Thunderbolts Way

Thunderbolts Way is a 290-kilometre (180 mi)[1] country road located in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The road links Gloucester to Walcha (where it crosses the Oxley Highway), Uralla, where it very briefly joins the New England Highway and, to Copes Creek, 16 km (10 mi) south of the Gwydir Highway intersection at Inverell.[2][3] The road is fully sealed and passes through thickly forested mountain areas with many nearby national parks and nature reserves.

Thunderbolts Way

New South Wales
Warning sign on Thunderbolts Way
General information
TypeRoad
Length290 km (180 mi)[1]
Major junctions
NNW end16 km (10 mi) south of Gwydir Highway (B76), Inverell, New South Wales
SSE endBucketts Way, Gloucester, New South Wales
Location(s)
Major suburbsUralla, Walcha, Rookhurst, Barrington
View from Carson's Lookout, Thunderbolt's Way, Gloucester
Monument commemorating the opening of a section of Thunderbolts Way

It is named after a local bushranger, Frederick Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt, who roamed these parts in the 19th century.

History

Eric Carson (1913–99), a Gloucester sawmiller and road builder, carved the first road through the ranges to bring out the magnificent hardwood from the forests on the Great Divide. After Carson spent many years trying to persuade local politicians that a road should be built across the Divide from Gloucester to Nowendoc, he went ahead and built it. Carving the 32 km (20 mi) route out of some of the steepest and most rugged countryside in the state was fraught with danger, but by 1961 it was complete.[4] Carson's Lookout, which commemorates his work is between Gloucester and Nowendoc, is a stop off point for the enjoyment of panoramic views.

Route

At a total length of about 290 kilometres (180 mi) (from Gloucester to Inverell), it is very hilly and winding as it passes across the Great Dividing Range. It is very popular with tourists, including motorcyclists, as it offers many pristine picnic and fishing spots. Riverside camping spots are available at Gloryvale Reserve and Bretti Reserve. There is also a picnic area, with toilets, near the Barrington River bridge.

Occasionally a dingo, koala or wombat may be among the animals to be spotted on this route. Bellbirds are frequently heard shortly after beginning the ascent up the mountain.

The only villages between Gloucester and Walcha are Barrington and Nowendoc, which is slightly north of this road. There is a public school and church at the hamlet of Rookhurst. After passing through Walcha, Dangar's Lagoon is situated close to Uralla where a statue of Captain Thunderbolt on horseback is located on the intersection of the New England Highway and Thunderbolts Way.

After passing Uralla the Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve is near the junction of the Armidale Road and Thunderbolts Way. This site protects an Aboriginal cave painting site and much of the natural environment of Mount Yarrowyck.

A new bridge constructed in 2015 crosses the Gwydir River shortly before reaching the Kingstown Road intersection and then the village of Bundarra. Once again the Gwydir River is crossed, this time by the Bundarra Bridge, a five-span iron lattice truss bridge, that was constructed in 1881. This bridge is 204 metres (669 ft) long and 5.6 metres (18 ft) wide between kerbs. It has been listed on the Register of the National Estate, being of state significance due to its design, historical value and aesthetic appearance.[5] The next village encountered is Gilgai which is situated about 10 km (6 mi) south of Inverell.

Major junctions
LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Copes Creek00.0Bridge
InverellHowell00.0Bundarra Road – Inverell to
Gwydir Highway (B76) – Glen Innes, Grafton, Moree		North-western terminus, where the road crosses Copes Creek; road continues north as the Bundarra Road
Gwydir River2918Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
UrallaBundarra3119Gwydir River Road – TamworthY-intersection; Thunderbolts Way continues south-southeast
Gwydir River3220Emu Crossing Bridge[6]
Rocky River9458Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
UrallaUralla10263 New England Highway (A15) [north] – Armidale4-way intersection; northern concurrency terminus with New England Highway;
Road continues north/south as the New England Highway (A15) for one short town block
New England Highway (A15) [south] – Tamworth4-way intersection; southern concurrency terminus with New England Highway;
Thunderbolts Way continues southeast
WalchaWalcha14389 Oxley Highway (B56) – Tamworth, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Port Macquarie
Barnard River251156Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
Manning River255158Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
Manning River262163Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
Manning River266165Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
Bowman River276171Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
GloucesterBarrington281175Scone Road – Scone to
New England Highway (A15)		T-intersection
Barrington River282175Barrington Bridge[7]
Gloucester River288179Bridge over the river (Bridge name not known)
GloucesterGloucester290180Bucketts Way – Nabiac, Stroud to
Pacific Highway (A1)		Roundabout; road continues east and south as the Bucketts Way
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. 2917 Thunderbolts Way, Howell NSW 2360 to 30 Church Street, Gloucester NSW 2422 (Map). Google Maps. 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  2. 1:100000 topographic maps 9138 Inverell, 9137 Bundarra, 9136 Bendemeer, 9236 Armidale, 9235 Yarrowitch, 9234 Upper Manning and 9233 Gloucester. Retrieved 19 April 2010
  3. "Gilgai". Land and Property Management Authority - Spatial Information eXchange. New South Wales Land and Property Information. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  4. Meacham, Steve (13 November 2008). "Roads less travelled". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  5. "Bridge over Gwydir River at Bundarra". Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW). 30 March 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  6. Steve Green (8 October 2015). "New bridge open at Bundarra after 98 years of waiting". The Inverell Times. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. "Barrington Bridge". Roads and Maritime Services. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
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