# Bells Line of Road

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Road in New South Wales, Australia

Bells Line of Road New South Wales Mount Tomah, Australia West end East end Coordinates 33°30′41″S 150°16′51″E / 33.511482°S 150.280724°E / -33.511482; 150.280724 (West end) 33°35′19″S 150°43′46″E / 33.588607°S 150.729495°E / -33.588607; 150.729495 (East end) General information Type Road Length 58.6 km (36 mi)[1] Gazetted August 1928[2] Route number(s) B59 (2013–present) Former route number State Route 40 (1974–2013) Major junctions West end Chifley Road Bell, New South Wales Darling Causeway East end Kurrajong Road Richmond, Sydney Location(s) Major suburbs Mount Tomah, Berambing, Bilpin, Kurrajong Heights, Kurmond

**Bells Line of Road** is a 59-kilometre (37 mi)[1] major road located in [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), [Australia](/source/Australia), providing an alternative crossing of the [Blue Mountains](/source/Blue_Mountains_(New_South_Wales)) to the [Great Western Highway](/source/Great_Western_Highway). The eastern terminus of the road is in [Richmond](/source/Richmond%2C_New_South_Wales), 51 km northwest of [Sydney](/source/Sydney), where the road continues eastward as Kurrajong Road, which intersects the [A9](/source/A9_(Sydney)). The western terminus of the road is in [Bell](/source/Bell%2C_New_South_Wales), in the Blue Mountains, where the road continues as the Chifley Road.

The route, part of the traditional Aboriginal pathway network, was shown to [Archibald Bell, Jr.](/source/Archibald_Bell%2C_Jr.) by [Darug](/source/Darug) men Emery and Cogy in 1823.[3][4] Subsequently, he was accompanied by the Government Assistant Surveyor and the route marked was known as Bell's Line, to be later cleared to become the second road across the Blue Mountains. Due to its condition and the gradients around Mount Tomah it was rarely used before World War II. The road was improved between 1939 and 1943, as an alternative to the [Great Western Highway](/source/Great_Western_Highway) for the war effort. At the same time that it was improved, the road from Bell via Scenic Hill to Lithgow was built, so that the Darling Causeway (the conjoining road connecting Bell and Mount Victoria) carries relatively little traffic, but is a significant tourist route.

Today, the route is still used as an alternative route across the Blue Mountains and is also a popular tourist drive.

In June 2025, the [Government of New South Wales](/source/Government_of_New_South_Wales) announced the progression of a funding injection of $100 million from the federal government for upgrades to the road.[5]

## Route

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The eastern terminus of Bells Line of Road as an identified route began at the edge of the town of Richmond, but now officially begins at the Richmond Bridge across the [Hawkesbury River](/source/Hawkesbury_River). West of the Hawkesbury River it passes through the town of [North Richmond](/source/North_Richmond%2C_New_South_Wales) and the village of [Kurmond](/source/Kurmond%2C_New_South_Wales), before bypassing [Kurrajong](/source/Kurrajong%2C_New_South_Wales). At Bellbird Hill it then proceeds to climb onto the Bell Range of the Blue Mountains, passing through [Kurrajong Heights](/source/Kurrajong_Heights). When on the range, it proceeds through the fruit-growing areas of [Bilpin](/source/Bilpin) and [Berambing](/source/Berambing), before climbing and descending [Mount Tomah](/source/Mount_Tomah), passing by the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens. After Mount Tomah it proceeds through the [Blue Mountains National Park](/source/Blue_Mountains_National_Park) passing Mount Bell and Mount Charles and passing close to Pierces Pass and Mount Banks. Eight kilometres (5.0 mi) before Bell is the turn off to the villages of [Mount Wilson](/source/Mount_Wilson%2C_New_South_Wales) and [Mount Irvine](/source/Mount_Irvine%2C_New_South_Wales). At the village of Bell, Bells Line of Road turns south to run along the crest of the Darling Causeway to Mount Victoria, passing the site of the now-demolished Hartley Vale railway station. From Bell the majority of traffic uses Chifley Road, which goes west to [Lithgow](/source/Lithgow%2C_New_South_Wales)[1] and [Great Western Highway](/source/Great_Western_Highway).

