|
Photo Gallery
New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Highway 23 (Federal Highway)
The Federal Highway is a short highway located in southern New South Wales and also a small distance in the Australian Capital Territory in Australia. It is a part of the Sydney-Canberra National Highway link. Towns & settlements along the route include Wollogorang, Collector, Gunning, Bywong, Sutton and Ginns Gap.
The Federal Highway northern terminus is located with the interchange at the Hume Highway at Wollogorang, near the city of Goulburn. It runs south west, bypassing the town of Collector (which was once on the highway), before crossing the NSW-ACT border at Ginns Gap to Canberra, the national capital of Australia. The Federal Highway runs past the seasonal Lake George and is all dual carriageway, with the final 20 km as a full freeway standard route. More than 12,000 vehicles use the 77 kilometre-long Federal Highway each day, of which over 15 per cent are commercial vehicles and the route forms the Remembrance Driveway which honours
war veterans, click
here for the Remembrance Driveway web site.
History:
Following the extensive reconstruction during the late 1920's, bitumen surface treatment on the section of the Federal Highway between Lake George and Canberra was undertaken between 1931 an 1936. Work was also carried out on the section between the Hume Highway and Lake George where low-lying lengths and sections with sub-stantdard alignment were improved and sealed. With the completion of this work in 1936, a bitumous surface was available on the full length of the Federal Highway and the Hume Highway between Sydney & Canberra. Rest areas along the route were introduced in 1965.
The highway was designed to replace the previous route from Goulburn (via Tarago and Queanbeyan). From 1985 onwards, the Federal Highway was reconstructed to a full four-lane divided highway standard, a project finally completed in 2002.
The route was proclaimed a state highway in 1928, and it's internal RTA classification is State Highway 3. The route was signposted as National Route 23 in 1954, and in 1974, it was proclaimed a National Highway.
Collector:
Collector was, until a few years ago, a stopover for travellers from Sydney. It was a tiny township which seemed to be little more than a pub and service station. Then the town was by-passed in 1988 by the Federal Highway.
The area was first settled by Europeans when T.A. Murray was granted land in 1829. By 1837 Murray had built himself a substantial home and that same year a postal service began from Goulburn across the flat plains to Lake George and down to Yass. This inevitably meant the development of staging posts and the towns of Gundaroo and Collector sprang up. It is said that, in spite of its obviously 'English' name, the town takes its name from an Aboriginal word 'colegdar'.
Collector's history is the history of the roads which passed through it. When horse and bullock were the main means of transportation the town prospered as it was a day's journey from Goulburn. It was during this time that it had five inns and a number of stores. When Canberra was chosen as the national capital the town benefited as the Barton Highway, later to become the Federal Highway, passed through the town and consequently was kept in good condition.
Click here for the former alignments of the Federal Highway.
Click here for the continuation of NH23 in the ACT.
| Length: |
77 km |
| Route Numbers: |
 |
| Sources: DMR's The Road Makers, Canberra & District Historical Society, National Capital Authority, Sydney Morning Herald, Wikipedia, NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, Sam Laybut (Ozroads) and the Australian Government |
|
 |
ID Sign
Southbound directional sign on the interchange with the Hume Highway at Wollogorang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
ID Sign
Northbound ID sign for the interchange at the Hume Highway (northern terminus of the Federal Highway), July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching the interchange with the Hume Highway, northbound, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Distance Sign
The first RD sign on NH23, as you head south from the Hume Highway interchange at Wollogorang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
AD Sign
Northbound advance directional sign, 1 km from the Hume Hwy interchange, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Southbound Carriageway
Looking south on the southbound carriageway at Wollogorang. This was the original alignment of the Federal Highway before its duplication in the 1980s. In some sections in this area the separation between the carriageways is over 300 metres wide, as the northbound carriageway (right of shot) is on a better alignment. The divider also has houses and paddocks down the middle, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Approaching Thornford Road
Southbound at Wollogorang, approaching the at-grade intersection with Thornford Road, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Climbing over the Great Dividing Range
Southbound approach to the Great Dividing Range at Collector (still original alignment), July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Crossing the Great Dividing Range
Sign indicating the top of the Range at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Collector Flood Plain
Southbound overlooking the Collector Flood Plain, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Collector Flood Plain
Southbound overlooking the Collector Flood Plain, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Typical Conditions Around Collector
Looking southbound, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Typical Conditions Around Collector
Looking southbound, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Edmonson VC Rest Area
As part of the Remembrance Driveway program, the rest areas along the Federal Hwy are named after Victoria Cross awards, such as this one at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
By-Passed Town AD
