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1950s & 1960s upgrades to the Pacific Highway in the Berowra area
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DetailsOn the 2nd of June 1930 the two lane (one lane each way) Great Northern Highway opened for traffic through Berowra, and on 29th May 1931 the road’s name was changed when it became part of the Pacific Highway.
Through 7 years of construction (1938 to 1945), the majority during war time restrictions, the Peats Ferry bridge was built & it was opened on 5th May 1945. This provided a continuous road link & took away the need for a ferry vehicle crossing across the Hawkesbury River, which was causing huge traffic jams.
By the 1950s the Pacific Highway was struggling to keep up with the increased traffic caused by soaring car ownership. At this time, during summer holiday periods, it could take more than five hours to drive from Berowra to Gosford.
In 1952 a new Freeway was first planned between Hornsby & Newcastle, but it was still many decades away from being fully complete.
In 1957 the Pacific Highway between Cowan and the Hawkesbury River was widened which included south bound overtaking lanes in some sections.
In 1959 the Pacific Highway was widened through the Berowra commercial area and the intersection with Berowra Waters Road was reconfigured.
During this period businesses along the Pacific Highway did very well, particularly between Hornsby and the Hawkesbury River. This included many service stations such as Oliver’s Garage, located between Cowan and Brooklyn, and an upgraded kiosk at Kangaroo Point (see photos attached).
In 1963 the Pacific Highway was widened between Mt Colah and Asquith.
In 1967 the original twenty-foot road was widened to four lanes (two each way) between Mt Kuring-gai and Mt Colah.
By the late 1960s, in preparation with the opening of the first stage of the new Freeway (from Berowra to the Hawkesbury River), the Pacific Highway through Berowra was widened to six lanes. At the same time, between Mt Kuring-gai and Berowra, the road was reconfigured. This work included two new cuttings which prevented the need for the Pacific Highway to cross over to the eastern side of the railway between Beaumont Road and the old Mirrabooka (La Mancha) Caravan Park, as was the original route of the Highway.
CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsBerowraPacific Highway
Through 7 years of construction (1938 to 1945), the majority during war time restrictions, the Peats Ferry bridge was built & it was opened on 5th May 1945. This provided a continuous road link & took away the need for a ferry vehicle crossing across the Hawkesbury River, which was causing huge traffic jams.
By the 1950s the Pacific Highway was struggling to keep up with the increased traffic caused by soaring car ownership. At this time, during summer holiday periods, it could take more than five hours to drive from Berowra to Gosford.
In 1952 a new Freeway was first planned between Hornsby & Newcastle, but it was still many decades away from being fully complete.
In 1957 the Pacific Highway between Cowan and the Hawkesbury River was widened which included south bound overtaking lanes in some sections.
In 1959 the Pacific Highway was widened through the Berowra commercial area and the intersection with Berowra Waters Road was reconfigured.
During this period businesses along the Pacific Highway did very well, particularly between Hornsby and the Hawkesbury River. This included many service stations such as Oliver’s Garage, located between Cowan and Brooklyn, and an upgraded kiosk at Kangaroo Point (see photos attached).
In 1963 the Pacific Highway was widened between Mt Colah and Asquith.
In 1967 the original twenty-foot road was widened to four lanes (two each way) between Mt Kuring-gai and Mt Colah.
By the late 1960s, in preparation with the opening of the first stage of the new Freeway (from Berowra to the Hawkesbury River), the Pacific Highway through Berowra was widened to six lanes. At the same time, between Mt Kuring-gai and Berowra, the road was reconfigured. This work included two new cuttings which prevented the need for the Pacific Highway to cross over to the eastern side of the railway between Beaumont Road and the old Mirrabooka (La Mancha) Caravan Park, as was the original route of the Highway.
CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsBerowraPacific HighwayRelated
CollectionNathan Tilbury
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Nathan Tilbury, 1950s & 1960s upgrades to the Pacific Highway in the Berowra area. Hornsby Shire, accessed 12/05/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/5417