Former Great Western Road Alignment, Prospect facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Former Great Western Road, Prospect |
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1911 - Former Great Western Road, Prospect - SHR Plan 2535 (5061510b100).jpg
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| Location | Prospect, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Area | Heritage boundaries showing the route of the road |
| Built | 1815–1818 |
| Architect | George Evans was the likely surveyor. Governor Lachlan Macquarie ordered the road be constructed |
| Owner | Blacktown City Council |
| Official name: Former Great Western Road, Prospect; The Western Road; The Great Western Road; The Old Western Road; The Great Western Highway | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 June 2014 |
| Reference no. | 1911 |
| Type | Road |
| Category | Transport - Land |
| Builders | William Cox |
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The Former Great Western Road Alignment, Prospect is a very old and important road in Prospect, Australia. It's now split into four smaller roads and partly divided by the M4 Western Motorway.
This historic road was started by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and built between 1815 and 1818 by William Cox. It was probably surveyed by George Evans. People also called it The Western Road, The Great Western Road, The Old Western Road, or The Great Western Highway. Today, it's owned by Blacktown City Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 June 2014 because of its special history.
A Road Through Time
Early Days and Aboriginal Connections
Prospect Hill is the highest point between the Blue Mountains and the sea. For Aboriginal people, it was a vital lookout and navigation point, known as "Marrong". This area holds deep cultural meaning for them.
It was a meeting and trading place for different Aboriginal groups. These groups came from areas like Rooty Hill, Parramatta, Penrith, and Richmond. They often stayed along the ridge for short visits, with more permanent camps near Prospect Creek.
When Europeans arrived, there were many Aboriginal people living here. Early interactions were often difficult, leading to fights. Pemulwuy, an Eora leader, fought against the colonists who took their hunting lands. After his death in 1802, his son Tedbury continued the resistance until 1805.
European Arrival and Early Settlements
In 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip explored the Prospect area. He named a low hill "Bellevue Hill," meaning "Fine Prospect." This area later became known simply as Prospect.
In 1791, Phillip gave land on the hill's eastern side to thirteen former convicts. The soil here was more fertile than other parts of the Cumberland Plain. However, these settlers struggled and still relied on government supplies.
Later, in 1802, Governor King set aside a large area north of the hill for government livestock. Part of this land was later used by local settlers.
Building the Great Western Road
By July 1815, work began on a new road from Parramatta to the Nepean River (at Penrith). This included the section we now call the Former Great Western Road, Prospect. This road was one of three "Great Roads" built using convict labour. These roads helped open up the colony beyond the Cumberland Plain for European settlement.
The other two Great Roads were the Great North Road (to Newcastle) and the Great South Road (part of today's Hume Highway).
A big drought in 1812 showed that the land in the Cumberland Plain wasn't good enough for farming for the growing colony. After the Blue Mountains were crossed in 1813, people focused on the fertile lands to the west. The Great Western Road became super important for this expansion.
William Cox was hired to build the road across the Cumberland Plain and over the Blue Mountains. His plans for the Blue Mountains road said it should be at least 12 feet wide, but 16 feet was better for two carts to pass. Trees were cleared for a 20-foot wide path, and holes were filled.
It's not certain who surveyed the road. However, George Evans surveyed the Blue Mountains road and might have planned this one too. Some believe the road at Prospect followed an older Aboriginal track. This track would have avoided creeks and flood-prone areas.
Governor Macquarie traveled the Great Western Road in October 1815 to check on the work. The road to Penrith was finished by 1818. Tolls (fees) were then charged to use the new road. Two milestones (markers showing distance) once stood near Prospect but have since been moved.
The Road's Importance and Growth
The Great Western Road became the main route to the vast lands beyond the Blue Mountains. It was seen as a symbolic road, promising new opportunities to travelers.
In 1833, it was officially named a main road. Unlike local roads, the three Great Roads were managed by the Colonial Government. By 1865, the Western Road from Parramatta to Penrith was covered with metal.
The road helped the Prospect Hill area grow. Smaller land grants from Governor Phillip were later combined into much larger ones. Important people like William Lawson and D'Arcy Wentworth received big land grants near the road.
