Silver City Highway is a
highway that links
Buronga, New South Wales to the
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
border via
Wentworth,
Broken Hill
Broken Hill is a city in the Far West (New South Wales), far west region of outback New South Wales, Australia. An inland mining city, it is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway (A32) and the Silver City Hi ...
, and
Tibooburra
Tibooburra (pronounced or ) is a town in the Far West, New South Wales, far northwest of New South Wales, Australia, located from the state capital, Sydney. It is most frequently visited by tourists on their way to Sturt National Park or ...
, in the arid
Far West region of
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
; a short
branch
A branch, also called a ramus in botany, is a stem that grows off from another stem, or when structures like veins in leaves are divided into smaller veins.
History and etymology
In Old English, there are numerous words for branch, includ ...
also connects to
Calder Highway
Calder Highway is a rural highway in Australia, linking Mildura and the Victoria/New South Wales border to Bendigo, in North Central Victoria. South of Bendigo, where the former highway has been upgraded to freeway-standard, Calder Freeway li ...
on the
Victorian
Victorian or Victorians may refer to:
19th century
* Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign
** Victorian architecture
** Victorian house
** Victorian decorative arts
** Victorian fashion
** Victorian literatur ...
border at
Curlwaa (signed as Calder Highway). The namesake of the highway is derived from the
moniker
A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...
for Broken Hill – the "Silver City" – which the highway travels through. The highway is designated route B79 from Broken Hill to Buronga.
Route
The route passes through largely arid terrain, although there are multiple irrigated areas between Buronga and Wentworth in the highway's south. There is relatively flat terrain between Wentworth and Broken Hill that forms arid pastures for grazing. Around Broken Hill and a little to the north the
Barrier Range
A barrier or barricade is a physical structure which blocks or impedes something.
Barrier may also refer to:
Places
* Barrier, Kentucky, a community in the United States
* Barrier, Voerendaal, a place in the municipality of Voerendaal, Netherla ...
is encountered, which is more hill than the rest of the route encountered so far, but not mountainous. North of there the country is once again relatively flat, though there are further hills around
Milparinka
Milparinka is a small settlement in north-west New South Wales, Australia, about north of Broken Hill on the Silver City Highway. At the time of the 2021 Australian census, 2021 census, Milparinka had a population of 67 people. Milparinka is on ...
. Near Tibooburra the terrain becomes a stony desert; this kind of terrain is known in Australia as
gibber
A desert pavement, also called reg (in western Sahara), serir (in eastern Sahara), gibber (in Australia), or saï (in central Asia) is a desert surface covered with closely packed, interlocking angular or rounded rock fragments of pebble and c ...
.
Creeks to the north of Broken Hill are generally crossed straight across the riverbed, whether the road has been sealed or not. There is signage to help drivers gauge depth of the waters if there does happen to be flows after rains. The highway also roughly follows the route
Charles Sturt
Charles Napier Sturt (28 April 1795 – 16 June 1869) was a British officer and explorer of Australia, and part of the European land exploration of Australia, European exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the ...
took when he explored the area, during his search to find the fabled
inland sea
An inland sea (also known as an epeiric sea or an epicontinental sea) is a continental body of water which is very large in area and is either completely surrounded by dry land (landlocked), or connected to an ocean by a river, strait or " arm of ...
.
Along the Murray River

The highway begins at its intersection with
Sturt Highway
Sturt Highway is an Australian national highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is an important road link for the transport of passengers and freight between Sydney and Adelaide and the regions along the route.
Initiall ...
in the town of Buronga in the far south-west of New South Wales. Buronga is located immediately across the
Murray River
The Murray River (in South Australia: River Murray; Ngarrindjeri language, Ngarrindjeri: ''Millewa'', Yorta Yorta language, Yorta Yorta: ''Dhungala'' or ''Tongala'') is a river in Southeastern Australia. It is List of rivers of Australia, Aust ...
from the city of
Mildura
Mildura ( ) is a regional city in north-west Victoria, Australia. Located on the Victorian side of the Murray River, Mildura had a population of 34,565 at the 2021 census. When nearby Wentworth, Irymple, Nichols Point, Merbein and Red ...
in Victoria. From here the highway heads northwesterly through a pocket of farmland at the locality of
Mourquong, before turning on a more westerly heading. The road then traverses arid savanna before again reaching the farmland surrounding
Dareton. The road takes on the name Tapio Street within the urban area. Continuing west the enters into more farmland at Curlwaa. Here the road comes to a T-intersection where a turn to the west is required to stay on Silver City Highway. The road to the east is also gazetted as a spur of the highway and is signed as
Calder Highway
Calder Highway is a rural highway in Australia, linking Mildura and the Victoria/New South Wales border to Bendigo, in North Central Victoria. South of Bendigo, where the former highway has been upgraded to freeway-standard, Calder Freeway li ...
