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Border Ranges | Brindle
Creek | Lions Road | Mt
Warning | The Pinnacle | Tooloom
Falls | Toonumbar Dam
The Lions Road
The Lions Road is an initiative of the
Kyogle Lions Club. The Lions road forms a scenic link between Queensland and
NSW, passing through the exquisite Border Ranges National Park, and skirting the
historic Spiral Loop railway line (see below in photograph).
Since 1932, people of the
Northern Rivers of NSW had been endeavouring to have the direct route to
Brisbane via the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range constructed. It is 30klm
shorter than the Summerland Way - Mount Lindsay Highway route.
When it was finally rejected by the NSW
Government in 1969, the Lions Club of Kyogle became involved in promoting the
building of the road, as a community development project.
After two years on investigating
options for the route, a decision was made in 1971 to build the road across the
McPherson Range connecting with the existing Shire Roads on Gradys Creek in NSW
and Running Creek in QLD. The Beaudesert Lions Club became partners in the
project at this point.
The project captured the imagination of
the local community which contributed massive support in money, man hours and
equipment time plus companies such as Shell Oil Co. (fuel), Hume & Hardies
(pipes), McPherson Timber Co. (timber) and Mel Hogan (timber & machinery).
Lion Murphy Standfield donated his D8 Caterpillar tractor for 80 hours and
supervised the actual construction of the road.
Finally the road was opened on 15th
December, 1970. Contributions by travellers, Beaudesert and Kyogle Shires, the
Queensland, New South Wales and Federal Governments, the NSW Forestry
Commission, the 2/3 Field Eng.Rgt RAE and the XX Division Engineer Support
Squadron of the Australian Army, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the
NSW Dept of Agriculture, the Moreton Rabbit Board and the property owners both
sides of the border have enabled the Lions club to steadily improve the road. In
1995 the last section of the road constructed by the Lions Club was sealed. In
the second half on 1995 only 4km of gravel remained on the Shire Roads.
Location
From Queensland turn left at Innes Plain, 24km south of Beaudesert on the Mount
Lindsay Highway (around 5km south of Tamrookum).
From Kyogle turn right at Wilson
Avenue, 19km from Kyogle (5km north of Wiangaree), or take the Lynches Creek
(National Park) road at Wiangaree.
From Murwillumbah turn right at
National Park sign (Barkers Vale). Good weather only, or travel via Kyogle and
Wiangaree.
Lookout over Spiral Loop
Overlooks the unique Spiral Loop in the Railway. Trains can be seen to come up
one valley pass through the mountain twice to cross the original track thereby
gaining 20 metres in height. The purpose was to reduce the length of the tunnel
under the main range. Views of Gradys Creek valley and surrounding ranges.
Barbecues and toilets. Sorry we cannot print train times but timetables are
being changed continuously. Mostly there is a goods train at 12.35pm NSW time.
The XPT travels south mid morning. Goods trains run at irregular times
throughout the day. If panning a trip for that day, train times are obtainable
from Casino... Telephone (02) 6662 1316.
Gradys Creek Lower Road
Swimming hole, two splash crossings down and four up from NSW. Ideal picnic spot
at crossings. Dressing sheds and toilets. Please take your rubbish with you.
Rainforest Walk
South of the border. An excellent walking track from the Spiral Loop Lookout
area, with all different species of tress identified; a project by the Kyogle
Lions Club. Vast areas of forest are accessed readily over Simes Road.
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