As early as the 1930s, consideration was given to bypassing Nambucca Heads. At that time, a line was selected along the Old Coast Rd, leaving the existing highway near Newee Creek and passing along a high ridge to the west of Nambucca Heads. However, it was decided to construct shorter deviations to permit better use of the limited funds available and the route was abandoned.
During the late 1950s a bypass of Nambucca Heads was considered again, and this time a line was selected passing just west of the current bypass and was designed to the standard of the time (50 miles per hour). However, by the time construction was pending the design standard had been raised to 60 miles per hour and thus the current line was selected and adopted in 1976. The project was named the Bellwood Deviation.
The old route of the highway - today’s Riverside Drive, Nelson St, Fraser St, Bowra St, Mann St, Railway Rd and Foxs Rd - passed through the commercial centre of Nambucca Heads, had steep grades, was poorly aligned and very narrow along much of its length. Furthermore, the deviation eliminated a poorly aligned timber bridge over Bellwood Creek, long lengths of badly deteriorated pavement, a level crossing on a poor alignment, a timber bridge over Boggy Creek and a narrow culvert over Cedar Creek. It is safe to say that the deviation was a godsend for motorists. The State Government still provides funding to Nambucca Shire Council for the old pacific highway though Nambucca Heads mainly because of these issues.
Cache is a Black Pill bottle placed near where the old highway was joined to the Bellwood Deviation.
Hope you enjoy some of the scenery on this trail.