New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Highway 15 (New England Highway (Murrurundi to Wallabadah) Former Alignment at Willow Tree

Proclaimed a State Highway on 8th August 1928, the New England Highway starts in NSW at Hexham, 15km West of Newcastle and heads north-west entering the Hunter Valley region, eventually climbing into the Great Dividing Range to the coal mining areas of Muswellbrook. From there the highway heads North into Tamworth and climbs again into the New England Region, bypassing Armidale, across the ridge tops to Glen Innes, Tenterfield and eventually the QLD border at Wallangarra, it then heads into the fruit and agricultural districts of Stanthorpe and North again to Warwick.

After heading North from the Cunningham Hwy turnoff, the New England Hwy changes shields to NR42 passing through the beef and wool farming areas to Toowoomba. Heading North from Toowoomba, the highway passes through lush green dairying pastures and thick vegetation up into Crows Nest, stopping at the D'Aguilar Highway at Yarraman.

This section concentrates on the former alignment that deviated south-west of the current alignment from Kankool heavy vehicle checking station to Ogden Street Willow Tree, taking in roads such as Boambil Creek Road, Merriwa Road, and Merriwa-Murrundi Road.

Merriwa-Murrurundi Road
This doesn't look like a declared road, but it does have residences along it and was once the New England Highway at Kankool. Looking southbound November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Merriwa-Murrurundi Road
Note the old yellow line marking, this was once the New England Highway at Kankool. Looking southbound November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Wooden Sign
This sign is on the wooden bridge crossing Borambil Creek, northbound on the old highway alignment at Willow Tree (Merriwa - Murrurundi Road). November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Wooden Sign
This old wooden bridge crosses Borambil Creek, southbound on the old highway alignment at Willow Tree (Merriwa - Murrurundi Road). November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Black fingerboard
Council installed black fingerboard at the corner of Borambil Creek Road and Merriwa - Murrurundi Road. November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Directional Sign
Black directional sign on the corner of Borambil Creek Road and Merriwa Road at Willow Tree (former highway alignment). November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign
Looking north as you head into Willow Tree on Merriwa Road (old New England Hwy). November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Black Kilometre Post
Looking towards Kankool on Merriwa Road, which used to be the highway. November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Ogden Street turn
Directional sign as you approach the junction of Merriwa Road (old New England Highway) and Ogden Street Willow Tree. November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Highway Alignment Willow Tree
The intersection with Ogden Street. The 'street' going straight used to be the highway and crossed the railway on a now closed manual gated level crossing. Note old black directional sign. November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Black Directional Sign
A very nice old black sign on the intersection of Merriwa Road and Ogden Street at Willow Tree on the old highway alignment. November 2005.

Image © Paul Rands