Typical NSW style by-passed town advance directional sign, southbound at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Services Sign
Typical services sign, southbound at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
Southbound AD approaching the junction with Church Street at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
Southbound AD approaching the junction with Church Street at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Fingerboards
Fingerboard directional signs facing traffic entering the highway from Church Street, Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Currawang Road Intersection
Southbound at the junction Currawang Road, Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
Southbound AD approaching the turn off to the Old Federal Highway and also Collector Creek (Flood Plain 1) at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Crossing Collector Creek
Bridge over Collector Creek and also the turn off to the Old Federal Highway at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Distance Sign
Southbound RD sign just after the intersection with the Old Federal Highway at Collector, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Typical Conditions
Southbound at the Lake George truck parking area, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Entering the Lake George precinct
Southbound past Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Tourist Sign
AD sign for Hadlow Drive (former Federal Highway) near Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Hadlow Drive Junction
Southbound intersection with Hadlow Drive, near Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Rest Area AD Sign
Advance directional sign for the Badcoe Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Badcoe VC Rest Area Junction
Southbound at the Badcoe Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
 Wheatley VC Rest Area Junction
Southbound at the Wheatley Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Lookout Services Sign
Sign for services available at the upcoming lookout and rest area on the southwest side of Lake George, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
Services AD Sign approaching the lookout over Lake George and a nearby rest area, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Crossing Nerrin Nerrin Creek
Southbound at the Lake George Lookout and the turn off to the rest area and Hadlow Drive (former Federal Highway) at Gundaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Northbound view of Federal Hwy
Looking in a northerly direction towards the approach of Nerrin Nerrin Creek and the barren Lake George at Gundaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Typical Conditions
Just south of the Hadlow Drive / Lookout intersections, southbound at Bywong, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Brooks Creek
Crossing Brooks Creek on the southbound carriageway at Bywong, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Approaching Shingle Hill Way
Southbound at Bywong as you approach Shingle Hill Way and the Newton VC rest area, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Tourist Sign
Southbound tourist AD sign for Bungendore Road at Bywong, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Bungendore Road Junction
Southbound through the Bungendore Road (TD8) intersection at Bywong, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Yass River
Crossing the Yass River on the southbound carriageway at Bywong, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Approaching Mac's Reef Road
Advance Directional Sign for Mac's Reef Road on the southbound carriageway at Sutton, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Mac's Reef Road Intersection
World's away from the old intersection that was on the old alignment, you're looking southbound at Sutton, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
On the freeway standard section of the Federal Highway as you approach the interchange with Sutton Road at Sutton, July 2006. Note the incorrect NR23 sheild, should be a green and gold NH23 shield.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Supplementary AD Sign
Sign indicating other destinations available from the Sutton Road interchange, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Sutton Road Exit
Southbound at the Sutton Road interchange at Sutton, July 2006. Note the incorrect font used on the sign.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Sutton Road Interchange
View of the southbound slip lane, Sutton Road overpass and the southbound carriageway of NH23, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Sutton Road
Approaching the Sutton Road bridge and cloverleaf onramp to the Federal Highway at Sutton, southbound, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Distance Sign
Southbound RD sign after the Sutton Road interchange, with the old highway on the left and both carriageways of the current alignment, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Exit to Federal Highway Service Road
Southbound past the exit to the old Federal Highway alignment, which now acts as a service road for local roads and properites in the Sutton and Eagle Hawk Hill areas, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Services Sign
Sign indicating services available at the Eagle Hawk Hill Interchange, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Eagle Hawk Hill Interchange
Southbound through the Eagle Hawk Hill interchange at Eagle Hawk Hill, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Advance Directional Sign
ACT design southbound AD sign for the Majura Road (ALT NR-23 / OD1) / Horse Park Drive interchange over the NSW-ACT border. Southbound at Ginn's Gap, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
ACT Truck By-Pass Sign
Just metres from the NSW-ACT border, southbound at Ginns Gap, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
 |
Crossing into NSW
Northbound at Ginns Gap as you cross from the Australian Capital Territory into New South Wales, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
