# Fossickers Way

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Highway in New South Wales

Fossickers Way New South Wales Bridge over the Namoi River in Manilla General information Type Rural road Length 379 km (235 mi)[1] Gazetted August 1928[2] Route number(s) B95 (2013–present) (Tamworth–Warialda) B76 (2013–present) (Warialda–Glen Innes) Former route number State Route 95 (1974–2013) (Tamworth–Warialda) Major junctions North end New England Highway Glen Innes, New South Wales Oxley Highway Gwydir Highway South end River Road Nundle, New South Wales Location(s) Major settlements Tamworth, Bingara, Manilla, Inverell

**Fossickers Way** is a series of country roads located in the [Northern Tablelands](/source/Northern_Tablelands) region of [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), Australia that form a 379-kilometre (235 mi)[1] scenic and tourist drive. The road's southern terminus is located in [Nundle](/source/Nundle%2C_New_South_Wales)[3] with its northwest terminus in [Warialda](/source/Warialda%2C_New_South_Wales); thereafter the road joins the [Gwydir Highway](/source/Gwydir_Highway) and heads east to [Inverell](/source/Inverell%2C_New_South_Wales) before reaching its eastern terminus in [Glen Innes](/source/Glen_Innes%2C_New_South_Wales);[3][4] The name refers to a tourist route overlaid on existing roads, and is not an officially gazetted one. The majority of the Fossickers Way is designated route B95.

The scenic route draws its name of Fossickers Way due to the many deposits of gold and the variety of gemstones that have been found in the area (mostly by Europeans) since the early 1850s. Prior to this time, local Aboriginal tribes such as the Werawai people of Nundle and its surrounds were known to use local minerals and stones for the purpose of making tools, such as axe heads.

## Route

Fossickers Way transverses the western slopes of the Northern Tablelands and passes through some of the world’s richest gem areas. In these parts, [sapphires](/source/Sapphire), [zircon](/source/Zircon), [jasper](/source/Jasper), [prase](/source/Chrysoprase), [rhodonite](/source/Rhodonite), crystals and even [gold](/source/Gold) may be found. The highway passes through open wheat and grazing lands and deeply wooded slopes, through country towns rich in gold rush history.

Fossickers Way starts at the intersection of River and Nundle Roads in [Nundle](/source/Nundle%2C_New_South_Wales), and continues in a north-westerly course along Nundle Road via Dungowan to meet [New England Highway](/source/New_England_Highway) at Nemingha, then travels northeast along New England Highway to [Tamworth](/source/Tamworth%2C_New_South_Wales). It then proceeds in a northerly direction along Manilla Road via [Manilla](/source/Manilla%2C_New_South_Wales) to [Barraba](/source/Barraba%2C_New_South_Wales), continues north as Cobbadah Road via Cobbadah to [Bingara](/source/Bingara%2C_New_South_Wales), and continues north as Alan Cunningham Road to the intersection with [Gwydir Highway](/source/Gwydir_Highway) just west of [Warialda](/source/Warialda%2C_New_South_Wales). It then proceeds east along Gwydir Highway through Warialda via [Inverell](/source/Inverell%2C_New_South_Wales) to finish at [Glen Innes](/source/Glen_Innes%2C_New_South_Wales). As a scenic drive that incorporates seven shires in northern NSW,[5] Fossickers Way acts as an alternate route between [Sydney](/source/Sydney) and [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane).[6]

In this area, sapphires, zircon, jasper, prase, ridonite, crystals and even gold may be found along various quarries, rivers and creeks, such as Swamp Oak Creek, just out of the town of Nundle where gold was discovered in 1851 by a local squatter, Nathan Burrows It has been reported that he made the discovery, then immediately informed folks in nearby Tamworth and the gold rush began thereafter. Gwydir Highway passes through open wheat and grazing lands and deeply wooded slopes through country towns, rich in gold rush history.

## History

The passing of the *Main Roads Act of 1924*[7] 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) (MRB). Main Road No. 63 was declared along this road from the intersection with Great Northern Highway (today [New England Highway](/source/New_England_Highway)) at Tamworth, via Manilla and Bingara to Warialda (and continuing northwards via Yetman and Boggabilla eventually to the border with Queensland at [Goondiwindi](/source/Goondiwindi)),[2] and Main Road No. 105 from Nundle to the intersection with Great Northern Highway, today [New England Highway](/source/New_England_Highway), at [Tamworth](/source/Tamworth%2C_New_South_Wales) (and continuing southwards via Glenrock to Scone) on the same day, on 8 August 1928.[2] With the passing of the *Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929*[8] to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, these were amended to Trunk Road 63 and Main Road 105 on 8 April 1929.

The [Department of Main Roads](/source/Department_of_Main_Roads_(New_South_Wales)), which had succeeded the MRB in 1932, truncated the northern end of Trunk Road 63 to Yetman when State Highway 16 (later named [Bruxner Highway](/source/Bruxner_Highway)) was declared on 16 March 1938, subsuming the former alignment from Yetman via Boggabilla to the state border with Queensland at Goondiwindi.[9]

The passing of the *Roads Act of 1993*[10] updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, the route today retains its declaration as Main Roads 63 and 105, from Nundle to Nemingha, then from Tamworth to Warialda.[11]

Fossickers Way was signed State Route 95 between Tamworth and Warialda in 1974. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B95.[12]

## Tourism

Many events occur along Fossickers Way throughout the year, including the annual [Tamworth Country Music Festival](/source/Tamworth_Country_Music_Festival) in January. The Fossicker's Way Treasure Hunt[13] is also an annual event which takes participants through all eight towns on the trail.

