Bay pioneers led with road development

The arrival of the motor vehicle at the start of the 20th century signalled a challenge to ships and boats and the railways in the provision of transport services to the region.

Despite the arrival of the railway a decade earlier, the road infrastructure of the region was still virtually non-existent.

Expansion of Woy Woy and its surroundings needed roads locally and connections to main routes to Sydney and Newcastle.

The Bays pioneers including Jerry Mahoney of Woy Woy Bay and the Phegan family were quick to recognise the importance of motor vehicles and improved communications to the future of the Bays.

There were four major road building projects which directly concerned residents of and visitors to the Bays.

The first was the Mountain Road which joined Woy Woy with Kariong (and the Sydney-Gosford road) which was commenced in 1923 and referred to in 1937's Back to Woy Woy programme as follows.

The main road leading from the Pacific Highway, over the ranges and into Woy Woy is known by the Department of Main Roads as Road No. 349, and its official name is the Woy Woy- Gosford Rd.

Until 1923, however, the district had no road communication whatever, with the outside world, relying on rail and boat for transportation.

The story of Woy Woy's first entry by car is an interesting and valuable one for the demonstration that road transport was practical, led by gradual stages, to the beautiful thoroughfare that meets the convenience of motorists today.

On Saturday, March 10, 1923, the first motor car was driven into Woy Woy by Mr V.J. McKenzie of Gosford, who was accompanied by the president of Erina Shire (Cr. C.J. Staples who was also Woy Woy's representative) and the Shire engineer (the late Mr C.J. Fenton).

There was no semblance of a road leading into the township at that time and the first car made its appearance to the incredulous astonishment of Woy Woy residents.

Hitherto, not even a horse-drawn vehicle had entered Woy Woy on its own wheels, the bridal track over the hills from the direction of Gosford winding up and down steep gullies, through thickly timbered wilderness and along boulder-strewn ridges.

No preparatory work of any kind had been done for the adventurous car-driver and his companions.

They cleared their way as they went along, filled watercourses with timber which they had to cut down, many times overcoming obstacles which at first glance appeared insuperable.

The trip commenced from Gosford at 9:30am, and the car was over Woy Woy tunnel three hours later and there two hours were spent in searching for a way out from a seemingly hopeless position.

But the way was found, and at 4:30pm, the Buick six-cylinder car raced into Woy Woy with the "hooter" in full blast.

It took seven hours to travel the eight miles.

After proving in so practical a manner that road communication between Woy Woy and the outside world was a distinct possibility, Cr Staples was able to persuade the Erina Shire Council to vote 500 pounds for the construction of a rough track.

This was done under the direction of the Shire Engineer, with Ganger RP 'Bob' Sylvester, in charge of the construction.

Within six months the road, or the "goat track" as it was called by critical motorists, had been made and each year it was steadily improved as funds permitted.

Early this year, Messrs. Brady and O'Meara, contractors, commenced work of reconstructing the route and laying down a tarred surface at a cost of 17,511 pounds and it is a compliment to the pioneers that the road follows practically the same route as the old "goat track".

There was the lengthy public debate that occurred prior to this construction as many supported a road to Gosford along the waterfront, which is the present day Brisbane Water Dr.

Public opinion was polarised but ultimately unavailability of land eliminated this alternative option.

The second road was the linking of Phegans Bay Rd with the Mountain Rd later in 1924.

This road was built by James Phegan to provide improved access to his tourist resort.

The third road was the building of Woy Woy Bay Rd to connect with the Mountain Rd in 1932, giving road access to Woy Woy Bay for the first time.

The fourth road was the Great Northern Highway (later renamed Pacific Highway) from Sydney to the Hawkesbury at Peats Crossing, which replaced the old road via Wiseman's Ferry.

Our Beautiful Bays, a Collection from the Past, May 2013,

Brian Goodey and Margaret Vidler, Woy Woy Bay