The route has numerous sections of steep and winding road. The steepest section is at Bellbird Hill, where the road rises around 450 metres (1,480 ft) from the Hawkesbury Valley to the Bell Range. The road is steep with a grade of 1:8 and has several tight bends. Other steep sections include the east and west ascents of Mount Tomah and Mount Bell as well as "The Glen" on the west side of Kurrajong Heights.

### Alternative routes

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The next trafficable road north of Bells Line of Road that crosses the Blue Mountains is the [Bylong Valley Way](/source/Bylong_Valley_Way), which forms a more direct route between the [Central West](/source/Central_West%2C_New_South_Wales) region and the [Hunter Valley](/source/Hunter_Valley), including the [Port of Newcastle](/source/Port_of_Newcastle).

## History

The passing of the *Main Roads Act of 1924*[6] through the [Parliament of New South Wales](/source/Parliament_of_New_South_Wales) provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the [Main Roads Board](/source/Main_Roads_Board). Main Road No. 184 was declared along this road on 8 August 1928, from Richmond, via Bilpin to Bell (and continuing southwards along Darling Causeway to the intersection with [Great Western Highway](/source/Great_Western_Highway) at [Mount Victoria](/source/Mount_Victoria%2C_New_South_Wales), and continuing eastwards via Windsor along [Windsor Road](/source/Windsor_Road) to [Parramatta](/source/Parramatta));[2] with the passing of the *Main Roads (Amendment) Act, 1929*[7] to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, this was amended to Main Road 184 on 8 April 1929.

The passing of the *Roads Act 1993*[8] updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this legislation, Bells Line of Road retains its declaration as part of Main Road 184.[9]

The route was allocated part of State Route 40 in 1974. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B59.[10]

### Lowered speed limits

In November 2007, the [Roads & Traffic Authority](/source/Roads_%26_Traffic_Authority) (RTA) announced plans to lower the speed limits along much of Bells Line of Road. Within a week, sufficient opposition was expressed that the changes were put on hold.[11] In October 2008, the same changes were again announced, with the RTA claiming that there had been community consultation, but numerous users of the road, including MPs and councillors based west of the [Blue Mountains](/source/Blue_Mountains_(New_South_Wales)), claimed to have been unaware of any consultation.[12][13] As a result of the changes, the maximum speed limit east of Bell is now 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).

## Junctions

LGA Location km[1] mi Destinations Notes Hawkesbury Richmond 0.0 0.0 Kurrajong Road (B59 east) – Richmond, Windsor, Sydney Eastern terminus of road, route B59 continues east along Kurrajong Road Old Kurrajong Road (north) – Richmond Yarramundi Lane (south) - Agnes Banks Hawkesbury River 0.7 0.43 Bridge (no known official name) Hawkesbury North Richmond 1.4 0.87 Terrace Road (north) - Freemans Reach Grose Vale Road (south) - Grose Vale, Grose Wold 2.1 1.3 Crooked Lane – Tennyson Kurmond 5.6 3.5 Kurmond Road - Kurmond Kurrajong 7.3 4.5 Comleroy Road - East Kurrajong 7.5 4.7 Old Bells Line of Road – Kurrajong Blue Mountains Mount Wilson 51.2 31.8 Mount Wilson Road – Mount Wilson, Mount Irvine Uncontrolled T intersection Bell 58.4 36.3 Main Western railway line 58.6 36.4 Darling Causeway (south) – Mount Victoria, Springwood Chifley Road (B59 west) – Lithgow Western terminus of road, route B59 continues west along Chifley Road 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Route transition

## Future

For many years, road-lobby groups have been pushing for what they call a "superhighway" across the Blue Mountains. They claim that the poor roads across the Blue Mountains are impeding economic growth west of the Mountains.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 2002, road-lobby groups secured $2 million in funding for a feasibility study into building a freeway following Bells Line of Road. The proposed freeway would have linked to the [M2 Hills Motorway](/source/M2_Hills_Motorway) in Sydney and connected to the Great Western Highway west of Lithgow via a route across the Newnes Plateau. The study report, published in November 2004 concluded that, while feasible to build from an engineering perspective, it would not be economically feasible and would have massive impact on adjacent [national parks](/source/Protected_areas_of_New_South_Wales_(Australia)#National_Parks) and local communities.[14]

