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Couple of month's ago I traveled the Bruxner Highway just inland from Ballina and you must see it to believe it, it is 1 of the most scenic highways I have ever had the privileged to experience, it weaves its way through the northern rivers and mountains of the great dividing range and the western slopes of the New England Ranges, if you ever get some spare time and need a relaxing holiday and you don’t mind camping out or dropping a line to try your luck at fishing hopefully 1 day you will drive the renowned Bruxner Highway.
The amazing memories I have of this trip is the old towns of yesteryear from along the way, it takes you back into time and if you bring your camera you will be forever taking snaps of relics and building of the bygone era.
I have added some pics of farming land on the western side around 60km from Tenterfield and termite mounds near the small farming community of Texas on the Queensland border.
Here is some information on the Bruxner Highway
(1a) Length: 420km
Eastern Terminus: Pacific Hwy at Emigrant Creek, 7km west of Ballina
Western Terminus: Newell Hwy, Boggabilla
Note: The current western extent of National Route 44 signage is Tenterfield, and it is unlikely to ever be extended despite this being (i believe) the original intention.
Route taken: From the Pacific Highway, 7km west of Ballina, via Lismore, Casino, Mallanganee, Tabulam and Drake to the New England Highway at Tenterfield; then from the New England Highway 5km north of Tenterfield via Bonshaw and Yetman to the Newell Highway at Boggabilla. Note: National Route 44 signage ends at Tenterfield - the western segment of the Bruxner Hwy has no route shield.
The Bruxner Highway is an east-west highway in northern New South Wales, stretching 420km from the Pacific Highway, 7km west of Ballina, to the Newell Highway at Boggabilla. It serves the rapidly developing areas of Ballina, Alstonville, Wollongbar and Lismore before traffic volumes drop considerably between Casino and Tenterfield. West of the New England Highway, the Bruxner is under state control only as far as the Tenterfield Shire boundary where it becomes a Regional Road (administered by Local Government but funded by grants from the RTA). Traffic volumes are generally less than 1,000 vpd west of Tenterfield and there is still a 4.7km section of unsealed road between Yetman and Boggabilla.
The Bruxner Highway carries the National Route 44 shield from the Pacific Highway to Tenterfield, whilst west of Tenterfield the highway is un-numbered. I believe it was intended to extend National Route 44 from Tenterfield to Boggabilla once the Bruxner Highway was fully sealed, however with the introduction of alpha-numeric route marking to New South Wales it is unlikely to ever happen. National Route 44 signs were installed in 1974.
The Hastings River gives its name to a surrounding wine district and to an endangered species of marsupial, the Hastings River Mouse (Pseudomys oralis).
Fishing opportunities on the Hastings River exist for freshwater bass and catfish in the upper reaches to estuarine species such as bream, flathead and luderick near the entrance.
Over the years I have fished many streams around New South Wales and one that always draws me back is near Woodsreef which is 25km east of Barraba, the Ironbark river has many fish in its waters such as Murry Cod, Catfish, Yellow Belly and the dreaded European Carp. I enjoy catching Carp as a sport but as an eating fish "yuck" and it is illegal to catch carp and return them to the water so on my last adventure at Ironbark Creek I caught a couple.
Here is some information on Carp.
1a) "European carp is an introduced species, first caught from the River Murray in South Australia in 1969, but now established as a major pest throughout Australia.
Australians tend to 'turn their nose up' to eating European carp, but it is considered a prized eating fish throughout Europe and Asia. They are one of the most widely farmed fish throughout the world, due to their rapid growth, ease of culture and ability to withstand a wide range of water quality."
Commercially caught European carp are currently used in Australia as fertiliser, bait for yabbies "freshwater crayfish" and rock lobster, as well as human consumption.
Carp feed by sucking around roots of aquatic plants in search of aquatic insects. Many plants are uprooted during the feeding process, and mud and plant debris is expelled, resulting in increased water turbidity. This feeding habit has a detrimental effect on natural ecosystems in Australia's freshwater systems - hence carp are identified as a noxious species.
The European carp combined with the reduced river flow and habitat removal, is possibly one of the greatest impacts on native fish in South Australia."
Asbestos was first mined at Woodsreef from 1919-1923. However, it was not until 1972 that a large open-cut asbestos mine was opened there, furnishing much local employment, although it closed down in the 1985.
I know the area around woodsreef area quiet good and to view the mine locality is an ejoyment as you can fish or try your luck at panning gold.
Barraba the closets town is an agricultural and pastoral centre on the Manilla River with the Nandewar Ranges to the west, the Horton Valley to the north-west and undulating tablelands to the south-east and north. The district concentrates on the production of wool and sheep, The town is situated 500 m above sea-level, 502 km north of Sydney and 90 km north of Tamworth on the Fossickers Way. Its population has risen from 1500 in 1986 to 2370.
