Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891:body:0:p172
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 490423–493328

Criterion Values

(a) the place has _ The Old Great North Road is the best surviving example of an intact convict
outstanding heritage built road with massive structural works which remain undisturbed by later

value to the nation —_ development on or around the road.
because of the

place's importance

: Re-offending convicts were sentenced to hard labour in road gangs where they
in the course, or

worked in isolated and harsh conditions for months at a time. The worst convicts
pattern, of . Sona ame
'Australia's natural or Worked in leg irons and collars. The road gangs served to maintain order within
cultural history. the settlements and were intended to dissuade criminal activity in Britain and
rebut the view that transportation was desirable.

This section of the road is a particularly challenging and steep 7.5 km segment of
the 250 km long Great North Road which took over ten years to complete (1826-
36). It includes both Finch's Line built in 1828 and the realigned road ascending
Devine's Hill built between 1829-32. The road construction required substantial
cut and fill operations, the building of massive dry stone retaining walls up to 9.5
metres high supported by stone abutments and the construction of an extensive
drainage system.

Section 11: Appendices 1 85
Authorised Version F2016L01891 registered 09/12/2016

Jean Rice Architect | CONTEXT | GML Heritage

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette

No. S141, 1 August 2007

Criterion

(a) continued

(g) the place has
outstanding heritage

value to the nation
because of the
place's strong or
special association
with a particular
community or
cultural group for
social, cultural or
spiritual reasons.

Special Gazette 3

Values

The place retains a comparatively rich array of structural features and
construction elements, including both the original alignment of the road (Finch's
Line) and the realigned ascent of Devine's Hill, the retaining walls with their
abutments, cuttings, embankments, quarry sites and drains. The road
construction illustrates the design solution to overcome terrain conditions in the
bushland environment.

The landscape setting with the road works and stockade indicates the work
practices and living conditions of the convict labourers and their supervisors.
The engraved '25 R. Party! and the convict graffiti rock carving convey an
evocative link to the people involved in the works.

Old Great North Road provides evidence of the transition of New South Wales
from a penal colony to a permanent settlement and is an excellent representation
of the extensive road building undertaken by Governor Ralph Darling to expand
the colony, provide transportation and communication links with dispersed
settlements, and provide harsh punishment for convicts.

The place has strong associations with the local community as evidenced by the
Convict Trail Project which two local communities instigated in