Picture: Crown Street, Wollongong, looking west, circa 1873. The condition of the region's roads was a chronic problem. Credit: From the collections of the Wollongong City Library and the Illawarra Historical Society.
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One of the Illawarra Mercury's first editorials in 1856 was dedicated to one of the locality's most enduring concerns, the condition of the roads.
Broken and badly constructed bridges, ruts, bog holes and stump roots were a scourge that impeded the traveller's journey.
The Mercury said the mark of a "highly civilized society was an admirable roads system", but nothing was done to remedy the situation.
"We have a district enriched with all that fertility and position can afford us, and yet these are all but neutralized by roads so wretched as almost to reduce us to a system of primitive barbarism."
In February 1871, the paper reported the effect of recent rain on the roads had been "most serious", although "metalling" with crushed rock meant the main thoroughfares were still passable.
The byroad of Mt Keira Rd, however, was "a disgrace", the Mercury said.
"For some time past all traffic with vehicles has been completely stopped and it is with great difficulty not unaccompanied by danger that horsemen or foot passengers can now either ascend or descend what is Mt Keira Rd."
The seasonal February drenching in 1873 left the main road between Albion Park and Jamberoo in a "wretched state", resulting in calls to have the "present line up Mt Terry" realigned.
The following month, the Albion Park roads were in such poor condition, it was suggested the council was "in league with undertakers and coroners".
The South Coast mail coach was a victim, becoming bogged "in one of the worst mud-holes" between Macquarie Bridge and Albion Park.
"The consequence was that the fore part of the vehicle was carried away, leaving the body of the coach, containing four passengers, stuck in the mud.
"A cart eventually carried the mail and passengers to Wollongong, arriving after midnight."
In April 1878, a Mercury letter writer complained about the "barbarous" state of the road between Wilshire's Hill and the Cross Roads in West Wollongong.
"It is positively terrifying to pass over it with a vehicle … it is one continual rattle and bump, bump and rattle all the way, and unless a horse is very sure on his 'pins', the tripping and stumbling that has to be endured is something as disagreeable as it is dangerous," the correspondent wrote.
"There are other portions of our main roads in a wretched condition for traffic, but for downright rugged roughness no part equals that to which I have referred."
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