Cobb Highway

The Cobb Highway is a state highway in the western Riverina and the far western regions of New South Wales, with a short section in Victoria, Australia.

Cobb Highway

New South Wales
–Victoria
The Cobb Highway just outside Hay towards Ivanhoe
General information
TypeHighway
Length571 km (355 mi)
Route number(s) B75 (2013-present)
Former
route number		 National Route 75 (1955–2013)
Major junctions
North end Barrier Highway
Wilcannia, New South Wales
 
South end Northern Highway
NSW/VIC border
Location(s)
Major settlementsIvanhoe, Booligal, Hay, Deniliquin
Highway system

Initially an amalgam of stock routes, the 571-kilometre (355 mi)[1] Cobb Highway was proclaimed during the late 1930s, initially extending from the New South Wales and Victorian border north to Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Tibooburra to Warri Gate at the New South Wales and Queensland border. In 1945, the highway was truncated to its current length and named in 1947 in honour of Cobb and Co, a company which ran a network of stagecoaches in inland Australia in the latter half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century. The highway follows an old coach route through the Riverina, connecting the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers, and across the intervening plains to the Darling River at Wilcannia. The Cobb also connects the Barrier, Mid-Western, Sturt, and Riverina highways.

The Cobb carries the State Highway B75 shield for its entire length, the majority of which is a sealed single carriageway as far north as 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Ivanhoe;[2][3] and thereafter, gravel.

Route

From north to south, the Cobb Highway begins at its junction with the Barrier Highway near Wilcannia and runs south through the townships of Ivanhoe, Booligal, Hay and Deniliquin. Its southern terminus is in Echuca, Victoria, at a roundabout located approximately 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) south of Moama where the highway crosses the New South Wales–Victoria border at the Murray River and continues south as the Northern Highway, retaining the B75 shield.

The highway travels through diverse changes in scenery, from the Murray River, enclosed farming land in the Riverina, to open grazing land and semi-desert towards the middle and northern sections.

The speed limit is posted at 100 km/h (62 mph), except for three sections where the limit is 110 km/h (68 mph): 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Deniliquin until Hay, Hay until a few kilometres north of Booligal, and from just south of Mossgiel to Ivanhoe.

History

In the 1930s, the road now known as the Cobb Highway was proclaimed as part of State Highway 21, which also included the road north through Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Tibooburra to Warri Gate at the Queensland border. Highway 21 was truncated 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Wilcannia on 9 February 1945 when the Silver City Highway was proclaimed. The Cobb Highway received its name in 1947 in commemoration of the Cobb & Co. coach company. In 1954, with the institution of the National Route system, the Cobb Highway in New South Wales and the Northern Highway in Victoria were designated to be National Route 75. In May 1969 a bridge over the Edward River at Deniliquin was constructed (replacing a timber bridge built in 1895). In June 1973 a bridge over Murrumbidgee River at Hay was built (replacing the 1874 opening bridge).[3]

The Cobb Highway is part of a significant travelling stock routes network in New South Wales. The highway is the focus of a major tourism initiative entitled The Long Paddock, developed by the shires along the route (Murray, Deniliquin, Conargo, Hay and Central Darling). The Long Paddock project aims to develop sustainable communities along the Cobb Highway through the development of a dynamic cultural heritage touring route. The project uses the consistent theme of transportation, involving elements of history, creative interpretation and local environment, to link the communities along the highway.[4]

Sealing

Work has been underway since 2011 to seal the remaining 132 km (82 mi) of unsealed highway.[5] In June 2018, the NSW Government announced it was investing $145 million to seal the remaining 209 km (130 mi) of the Cobb and Silver City Highways by 2023.[6] As of March 2020, there is still 71 km (44 mi) of unsealed road remaining to be sealed.[7]

Major intersections
StateLGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
New South WalesCentral DarlingWilcannia00.0 Barrier Highway (A32) – Cobar, Dubbo, Wilcannia, Broken HillNorthern terminus of highway and route B75
Ivanhoe15798Ivanhoe–Menindee Road – Menindee
162101Balranald Road – Balranald, Swan Hill
163101Behring Street – Cobar
CarrathoolMossgiel212132Mossgiel Trunk Road – Hillston, Griffith
HayHay371231 Mid-Western Highway (B64) – Goolgowi, West Wyalong, Bathurst, Sydney
371231Cadell Street – Maude
Murrumbidgee River372231Bridge over river
HayHay South373232 Sturt Highway (A20 west) – Balranald, Mildura, Adelaide
Sturt Highway (A20 east) – Narrandera, Wagga Wagga, Sydney		Roundabout
381237Jerilderie Road – Jerilderie
ConargoPretty Pine477296Moulamein Road – Moulamein
DeniliquinDeniliquin493306 Riverina Highway (B58) – Finley, Berrigan, AlburyRoundabout
496308Deniliquin–Barham Road (south-west) / Ochtertyre Street (north-west) – Barham, KerangRoundabout
MurrayMoama554344Barmah Road – Barmah, Nathalia
568353Perricoota Road – Womboota
Murray River570350Moama–Echuca Bridge
New South Wales–Victoria state borderNew South Wales–Victoria state border
VictoriaCampaspeEchuca571355 Northern Highway (B75) – Bendigo, MelbourneSouthern highway terminus at roundabout; route B75 continues south along Northern Highway
  •       Route transition

See also

References
  1. Google (5 April 2015). "Cobb Highway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. Rands, Paul (8 November 2013). "Cobb Highway (B75)". Road Photos & Information: New South Wales. Paul Rands. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  3. "National Route 75: Cobb Highway". Ozroads: the Australian Roads website. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  4. The Long Paddock: Cobb Highway Touring Route
  5. "Cobb Highway and Silver City Highway sealing and upgrade program". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 26 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Sealing the Cobb and Silver City highways" (PDF). Transport for NSW. January 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. "Sealing the Cobb and Silver City highways" (PDF). Transport for NSW. April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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