By the 1820s, regular coach services ran along the road, with five toll booths between Parramatta and Penrith. One was near William Lawson's estate.
Landowners began dividing and selling parts of their large grants. By the late 1800s, Prospect Village slowly grew along the eastern part of the road. Most old houses are gone, except for Bridestowe/Hick's Dairy (around 1880s).
Other old buildings still stand, like St Bartholomew's Anglican Church (built 1841). The Prospect Post Office (1880s) is still there, though unused. The Cricketers Arms Hotel (around 1870) has been repaired.
Changes and Modern Times
The building of Prospect Reservoir (1880-1888) brought a short burst of activity. But once it was done, the workers left, and the area became quiet again. The railway to the north also drew development away. The land south of the road became a protected reserve for the reservoir.
Quarrying (digging for stone) at Prospect Hill provided some jobs from the 1860s until recently.
In 1925, the NSW Department of Main Roads took over the road. It was reclassified as a state highway in 1929 and renamed the Great Western Highway. In the 1930s, new road signs and markings were added. By 1939, the entire highway from Sydney to Bathurst was sealed and marked.
The Great Western Road through Prospect kept its original path for 150 years. But in 1968, a new, straighter section called the Prospect Deviation was built to avoid the old road's hills and bends.
In the 1970s, the Western Freeway (now the M4 Motorway) was built. This cut through the old road, creating separate sections like Tarlington Place and Yallock Place. The old road became a quieter side road.
The area around Prospect remained mostly rural. In the 1990s, the government started buying private land here for parks. The road is now part of the Western Sydney Parklands.
What the Road Looks Like Now
The Former Great Western Road, Prospect, winds over the low hills north of Prospect Hill and the Prospect Reservoir. The modern Great Western Highway bypasses it.
This old road is almost 4 kilometers long. It starts at Tarlington Place in the east and goes southwest, west, and northwest to Honeman Close in the west. It's not continuous anymore because the M4 Motorway cuts through it in two places.
The road is now made up of four different sections:
- Tarlington Place (east, ends at the M4)
- Reservoir Road (south of the M4, goes west past Prospect Highway)
- Yallock Place (northwest, ends at the M4)
- Boiler Close and Honeman Close (north of the M4, goes northwest)
A newer part of Reservoir Road goes under the M4 and into Blacktown, but this is not part of the historic road.
Unlike most of the straight Great Western Road, this section at Prospect gently curves over the hills. It follows the edge of the Prospect Reservoir.
Road Condition
Most of the Former Great Western Road is a two-lane asphalt road. It has wide gravel and grassy shoulders. There isn't much obvious drainage, as the road uses its slope to shed rainwater.
The land around the road is mostly open fields with native trees and some foreign plants. You can still see signs of old farms, like houses, sheds, and fences. The land south of the road, near the reservoir, has a lot of native bushland. Many of the buildings and fences look a bit neglected. The Cricketers Arms Hotel is a well-kept exception.
The road's path today is mostly the same as the original. Even though the M4 and Prospect Highway cut it, the main features remain. The asphalt surface on Reservoir Road has been redone and is in good condition. Blacktown City Council still maintains it for traffic.
Other sections like Tarlington and Yallock Places, and Boiler and Honeman Closes, are in poorer condition. Some parts are closed by gates or cut by the M4. The pavement is damaged, and the edges are overgrown. But even so, the road's original path is still clear. It runs through a mostly open, undeveloped rural area.
Archaeological studies suggest that when the road was maintained, new asphalt was laid over older layers. This means older road surfaces and even items from the convict era might still be buried underneath.
The Reservoir Road section hasn't been widened much since the mid-1900s. There are no major traffic lights or roundabouts. So, older road layers and drainage systems might still be preserved below the current surface.
The Former Great Western Road at Prospect still clearly looks like an old, two-lane highway. It follows the natural ups and downs of the land. From the highest point, near Watch House Road, you can see amazing views of the Blue Mountains and Blacktown hills. This helps you imagine what travelers saw almost 200 years ago.