The Great Western Highway has been the main route across the Blue Mountains since its construction in 1815, but after the above studies found that a freeway would be too expensive to build along the route of Bells Line of Road, the idea was abandoned. However [Roads & Maritime Services](/source/Roads_%26_Maritime_Services)' 2017 road corridor improvement program[15] provides for a somewhat more modest program of upgradings. It is also revisiting studies last undertaken in the 1960s to extend the planned Castlereagh Freeway (subsequently partly-built as the M2) to connect with Bell's Line of Road at Kurrajong Heights. If this project were to be implemented it would force major improvements to be undertaken to the route followed by Bell's Line of Road, due to the traffic volumes that would be generated by a freeway. Conversely, a freeway could not be justified without a major capacity increase on the Bell's Line of Road route.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-3) ["Bells Line of Road"](https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-33.5114917,150.2807312/-33.5886114,150.7295096/@-33.542658,150.4412743,12.16z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0) (Map). *[Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)*. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nswgovgaz28_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nswgovgaz28_2-1) ["Main Roads Act, 1924-1927"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359). *Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales*. No. 110. National Library of Australia. 17 August 1928. pp. 3814–20. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220803050207/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359) from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Magistrate for the Ensuing Week, Alexander Berry, Esquire"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2182286?searchTerm=Bell). *[The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser](/source/Sydney_Gazette)*. Vol. Twenty–First, no. 1038. New South Wales, Australia. 9 October 1823. p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HawkesburyValley_4-0)** ["Hawkesbury Valley"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140530192651/http://greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au/hawkesbury-valley-surrounds.php). Greater Blue Mountains Drive. Archived from [the original](http://www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au/hawkesbury-valley-surrounds.php) on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (13 June 2025). ["Starting bell rings on planning for $100 million in safety upgrades to the bells line of road"](https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/starting-bell-rings-on-planning-for-100-million-safety-upgrades-to-bells-line-of-road). *NSW Government* (Ministerial media release). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250710070618/https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/starting-bell-rings-on-planning-for-100-million-safety-upgrades-to-bells-line-of-road) from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [State of New South Wales, *An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads Board*](http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/) 11 August 2022 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 10 November 1924

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [State of New South Wales, *An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the Main Roads Board; to amend the Local Government Act, 1919, and certain other Acts; to validate certain payments and other matters; and for purposes connected therewith.*](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220812065622/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15) 12 August 2022 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 8 April 1929

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *[Roads Act 1993](https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ra199373/)* (NSW)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nswroadsched_9-0)** [Transport for NSW](/source/Transport_for_NSW) (August 2022). ["Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104657/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf) (PDF). Government of New South Wales. Archived from [the original](https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf) (PDF) on 25 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-alphanumeric_10-0)** ["Road number and name changes in Sydney"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190401053404/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/using-roads/alpha-numeric/sydney-factsheet.pdf) (PDF). *Roads and Maritime Services*. Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. 2013. Archived from [the original](https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/using-roads/alpha-numeric/sydney-factsheet.pdf) (PDF) on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["RTA puts Bells Line speed limit changes on hold"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071210162011/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/13/2088932.htm). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(Australia))*. Australia. 13 November 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/13/2088932.htm) on 10 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Second attempt at speed zones"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081016004804/http://lithgow.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/second-attempt-at-speed-zones/1332629.aspx). *Lithgow Mercury*. 14 October 2008. Archived from [the original](http://lithgow.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/second-attempt-at-speed-zones/1332629.aspx) on 16 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Turner, Russell (MP)](/source/Russell_Turner_(politician)) (22 October 2008). ["Bells Line of Road Speed Limit"](https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-79423). *[Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)](/source/Hansard)*. [Parliament of New South Wales](/source/Parliament_of_New_South_Wales): Legislative Assembly. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110524175829/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20081022042) from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Bells Line of Road Corridor Study"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090102235956/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectsregional/western/blor_corridor_study.html). *Roads & Traffic Authority*. November 2004. Archived from [the original](http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectsregional/western/blor_corridor_study.html) on 2 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Bells Line of Road corridor improvement program](https://web.archive.org/web/20190416010931/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-west/bells-line-of-road/index.html) [Roads & Maritime Services](/source/Roads_%26_Maritime_Services) 21 December 2017

