Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Barrier Highway (NSW)

Barrier Highway (NSW)

The NSW section of the Barrier Hwy begins at the NSW/SA border town of Cockburn then heads east into the Barrier Ranges reaching the mining city of Broken Hill. The highway then continues east, passes through the remainder of the Barrier Ranges before entering wide, expansive arid country which dominates most of the journey to Wilcannia and further east to Cobar. Heading east from Cobar, the highway enters a more habitated area passing through a couple of towns and through more obvious cattle and cotton growing regions before reaching the Mitchell Highway at Nyngan. A general travel warning from Cobar to Broken Hill as the highway passes through very remote country with little or no services available with nearby homesteads up to 50km apart.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The highway is named after the Barrier Ranges which exist around the mining city of Broken Hill - one of the principal reasons for the highway's existence.
Pronunciation: Barr-e-er Highway
Start: NSW/SA border (Cockburn)
Principal Towns: Cockburn, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Cobar, Nyngan
Finish: Mitchell Highway (Nyngan)
Length: 637km
Road Standard: All bitumen
Road Quality: Generally good. Highway becomes a bit windy either side of Broken Hill as it passes through the Barrier Ranges.
Road Continuation: Click here for the Barrier Highway in SA, Click here for the Mitchell Highway in NSW
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 110km/hr

Photos from the Barrier Highway (NSW) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking east from Cockburn on the Barrier Highway with the Barrier Ranges in the background (2003).

Heading west from Broken Hill on the Barrier Highway. Unusual for Perth to get a guernsey in NSW! (2003).

Interesting intersection sign within Broken Hill as it shows a half green/brown colour for the Barrier Highway (2003).

Approaching the northern Barrier Hwy/Silver City Hwy intersection on Iodide St, Broken Hill (2003).

Approaching the southern Barrier Hwy/Silver City Hwy intersection on Argent St, Broken Hill (2003).

Looking west along the Barrier Highway - with Broken Hill 5km away (2003).

Heading east on the Barrier Highway as it winds its way through the Barrier Ranges between Broken Hill and Wilcannia - nice scenery (2003).

Kilometre sign on the Barrier Highway between Broken Hill and Wilcannia (2003).

The Barrier Highway, heading west between Wilcannia and Broken Hill (2003).

The Barrier Hwy, looking east approaching Little Topar Roadhouse (2003).

Directional sign on the Barrier Highway as it enters Wilcannia from the east (2003).

Heading east on the Barrier Highway from Wilcannia with an unusual Rest Areas distance sign (2003).

Distance sign heading east from Wilcannia on the Barrier Highway (2003).

How far to Wilcannia? :-) Heading west on the Barrier Highway. Incidentally, this distance sign was erected in the middle of nowhere - there was no prior town or intersection to warrant its placement apart from the already existing kilometre sign. Only Victoria is otherwise known for erecting distance signs for no reason (2003).

Approaching Emmadale Roadhouse on the Barrier Highway from the west. Nice to see an obvious spelling error! (2003)

Very straight and very flat - typifies most of the Barrier Hwy. Here we head east, 15km from Cobar (2003).

Distance sign, heading west on the Barrier Hwy from Cobar (2003).

The Barrier Highway, heading east between Cobar and Nyngan (2003).

The Barrier Hwy, heading west from the Mitchell Hwy junction, just outside Nyngan (2003).

Turn-off for the Barrier Highway where it meets the Mitchell Highway, Nyngan (2003).

	Looking east from Cockburn on the Barrier Highway with the Barrier Ranges in the background (2003).
	Heading west from Broken Hill on the Barrier Highway. Unusual for Perth to get a guernsey in NSW! (2003).
	Interesting intersection sign within Broken Hill as it shows a half green/brown colour for the Barrier Highway (2003).
	Approaching the northern Barrier Hwy/Silver City Hwy intersection on Iodide St, Broken Hill (2003).
	Approaching the southern Barrier Hwy/Silver City Hwy intersection on Argent St, Broken Hill (2003).
	Looking west along the Barrier Highway - with Broken Hill 5km away (2003).
	Heading east on the Barrier Highway as it winds its way through the Barrier Ranges between Broken Hill and Wilcannia - nice scenery (2003).
	Kilometre sign on the Barrier Highway between Broken Hill and Wilcannia (2003).
	The Barrier Highway, heading west between Wilcannia and Broken Hill (2003).
	The Barrier Hwy, looking east approaching Little Topar Roadhouse (2003).
	Directional sign on the Barrier Highway as it enters Wilcannia from the east (2003).
	Heading east on the Barrier Highway from Wilcannia with an unusual Rest Areas distance sign (2003).
	Distance sign heading east from Wilcannia on the Barrier Highway (2003).
	How far to Wilcannia? :-) Heading west on the Barrier Highway. Incidentally, this distance sign was erected in the middle of nowhere - there was no prior town or intersection to warrant its placement apart from the already existing kilometre sign. Only Victoria is otherwise known for erecting distance signs for no reason (2003).
	Approaching Emmadale Roadhouse on the Barrier Highway from the west. Nice to see an obvious spelling error! (2003)
	Very straight and very flat - typifies most of the Barrier Hwy. Here we head east, 15km from Cobar (2003).
	Distance sign, heading west on the Barrier Hwy from Cobar (2003).
	The Barrier Highway, heading east between Cobar and Nyngan (2003).
	The Barrier Hwy, heading west from the Mitchell Hwy junction, just outside Nyngan (2003).
	Turn-off for the Barrier Highway where it meets the Mitchell Highway, Nyngan (2003).