The area around the road still feels rural. It has old farm patterns, scattered houses, and trees. This is very different from other parts of the old Western Road, which are now wide, busy highways with lots of modern buildings.
Road Changes Over Time
The Great Western Road at Prospect kept its original path over Prospect Hill until 1968. That's when the NSW Department of Main Roads built the new, straighter Prospect Deviation to the north. This was done to avoid the old road's "dangerous" curves and slopes.
In the 1970s, the Western Freeway (now the M4 Motorway) was built. It ran next to the highway and was extended in the 1990s. This construction cut through the old road, creating the shorter sections we see today.
In the 1980s, the Great Western Highway was widened to six lanes. But the old section at Prospect remained a two-lane side road.
Why This Road is Special
The Former Great Western Road, Prospect, is incredibly important. It's the only part of the original 1818 Great Western Road that still exists in its first path. It might even follow an older Aboriginal track. This road could hold amazing archaeological finds from the convict and colonial times.
Aboriginal Significance
The Prospect Hill area is very important to Aboriginal people. It was a meeting and trading place before Europeans arrived. It also represents early conflicts between Aboriginal people and settlers. A meeting in 1805 here marked the start of a long journey towards reconciliation.
The road's path might have followed an ancient Aboriginal track over Prospect Hill. This means the road shows both pre-contact (before Europeans) and post-contact (after Europeans) Aboriginal history.
Historical Importance
This road is a rare surviving part of Governor Macquarie's Great Western Road. It was built by convicts between 1815 and 1818 and is still used today. Governor Macquarie saw it as a key part of his plan to develop the colony.
The Great Western Road was one of three major roads built in the colony. These roads were vital for opening up new land for farming and settlement beyond Sydney. After the Blue Mountains were crossed in 1813, the Great Western Road became super important for expanding west. The section at Prospect was a key part of this route until it was bypassed in 1968.
Most of the old Great Western Road has been widened and straightened. But the section at Prospect still follows its original curves over Prospect Hill. It passes through a relatively undeveloped, old farming landscape. The views from the road, especially to the Blue Mountains, still give a powerful sense of what early travelers experienced.
Connections to Important People
The Former Great Western Road at Prospect is linked to Aboriginal people and important early colonial figures. It probably followed an older Aboriginal route over Prospect Hill.
It's directly connected to Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who ordered its construction. It's also linked to William Cox, who built the road. And Surveyor George Evans likely planned its path.
Unique Beauty and Experience
The Former Great Western Road, Prospect, has a special beauty. It lets you experience travel on an old road that is still mostly undeveloped. It follows the natural shape of the land, winding over Prospect Hill. From its highest point, you can see the Blue Mountains.
These views still give travelers a sense of promise and excitement. This feeling is unique to this road, as described by historian Helen Proudfoot.
The road's setting still feels rural, with old farm layouts, scattered houses, and trees. This is a stark contrast to other parts of the old Western Road, which are now busy, wide highways surrounded by modern buildings.
Potential for Discovery
The Former Great Western Road, Prospect, has the potential for important archaeological discoveries. Since it hasn't been greatly changed since the mid-1900s, older road layers and even convict-built structures might still be hidden beneath the surface. When old roads are disturbed, evidence of earlier surfaces and historical items can be found.
A Rare Survivor
This road is a rare survivor. It's the only part of Governor Macquarie's Great Western Road (completed in 1818) that still follows its original path, is still used, and remains mostly undeveloped.
Most of the Western Road from Parramatta to Penrith has been completely changed by modern roadworks. But the section at Prospect keeps its historic feel and views. It offers a rare chance for modern travelers to feel the same sense of anticipation that early travelers did.
Showing How Roads Were Built
The Former Great Western Road, Prospect, shows us what the "Great Roads" network of the early colonial period was like. It remains largely undeveloped, keeping its original 1818 path (which might have been an older Aboriginal track). It offers historical views and possibly archaeological evidence of convict-built structures.
The three Great Roads were the main transport routes of the colony. They were built by convict labour and managed by the colonial government, not local groups.