## External links

- [Bells Line of Road](http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bells+Line+of+Rd&daddr=Bells+Line+of+Rd&hl=en&geocode=Fbec__0dM8z7CA%3BFWSnAP4dLhr1CA&mra=ls&sll=-33.51256,150.280352&sspn=0.018463,0.02811&safe=on&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.545973,150.47287&spn=0.295296,0.710678&t=p&z=11) on [Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)

- [Bells Line of Road: History and Development on Ozroads](http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/State%20Routes/40/bellslineofroad.htm)

- Media, Australian Community Media - Fairfax (21 July 2015). ["Road history is both long and windy"](http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/3225258/road-history-is-both-long-and-windy/). *Hawkesbury Gazette*. Retrieved 15 January 2017.

v t e Road infrastructure in regional New South Wales Motorways Federal Highway Hume Highway Hunter Expressway Pacific Motorway Brisbane–Brunswick Heads Sydney–Newcastle Princes Motorway Major highways Barrier Highway Barton Highway Central Coast Highway Great Western Highway Illawarra Highway Mid-Western Highway Mitchell Highway New England Highway Newcastle Inner City Bypass Newcastle Link Road Newell Highway Olympic Highway Pacific Highway Princes Highway Sturt Highway Minor highways Appin Road Bells Line of Road Big River Way Bruxner Highway Burley Griffin Way Castlereagh Highway Cobb Highway Fossickers Way Golden Highway Goldfields Way Gwydir Highway Kamilaroi Highway Kidman Way Kings Highway Lachlan Valley Way Memorial Drive Monaro Highway Oxley Highway Picton Road Riverina Highway Silver City Highway Snowy Mountains Highway Summerland Way Waterfall Way Other roads Alpine Way Barry Way Bathurst-Ilford Road Bucketts Way Bylong Valley Way Camden Valley Way Carnarvon Highway Escort Way Giinagay Way Goulburn-Oberon Road Henry Lawson Way Henry Parkes Way Irrigation Way Jenolan Caves Road Kosciuszko Road Macleay Valley Way Murray Valley Highway O'Connell Road Old Hume Highway Putty Road Remembrance Drive Solitary Islands Way Thunderbolts Way Wombeyan Caves Road Yanga Way Yass Valley Way Road bridges Abbotsford Balun Bindarray Beckers Bethanga Bland Creek Colemans Coonamit Cooreei Crankies Plain Dennis Dunmore The Entrance Fitzgearld (Aberdeen) Fitzgerald (Raymond Terrace) Gee Gee George Chaffey Glennies Goodradigbee Grafton Harwood Hampden (Kangaroo Valley) Hay Hexham Hinton Holt-Bragg Junction Karuah (Monkerai) Lennox (Glenbrook) MacDonald (St Albans) McFarlane McKanes Falls Macleay Valley Martin Mitchell's Causeway Mooney Mooney Morpeth Mulwala Mungindi Murray Barham Swan Hill Tocumwal Tooleybuc Nowra Rip Rossi Sea Cliff Sheahan Stockton Taemas Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Tourle Street Towamba Vacy Victoria (Picton) Williams (Clarence Town) Wallaby Rocks Wollombi (Bulga) Yowaka (Greigs Flat) (disused/former) Denison Hampden (Wagga Wagga) Murrumbidgee (Carrathool) Old Cobram-Barooga Old Mildura Thornes Vehicular ferries Berowra Waters Lawrence Lower Portland Sackville Speewa Ulmarra Webbs Creek Wisemans Wymah Tunnels Cudgen St Helena Tugun Bypass

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bells Line of Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bells_Line_of_Road) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bells_Line_of_Road?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.