## Major junctions

LGA Location km[1] mi Destinations Notes Tamworth Nundle 0.0 0.0 Jenkins Street (River Road) Oakenville Street (Nundle Road) 4-way intersection; southern terminus of Fossickers Way Fossickers Way continues west along Nundle Road[3] Peel River 0.6 0.37 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Peel River 12 7.5 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Tamworth Bowling Alley Point 12 7.5 River Road – Nundle T-intersection Dungowan 34 21 Ogunbil Road – Gloucester Roundabout Cockburn River 51 32 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Tamworth Nemingha 51 32 New England Highway/Oxley Highway (A15/B56 east) – Tamworth, Armidale 4-way intersection; south-eastern concurrency terminus with routes A15/B56 Tamworth 57 35 Murray Street (New England Highway) (A15 west) – Muswellbrook, Singleton, Newcastle North-western concurrency terminus with route A15 at roundabout 58 36 Oxley Highway (B56 west) – Gunnedah, Coonabarabran North-western concurrency terminus with route B56; southern terminus of route B95 at T-intersection Namoi River 104 65 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Manilla River 116 72 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Manilla River 150 93 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Gwydir Bingara 210 130 Finch Street (west) – Bingara Maitland Street (north) – Bingara 4-way intersection Link Street (south) – Bingara T-intersection Gwydir River 211 131 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Myall Creek 218 135 Bridge over the river (Bridge name unknown) Gwydir Warialda 248 154 Gwydir Highway (B76) – Moree, Inverell Northern terminus of route B95 at T-intersection 251 156 Warialda Road – Yetman, Boggabilla T-intersection Macintyre River 311 193 Bridge over the river (bridge name unknown) Inverell Inverell 312 194 Byron Street (northeast) – Inverell Roundabout 313 194 Tinga Road, to Thunderbolts Way – Uralla, Walcha, Gloucester T-intersection Glen Innes Severn Glen Innes 379 235 Church Street (New England Highway) (A15) – Armidale, Tamworth, Stanthorpe, Warwick (QLD) T-intersection; eastern terminus of Fossickers Way Gwydir Highway (B76) continues south along Church Street[3] 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Route transition

## See also

- [Australian Roads portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Australian_Roads)
- [New South Wales portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:New_South_Wales)

- [List of highways in New South Wales](/source/List_of_highways_in_New_South_Wales)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gmaps_1-2) ["Fossickers Way"](https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Nundle+NSW/-29.7356467,151.7384742/@-30.5094286,150.8043335,9.14z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!1m1!1s0x6b0ac612767c4597:0x40609b49043c280!2m2!1d151.1279037!2d-31.4607738!3m4!1m2!1d150.9237914!2d-31.0841541!3s0x6b0a98ccbadb23d5:0x697f60b4e943f1ea!3m4!1m2!1d150.5365808!2d-29.7210764!3s0x6ba1782b718d6999:0xfefacfae622b4f31!1m0!3e0) (Map). *[Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)*. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nswgovgaz28_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nswgovgaz28_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nswgovgaz28_2-2) ["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. Retrieved 1 August 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tourist_drive_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tourist_drive_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tourist_drive_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-tourist_drive_3-3) ["Fossickers Way Scenic Drive"](https://www.travelin.com.au/articles/Fossickers-Way-Scenic-Drive-02060). *Travel In*. Bauer Xcel Media. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Fossickers Way"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161114010130/http://www.newenglandnorthwest.com.au/content_common/pg-fossickers-way-sydney-brisbane-drive.seo). *New England North West*. 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.newenglandnorthwest.com.au/content_common/pg-fossickers-way-sydney-brisbane-drive.seo) on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Fossickers Way"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110307173145/http://users.northnet.com.au/%7Emoulds/intro.htm). *northnet.com.au*. Archived from [the original](http://users.northnet.com.au/~moulds/intro.htm) on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2010.[*[self-published source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [NSW Open Road Fossickers Ways](http://www.openroad.com.au/travel_greatdrives_fossickersway.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101127094704/http://openroad.com.au/travel_greatdrives_fossickersway.asp) 27 November 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Retrieved 2010-8-16

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [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-8)** [State of New South Wales, *An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the MRB; 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-nswgovgaz38_9-0)** ["Main Roads Act, 1924-1937"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071160). *Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales*. No. 46. National Library of Australia. 25 March 1938. pp. 1222–3. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220829045230/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071160) from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [State of New South Wales, *An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.*](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033) [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-nswroadsched_11-0)** [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-12)** ["Road number and name changes in NSW"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160325194425/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf) (PDF). *[Roads & Maritime Services](/source/Roads_%26_Maritime_Services)*. Government of New South Wales. 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf) (PDF) on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100520044712/http://www.fossickersway.com/index.cfm?page_parent_id=22&page_id=22). Archived from [the original](http://www.fossickersway.com/index.cfm?page_parent_id%3D22%26page_id%3D22) on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-20.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_archived_copy_as_title))

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 [Fossickers Way](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossickers_Way) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossickers_Way?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.