, to which it connects a short distance away across the single lane Abbotsford Bridge over the Murray River. Continuing west on the highway, the farmland largely continues the entirety of the short distance to Wentworth. Upon entering Wentworth, the road takes on several names within the town's urban area. Firstly it takes on the name Wentworth Street, before turning west at the Sandwych Street intersection and using that name. The highway then crosses the
Darling River
The Darling River (or River Darling; Paakantyi: ''Baaka'' or ''Barka''), is the third-longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth. Including its long ...
over a lift-span bridge. At Adams Street the highway then turns north, keeping the name until it leaves the urban area.
Wentworth to Broken Hill

Heading north out of Wentworth, the highway enters arid scrublands and it swings northwest towards the
Great Darling Anabranch
The Great Darling Anabranch, commonly called the Darling Anabranch, is an anabranch and ancestral path of the Darling River in the lower Murray-Darling basin in the Far West and Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia.
Course and featu ...
. Once it reaches the normally dry river, it follows the anabranch upstream crossing it at Bunnerungee Bridge. The highway continues to follow the anabranch north, passing nearby several normally dry lakes, including along the shoreline of Popitah Lake. Roughly following the creekbed of Coombah Creek northwards a short distance, the highway then enters the depression of Coombah Lake. The roadway crosses the lakebed atop an embankment. From here the highway re-enters the lakebed and continues along it to its northern extent. To the north of Coombah lake the road passes to the west of similarly dry Kudgee Lake, the roadway then follows the western side of the Pine Creek creekbed crossing it after some distance, then following it along the eastern side much of the remainder of the way Broken Hill. Upon reaching the approaches to Broken Hill, the terrain elevation becomes a little more varied from the very flat journey travelled so far, as this area is part of the Barrier Range.
There is no fuel available along this stretch since the Coombah roadhouse permanently closed.
Within Broken Hill

On the southern outskirts of Broken Hill, the highway passes Kanandah Road, which forms part of the heavy vehicle bypass. North of Kanandah Road, the highway takes on the name Wentworth Road for a short distance while it curves eastwards. Once it reaches South Broken Hill urban area, the road continues as Patton Street until reach the roundabout at Bonanza Street where it then turns northwards. It passes over a hill between two mines and becomes South Road northward of Gypsum Street. Upon reaching Broken Hill itself; it becomes Crystal Street, and then turns north at Iodide Street. North of Argent Street,
Barrier Highway
Barrier Highway is a highway in South Australia and New South Wales, and is designated part of route A32. The name of the highway is derived from the Barrier Ranges, an area of moderately high ground in the far west of New South Wales, through ...
also follows the same route for a few blocks until it leaves westwards at William Street. At the same intersection, Silver City Highway heads eastwards. The highway continues east almost all the way until the edge of the city, where it turns north at Buck Street. It takes on that name for a short distance until it leaves the urban area.
Broken Hill to the Dingo Fence
The highway continues a long distance northwards, through very dry country and crossing the occasional creekbed. Eventually it reaches Packsaddle Roadhouse, where fuel and supplies can be purchased;
roughly halfway between Broken Hill and the Queensland border. North of Packsaddle the highway continues in the same fashion, although it does pass between some salt lakes. Eventually it reaches the Milparinka area, where the former township can be accessed a short distance off the highway. Further to the north the highway reaches
Tibooburra
Tibooburra (pronounced or ) is a town in the Far West, New South Wales, far northwest of New South Wales, Australia, located from the state capital, Sydney. It is most frequently visited by tourists on their way to Sturt National Park or ...
, the only sizable settlement along the route north of Broken Hill. North of Tibooburra it passes through
Sturt National Park
The Sturt National Park is a protected national park that is located in the arid far north-western corner of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The national park is situated approximately northwest of Sydney and the nearest town is , aw ...
before reaching its terminus at the
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
border along the
Dingo Fence
The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence is a pest-exclusion fence in Australia to keep dingoes out of the relatively fertile south-east part of the continent (where they have largely been exterminated) and protect the sheep flocks of southern Queensland.
...
, at Warri Gate.
History
The passing of the ''Main Roads Act of 1924'' through the
Parliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, formally the Legislature of New South Wales, (definition of "The Legislature") is the bicameral legislative body of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). It consists of the Monarch, the New South Wa ...
provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the
Main Roads Board
The Main Roads Board was an agency of the Government of New South Wales, responsible for planning, constructing and maintaining road infrastructure in New South Wales, Australia.
History
The Main Roads Board (MRB) was founded on 1 January 1925 ...
(MRB). Main Road No. 69 was declared along this road on 8 August 1928, from Wentworth via Broken Hill, Milparinka and Tibooburra to the state border with Queensland;
with the passing of the ''Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929'' to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, this was amended to Trunk Road 69 on 8 April 1929.
