As you follow the
Convict Trail on its journey from Sydney to
Newcastle, one of Australia's greatest engineering projects unfolds before your eyes.
The work in question is none other than the
Great North Road. After Newcastle was founded in 1804, the only way to travel between the burgeoning settlement and Sydney was by boat. The Aborigines may have been able to effortlessly traverse the rugged bush, but to European eyes it seemed impassable. That was why, in 1825,
convicts started working on a land passage, which was finally completed in 1836. This is essentially the route taken by the Convict Trail.
Sadly, much of the 240 kilometre Great North Road has either been altered beyond recognition or is inaccessible. For example, the opening stretch from
Five Dock to
Abbotsford is now bland suburban bitumen. Other parts lie buried or hidden in national parks. Still, with a little effort and imagination, the Convict Trail will reveal to you a colonial highway and its
fascinating history.
Sydney to the Hawkesbury: Even in the suburbs, valuable pieces of heritage remain, including
Rockend Cottage and an old stone causeway. There is more to be found at
Wisemans Ferry, such as the oldest continuously running ferry service in the state – and probably Australia – which was begun in 1829 in order to provide logistical assistance for the builders.
The Hawkesbury to Bucketty: The obvious highlight is the
Thomas James Bridge – erected in 1830, it is the oldest bridge on the mainland. However, because much of this section lies within
Dharug and
Yengo National Parks, it is largely inaccessible by car, although walkers and cyclists are allowed to follow the old road.
Bucketty to the Hunter: With most of the drive between
Bucketty and
Wollombi tracing the Great North Road, there are plenty of convict relics to enjoy, like stone walls and an impressive arched culvert.
A thorough exploration of the Convict Trail would take weeks, if not months, to complete. But if, like most people, you only want to get a general feel of the 19th century highway, it can comfortably be achieved in a couple of relaxing days. So why not make a weekend of it?
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