the historic town of Camden.It is the former Hume Highway alignment between the localities of Cross Roads and Camden. It is marked as State Route 89. The proper route is from Cross Roads, skirting Camden via the Camden Bypass and ending at...
, 28 km stretch between the Cross Roads, south of LiverpoolLiverpool, New South WalesLiverpool is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool is located 32 km south-west of the Sydney central business district, and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Liverpool...
and CamdenCamden, New South Wales-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
- Remembrance DriveRemembrance DriveRemembrance Drive links Camden and Aylmerton. It is the former alignment of Hume Highway from 1928 to 1984. It is signed as State Route 89.The proper path taken by Remembrance Drive is from Camden South, Camden through the Razorback Range, passing through the towns of Picton, Tahmoor, Bargo and...
(Old Hume Highway),, 70 km stretch between Camden and Aylmerton and between Aylmerton and the Medway Rivulet (part of 
), near BerrimaBerrima, New South WalesBerrima is an historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The village, once a major town, is located on the Old Hume Highway between Canberra and Sydney. It was previously known officially as the Town of Berrima...
- Old Hume Highway, 10 km stretch through GoulburnGoulburn, New South WalesGoulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
- Cullerin Road, 23 km stretch between BreadalbaneBreadalbane, New South WalesBreadalbane is a small village located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Upper Lachlan Shire. It is located on the Lachlan River headwaters and not far from Goulburn. This little town is also located nearby and adjacent to the major Hume Highway which links Sydney to...
and the foot of the Mundoonen Range, including through GunningGunning, New South WalesGunning is a town on the Old Hume Highway, between Goulburn and Yass in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, about 260 km south-west of Sydney and 75 km north of the national capital, Canberra. On Census night 2006, Gunning had a population of 487 people...
- Yass Valley WayYass Valley WayYass Valley Way is the main road which links Yass, New South Wales and Hume Highway and Barton Highway . The road is about 18 km long and runs parallel to the Yass River. It was created when the Hume Highway bypass of Yass was built in the early 1990s...
, 17 km stretch through YassYass, New South WalesYass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
and intersecting with the Barton HighwayBarton HighwayThe Barton Highway is a short highway in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia.The Barton Highway connects Canberra to the Hume Highway at Yass, and it is part of the route from Melbourne to Canberra....
- The section of road bypassed by the Tumblong deviation, between Tumblong and Hillas Creeks
- Former Hume HighwayHume HighwayThe Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
route through Albury.
Victoria
- Hume HighwayHume HighwayThe Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
& Melbourne Road
4 km stretch through WodongaWodonga, VictoriaWodonga is a small city on the Victorian side of the border with New South Wales, north-east of Melbourne, Australia. Adjacent to Wodonga across the border is the New South Wales city of Albury. Wodonga is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Wodonga LGA...
- Wangaratta Road
, Old Hume Highway, Winton - Glenrowan Road, Benalla - Winton Road 
& Baddaginnie - Benalla Road
60 km stretch between Bowser and BaddaginneBaddaginnie, VictoriaBaddaginnie is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Albury-Wodonga railway line, in the Rural City of Benalla, 12 kilometres south-west of Benalla itself on the old Hume Highway. It is situated in mainly flat unforested country, one kilometre west of Baddaginnie Creek...
. This stretch runs through WangarattaWangaratta, VictoriaWangaratta is a cathedral city of almost 17,000 people in the northeast of Victoria, Australia, about from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, with Benalla to the southwest, and Albury-Wodonga to the northeast. It is located at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers which flow from the...
, GlenrowanGlenrowan, VictoriaGlenrowan is a small town located in the Wangaratta Local Government Area of Victoria, Australia. It is 184 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and 14 kilometres from Wangaratta and located near the Warby Ranges and Mount Glenrowan...
& BenallaBenalla, VictoriaBenalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...
- Euroa Main Road
6 km stretch through EuroaEuroa, VictoriaEuroa is a town in the Shire of Strathbogie in North-East Victoria, Australia.At the 2006 census, Euroa had a population of 2,776. The name Euroa comes from an Aboriginal word in the old local dialect meaning "joyful".-History:Major T.L...
- Seymour - Tooborac Road
, Goulburn Valley HighwayGoulburn Valley HighwayThe Goulburn Valley Highway / is a highway located in Victoria, Australia. The section north beyond the Hume Freeway is part of the Melbourne to Brisbane National Highway and is the main link between these two cities as well as a major link between Victoria and inland New South Wales...
and Seymour - Avenel Road
23 km stretch between AvenelAvenel, VictoriaAvenel is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is in the Shire of Strathbogie local government area. At the 2006 census, Avenel had a population of 728, up from 552 in the 2001 Census.-History:...
and SeymourSeymour, VictoriaSeymour is a township in the Shire of Mitchell in the state of Victoria, Australia and is located north of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Seymour had a population of 6,063...
- Northern Highway
and Kilmore - Broadford Road 
37 km stretch between BroadfordBroadford, VictoriaBroadford is a small town in central Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Broadford had a population of 3,054. The town is the headquarters of the Shire of Mitchell Local Government Area and is approximately north of the state capital, Melbourne....
and WallanWallan, VictoriaWallan or Wallan Wallan is a town in Victoria, from Melbourne on the Northern Highway in Australia.The town sits at the southern end of the large and diverse Shire of Mitchell which extends from the northern fringes of Melbourne into the farming country of north-central Victoria and the lower...
- Sydney RoadSydney Road, MelbourneSydney Road is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Geography:...
11 km stretch between CraigieburnCraigieburn, VictoriaCraigieburn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume. At the 2006 Census, Craigieburn had a population of 20,784....
and CampbellfieldCampbellfield, VictoriaCampbellfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume. At the 2006 Census, Campbellfield had a population of 5,401.-History:...
See also
- Highways in New South Wales
- Highways in VictoriaHighways in VictoriaThe Highways in Victoria are the highest density in any state in Australia. Unlike Australia's other mainland states where vast areas are very sparsely inhabited "outback", there are population centres spread out over most of the state, with only the far north-west and the Victorian Alps lacking...
- Highways in AustraliaHighways in AustraliaThis is a list of highways in Australia, listed alphabetically along with each highway's route number and location. Note that some highways service more than one state or territory.-Route numbering systems:...