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Photo Gallery
New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Highway 15 (New England Highway (Moonbi to
Bendemeer)
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 area between Moonbi
and Bendemeer, northeast of Tamworth and includes the
First Moonbi and Second Moonbi ranges. The national
route 34 duplex ends at Moonbi.
For photos of former alignmnents click on the relevant
link below:
| Length (This Section): |
19 km |
| Route Numbers: |
 |
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New
England Highway
Taken from Moonbi
Hill Lookout, this view is looking South and shows the
New England Highway in New South Wales (NH15), heading
towards the town of Moonbi and beyond to Tamworth.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
|
1st
Moonbi Hill Approach
One of the steepest
parts on the New England Highway (NH15), this is the
dual carriageway that travels up First Moonbi Hill.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
|
First
Moonbi Hill Dual Carriageway
Taken from the Moonbi
Lookout, here's the start of the dual carriageway up
First Moonbi Hill looking towards Tamworth.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
|
NH
15 over Moonbi Creek
As you start to hit
the incline for First Moonbi Hill, you cross the Moonbi
Creek. Northbound September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
First
Moonbi Hill Approach
We are travelling
north in this image on First Moonbi Hill. This section
is divided and was opened in the 1980s. The old road
was standard 2 lane winding road through the hills.
Photos of this are in the former alignments section.
September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
|
First
Moonbi Hill Divided Section
We are travelling
north in this image on First Moonbi Hill. This section
is divided and was opened in the 1980s. The old road
was standard 2 lane winding road through the hills.
Photos of this are in the former alignments section.
September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Southbound view as
you reach the end of the 1st Moonbi Hill. September
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
|
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Southbound view as
you reach the end of the 1st Moonbi Hill. September
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
First
Moonbi Hill Descent
Taken Southbound
in the dual carriageway section of the New England Highway
at Moonbi.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
First
Moonbi Hill Descent
Southbound on the
New England Highway, just South of Bendemeer. This is
one of the windiest sections of the highway, other parts
are located between Guyra and Tenterfield.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Cutting southbound
near the Moonbi Scenic Lookout. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Patching
works on First Moonbi Hill
Northbound on First
Moonbi Hill, a road crew is repairing potholes. September
2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Top of final descent
from the Moonbi's. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Near the top of final
descent from the Moonbi's. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
1st
Moonbi Hill Southbound
Upper reaches of
the 1st Moonbi Hill, southbound. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Top
of First Moonbi
The uppermost part
of the divided section along First Moonbi Hill. September
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
End
First Moonbi Divided Section
The divided road
ends here. Second Moonbi Hill is windy,
steep and undivided. September 2004 Northbound.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Start
of divided section on Moonbi Range
Southbound view as
you approach one of the few divided sections of NH15
north of the Hunter region. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Start
of divided section on Moonbi Range
Southbound view as
you approach one of the few divided sections of NH15
north of the Hunter region. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Base
of Second Moonbi Hill
Southbound at the
end of 2nd Moonbi Hill. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Southbound
Second Moonbi Hill
Looking south along
2nd Moonbi Hill, this is near the end of this part of
the range. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Second
Moonbi Hill
Northbound on Second
Moonbi Hill we see the windiness and steepness of this
section compared to the divided part. Both sections
are laden with safety ramps to catch vehicles with failed
brakes. September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Descending
Second Moonbi Hill
Southbound view of
Second Moonbi Hill between the towns of Moonbi and Bendemeer
on the New England Highway (NH15). September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Descending
Second Moonbi Hill
Southbound view of
Second Moonbi Hill between the towns of Moonbi and Bendemeer
on the New England Highway (NH15). September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
New
England Highway Winding Through 2nd Moonbi Hill
Southbound view of
Second Moonbi Hill between the towns of Moonbi and Bendemeer
on the New England Highway (NH15). September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Second
Moonbi Hill Descent
Southbound on the
New England Highway, just South of Bendemeer. This is
one of the windiest sections of the highway, other parts
are located between Guyra and Tenterfield.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Second
Moonbi Hill
Heading south along
Second Moonbi Hill. September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Second
Moonbi Hill
Southbound, September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Looking
south on Second Moonbi Hill
Near the top of 2nd
Moonbi Hill. Southbound, September 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Top
of Second Moonbi Hill
Looking south near
the truck car park on top of Second Moonbi Hill. September
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Bendemeer near Rose Valley Creek
A section of the
road upgraded prior to 2003 at Bendemeer near Rose Valley
Creek, looking northbound.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Bendemeer
near Poison Swamp Creek
A section of the
road upgraded prior to 2003 at Bendemeer over Poison
Swamp Creek, looking Southbound.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
Oxley
Highway Turnoff
National Route 34
is duplexed with National Highway 15 from Marius &
Murray Streets Tamworth to here at Bendemeer. September
2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
| |
NR
34 Directional Signage
National Route 34
is duplexed with National Highway 15 from Marius &
Murray Streets Tamworth to here at Bendemeer. This is
the advance direction signage for the intersection as
you head north. September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
 |
Directional
Sign
Southbound AD sign approaching Havana Street, the middle
of 3 access points to Bendemeer from the by-pass. 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley |
 |
Distance
Sign
Southbound RD sign leaving Bendemeer on the
by-pass. 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley |
| |
Kilometre
Post
Just north of Bendimeer,
where the Bendimeer By-Pass rejoins the 'original' highway,
is this old black kilometre post. Old black signs are
increasingly uncommon along the entire highway after
being phased out in 1989. September 2004.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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