Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Bruxner Highway

Bruxner Highway

The Bruxner Highway, New South Wales' most northern highway links the northern cattle and agricultural areas through to the rich northern rivers coastal region. Starting at the Newell Highway within the small town of Boggabilla (7km east of Goondiwindi - QLD), the highway heads (with no route number) in an easterly direction through cattle, sheep and agricultural districts to the junction town of Yetman. Heading east from Yetman, the Bruxner Highway at times closely follows the NSW/QLD border (Dumaresq River), passing near the QLD town of Texas, through Bonshaw and eventually joins the New England Highway for about 6km to reach the major town of Tenterfield. From Tenterfield, the highway continues east, (now as National Route 44 - shown above) through the some spectacular scenery as it traverses across the Great Dividing Range to eventually wind down to cross the Richmond River at Casino. Continuing east, the highway now passes through flatter terrain with a mix of cattle, sugar cane & almond and macadamia industries dominating the surrounding countryside as it reaches the important city of Lismore and finally across the hills through Alstonville to reach the Pacific Highway, just west of Ballina.
Motorists are to take note of the road quality below and to use the highway accordingly. From Tenterfield to Ballina, it does provide a fairly direct route through the hills but traffic levels become high east of Lismore. Motorists from Tenterfield driving to Brisbane/Gold Coast are advised to use the New England/Cunningham Highway route through Stanthorpe and Warwick rather than the Bruxner/Pacific Hwy corridor.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The Bruxner Highway is named after Michael Bruxner, a Minister for Transport in NSW during the 1930's, who grew up in the Tenterfield area.
Pronunciation: Brux-ner Highway
Start: Newell Highway (Boggabilla)
Principal Towns: Goondiwindi, Boggabilla, Yetman, Texas *, Bonshaw, Tenterfield, Casino, Lismore, Alstonville, Ballina
Finish: Pacific Highway (6km west of Ballina)
Length: 418km
Road Standard: Bitumen & Gravel
Road Quality: Significant variance. Boggabilla-Tenterfield: poor, narrow bitumen surface, often with no line markings with 5km of gravel surface between Boggabilla and Yetman still remaining. Tenterfield-Casino: Average bitumen surface - extremely windy and mountainous for a significant length albeit fairly direct. Casino-Ballina: Excellent - flat surface with some overtaking lanes - some sections of dual carriageway between Lismore and Alstonville.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr
* - denotes towns/cities bypassed by the Bruxner Highway

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

Looking east along the Newell Highway approaching the start of the Bruxner Highway, Boggabilla (2003).

Distance sign, heading east on the Bruxner Hwy from Boggabilla (2003).

Heading east on the Bruxner Highway between Boggabilla and Yetman. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004)

Kilometre post, heading east on the Bruxner Highway, 25km from Yetman. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).

Heading east on the Bruxner Hwy where the remaining section of gravel road remains. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).

Eastbound on the Bruxner Hwy while on the gravel section of road. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).

Heading east on the Bruxner approaching the State Route 95 junction, just west of Yetman. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).

Looking west along the Bruxner Highway as it approaches the State Route 95 junction, Yetman (2006).

Heading east on the Bruxner Hwy just outside of Yetman (2006).

Looking west along the Bruxner Highway through Yetman (2006).

Kilometre sign referring to Goondiwindi, heading west on the Bruxner Highway between Texas and Yetman (2006).

Heading east on the Bruxner Highway approaching the Texas turnoff (2006).

Heading west on the Bruxner Hwy from the northern New England Hwy junction (8km north of Tenterfield) (2004).

Approaching the northern Bruxner Hwy junction on the New England Hwy (2004).

Looking south-east along the New England/Bruxner Hwy between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).

View south along the New England/Bruxner Hwy approaching the southern Bruxner Hwy junction, Tenterfield (2004).

Heading east on the Bruxner Highway from Tenterfield (2004).

Westbound on the Bruxner Highway from Casino (2004).

Eastbound on the Bruxner Hwy from Casino (2004).

Southbound on the Bruxner Hwy from Lismore (2004).

Dual carriageway section, heading west along the Bruxner Hwy between Alstonville and Lismore (2004).

Looking west along the Bruxner Hwy as it passes through Alstonville (2004).

First distance sign along the Bruxner Hwy, heading west from the Pacific Hwy junction near Ballina (2004).

Heading west along the Pacific Highway as it approaches the Bruxner Hwy junction, Ballina (2004).

	Looking east along the Newell Highway approaching the start of the Bruxner Highway, Boggabilla (2003).
	Distance sign, heading east on the Bruxner Hwy from Boggabilla (2003).
	Heading east on the Bruxner Highway between Boggabilla and Yetman. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004)
	Kilometre post, heading east on the Bruxner Highway, 25km from Yetman. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).
	Heading east on the Bruxner Hwy where the remaining section of gravel road remains. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).
	Eastbound on the Bruxner Hwy while on the gravel section of road. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).
	Heading east on the Bruxner approaching the State Route 95 junction, just west of Yetman. Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this picture! (2004).
	Looking west along the Bruxner Highway as it approaches the State Route 95 junction, Yetman (2006).
	Heading east on the Bruxner Hwy just outside of Yetman (2006).
	Looking west along the Bruxner Highway through Yetman (2006).
	Kilometre sign referring to Goondiwindi, heading west on the Bruxner Highway between Texas and Yetman (2006).
	Heading east on the Bruxner Highway approaching the Texas turnoff (2006).
	Heading west on the Bruxner Hwy from the northern New England Hwy junction (8km north of Tenterfield) (2004).
	Approaching the northern Bruxner Hwy junction on the New England Hwy (2004).
	Looking south-east along the New England/Bruxner Hwy between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).
	View south along the New England/Bruxner Hwy approaching the southern Bruxner Hwy junction, Tenterfield (2004).
	Heading east on the Bruxner Highway from Tenterfield (2004).
	Westbound on the Bruxner Highway from Casino (2004).
	Eastbound on the Bruxner Hwy from Casino (2004).
	Southbound on the Bruxner Hwy from Lismore (2004).
	Dual carriageway section, heading west along the Bruxner Hwy between Alstonville and Lismore (2004).
	Looking west along the Bruxner Hwy as it passes through Alstonville (2004).
	First distance sign along the Bruxner Hwy, heading west from the Pacific Hwy junction near Ballina (2004).
	Heading west along the Pacific Highway as it approaches the Bruxner Hwy junction, Ballina (2004).