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Statistics:

• Length: NSW: 337 km
• Northern Terminus: NSW / QLD Border north of Barringun
• Southern Terminus: Barrier Highway (NR32) / Mitchell Highway (NR32) intersection
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Mitchell Highway (A71) to Charleville QLD and continues as Mitchell Highway (A32) from Nyngan NSW.
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Nyngan, Girilambone, Coolabah, Byrock, Bourke, Enngonia and Barringun

Route Numbering:

• Current: B71

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW7 1

General Information:

The Mitchell Highway, named after Major Thomas Mitchell, who was Surveyor-General of New South Wales in the 1820s and explored much of inland New South Wales and Victoria.

The route consists of typical NSW rural highway standard, undivided single carriageway.

History:

• 1930s: Formation of the route to Bourke. 2
• 1958: Reconstruction between Bourke and Queensland border and bitumous surfacing construction for 13 miles in the Bourke area. 2
• 1965: Further reconstruction and sealing between Bourke and Queensland, in various sections, as required, eventually totalling 67 miles. 2
• 5 November 1968: Reconstruction of Mitchell Hwy north of Bourke completed. Works included sealing of road southwards from the Queensland Border to Enngonia and works on a deviation immediately south of Enngonia. 3
• October 1969: Works begin on reconstruction and bitumen Sealing of the Mitchell Highway north of Bourke. Construction took place between 20 miles and 40 miles north of Bourke. 4
• 6 November 1972: Completion of sealing along entire length of Mitchell Hwy, with the finalisation of sealing along an 85 mile length from Bourke to Queensland Border. 2
• 2013: Introduction of B71 route number as part of the alphanumeric route numbering scheme rollout.

Click here for historic photos of Mitchell Highway between Nyngan and the Queensland Border

Preview:	Description:
	New South Wales / Queensland Border: Crossing from Queensland into New South Wales at Barringun, November 2016. The Mitchell Hwy changes at this location from A71 in Queensland to B71 in New South Wales. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Tourism-based distance sign at Barringun, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Barringun: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Barringun, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Barringun: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it passes through the town of Barringun, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign leaving Barringun town centre, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Kidman Way Sign: Southbound sign on Mitchell Hwy (B71) at Barringun showing the towns along the Kidman Way, which starts in Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Enngonia: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Engonnia, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	McCabe Street: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and McCabe St, Engonnia, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Shearer Street: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Shearer St, Engonnia, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Lower Lila Road: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Lower Lila Rd at North Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Twin Rivers Road: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Twin Rivers Rd at North Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Bundy Road: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Bundy Rd at North Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at North Bourke approaching Hungerford Rd, November 2016. B71 turns left at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands
	Darling River: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses Darling River via Gateway Bridge at North Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Polygonum Swamp: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses Polygonum Swamp at Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Polygonum Swamp: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it crosses the Billabong of Polygonum Swamp at Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bourke approaching Mitchell St and Richard St, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mitchell Street & Richard Street: Intersection directional sign on the junction with Mitchell St and Richard St in Bourke, November 2016. B71 turns left at this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bourke approaching Kidman Way (B87) and Anson St, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Kidman Way & Anson Street: Intersection directional sign on the junction with Kidman Way (B87) and Anson St in Bourke, November 2016. B71 turns left at this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign leaving Bourke, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Byrock: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Byrock, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: Non-standard fingerboards at the corner of Gongolgon St and Cobar St in Byrock, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Cooneybar Road: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Cooneybar Rd at Coolabah, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Arthur Hall VC Way at Coolabah, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Arthur Hall VC Way: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Arthur Hall VC Way at Coolabah, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Coolabah, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Girilambone: Mitchell Hwy (B71) as it enters the town of Girilambone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Booramugga Road: Corner of Mitchell Hwy (B71) and Booramugga Rd at Girilambone, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nyngan approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Barrier Hwy (A32), November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway: Southern terminus of B71: Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Barrier Hwy (A32) at Nyngan, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands

1 NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, April 2017
2 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4
3 Western Herald, Mitchell Highway Bitumen Sealed Between Enngonia and Barringun, 1 Nov 1968
4 Western Herald, Construction of Mitchell Highway North of Bourke, 10 Oct 1969

Last updated: 21-Dec-2019 21:16

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