Plan of a Proposed Road Leading from the…

Very rare map dated 1869, of the proposed road from Glebe Island, via Balmain, Five Dock across to Gladesville and connecting to the Great Northern Road.

Glebe Island was originally only accessible from the Balmain shoreline at low tide until a causeway was laid in the 1840’s.

The Great North Road commenced at Parramatta Road, at what is now the Sydney suburb of Five Dock. After crossing the Parramatta River at Abbotsford, at the time by boat, it passed through Ryde and Dural before reaching the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry and ultimately to Newcastle.