Location

The Great South Road meandered through the hills of difficult terrain at Towrang.  Over the past 60-70 years there has been a number of major upgrades to the road which we now know as the Hume Highway to cope with traffic demands.  The present day highway has effectively split the old road and the stockade into two separate areas with all of the historical features surviving.  However, a section of the old road has been inadvertently destroyed.  The fine white line on the map indicates the approximate route of Surveyor General Sir T Mitchell’s Great South Road.

The Stockade and Culvert 3 (Northern side of highway).

Finding and accessing the site of the stockade is difficult.  There is a parking area (not sign posted) off the highway’s northbound carriageway located adjacent to the Towrang Road turnoff.  From the car park there is a short walk of about 50 metres in an easterly direction toward Sydney along a rough track beside the highway to the stockade pedestrian entry gate. Within the stockade Information signs are in place for a self-guided tour. The stockade is on private property and entry is at your own risk. There are no public conveniences on the stockade site.

Culvert 3 passes under the stockade access track between the car park at the Towrang Road turnoff and the stockade entry gate.  Culvert 3 is intact but the Southern end is adjacent to the highway and has been covered over for protection and cannot be seen.  The Northern headwall is in reasonable condition but is difficult to find and access.

The Bridge and Culverts 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 (Southern side of highway).

Access to the bridge and culverts is via the Derrick VC Rest Area which is off the highway’s southbound carriageway between the Carrick Road and Towrang Road. Information signs are in place at the rest area for a self-guided tour. The historic bridge is adjacent to the rest area.  Culverts 1 & 2 are located adjacent to the road leading into the Derrick VC Rest Area.  Reaching Culverts 4, 5 & 6 involves a walk of about 500 metres and return.  The start of the track is very steep and difficult.  The walk commences from Culvert 2 heading in a Westerly direction toward Goulburn.  Do not venture along the steep bluff above the highway.  There is a track heading up a steep hill via an old clay pit.  Keeping to the left, the track runs along a good fence line over the hill leading to drainage works and the old road which is to be found off to the left.  From this point you are walking the unaltered remaining section of the great south road to find three magnificent culverts.

Culvert 5