The
Department of Main Roads, which had succeeded the New South Wales MRB in 1932, declared State Highway 21 on 16 March 1938, from Cobham Lake via Milparkinka and Tibooburra to the state border with Queensland at Olive Downs (and continuing south via White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Booligal, Hay and Deniliquin to the state border with Victoria at Moama); Trunk Road 69 was truncated to meet State Highway 21 as a result.
State Highway 22 was later declared on 24 January 1945, from the intersection with
Sturt Highway
Sturt Highway is an Australian national highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is an important road link for the transport of passengers and freight between Sydney and Adelaide and the regions along the route.
Initiall ...
at Buronga via Wentworth, Broken Hill, Cobham Lake, Milparkinka and Tibooburra to the state border with Queensland at Olive Downs, subsuming Trunk Road 69;
the northern end of State Highway 21 was truncated to meet
Barrier Highway
Barrier Highway is a highway in South Australia and New South Wales, and is designated part of route A32. The name of the highway is derived from the Barrier Ranges, an area of moderately high ground in the far west of New South Wales, through ...
south of Wilcannia and its former alignment north of Wilcannia was declared as Main Road 435, meeting State Highway 22 at Kayrunnera, as a result.
State Highway 22 was named Silver City Highway on 3 August 1960,
with a branch to Abbotsford Bridge over the Murray River at Curlwaa also declared,
to meet
Calder Highway
Calder Highway is a rural highway in Australia, linking Mildura and the Victoria/New South Wales border to Bendigo, in North Central Victoria. South of Bendigo, where the former highway has been upgraded to freeway-standard, Calder Freeway li ...
in Victoria; while this branch is signed Calder Highway, it is officially part of Silver City Highway. The name was decided upon as the road's main purpose is to link Broken Hill (the Silver City
) to areas north and south of the city.
The
Broken Hill ore deposit
The Broken Hill Ore Deposit is located underneath Broken Hill in western New South Wales, Australia, and is the namesake for the town. It is arguably the world's richest and largest zinc-lead ore deposit.
History
Discovery
Charles St ...
contains a vast amount of
silver
Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...
,
lead
Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...
, and
zinc
Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...
.
At one stage the name "Four States Highway" was also considered, as the road connects to Queensland and Victoria at each end, and also to
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
via Barrier Highway from Broken Hill.
The passing of the ''Roads Act 1993'' through the
Parliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, formally the Legislature of New South Wales, (definition of "The Legislature") is the bicameral legislative body of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). It consists of the Monarch, the New South Wa ...
updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this Act, Silver City Highway today retains its declaration as Highway 22, from the intersection with
Sturt Highway
Sturt Highway is an Australian national highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is an important road link for the transport of passengers and freight between Sydney and Adelaide and the regions along the route.
Initiall ...
at Buronga via Wentworth, Broken Hill, Cobham Lake and Tibooburra to the state border with Queensland at Warri Gate, with a branch to Abbotsford Bridge over the Murray River at Curlwaa.
Silver City Highway was signed National Route 79 between Broken Hill and Curlwaa, and the branch to Curlwaa to Abbotsford Bridge and Calder Highway, in 1955. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B79 between Broken Hill and Buronga; the branch from Curlwaa to Abbotsford Bridge is now unallocated, despite route A79 continuing along Calder Highway in Victoria. The highway north of Broken Hill also remains unallocated.
Sealing
The Wentworth to Broken Hill section was sealed in 1969.
Work has been underway since 2011 to seal the remaining 150 km of unsealed highway. In June 2018, the
NSW Government
The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the executive state government of New South Wales, Australia. The government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. Th ...
announced it was investing $145 million to seal the remaining 209 km of the
Cobb
Cobb may refer to:
People
* Cobb (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the surname Cobb
* Cobb Rooney (1900–1973), American professional football running back
Places New Zealand
* Cobb River
* Cobb Reservoir
* Cobb Power ...
and Silver City Highways by 2023. By July 2020 the highway was sealed as far as
Tibooburra
Tibooburra (pronounced or ) is a town in the Far West, New South Wales, far northwest of New South Wales, Australia, located from the state capital, Sydney. It is most frequently visited by tourists on their way to Sturt National Park or ...
, and by December 2022, the entire length to the Queensland border was sealed.
Junctions
See also
*
Highways in Australia
Highways in Australia are generally high capacity roads managed by states and territories of Australia, state and territory government agencies, though Australia's federal government contributes funding for important links between capital cit ...
*
List of highways in New South Wales
The present highway network in New South Wales, Australia was established in August 1928 when the Main Roads Board (the predecessor of the Department of Main Roads, Roads & Traffic Authority and Roads & Maritime Services) superseded the 1924 ...
References
External links
{{Authority control
Highways in Australia
Far West (New South Wales)
Transport in Broken Hill, New South Wales