BGM_The Old Sydney Road-Melbourne’s first highway

Long before the Hume Highway, before freeways, motorways or by-passes, there was Old Sydney Road- a roug, treacherous track carved through the bush, connecting Naarm (Melbourne) with Gadigal (Sydney). This episode of Down the Yarra follows the original route from Haymarket “Roundabout of Desth” through Flemington Road, Mount Alexander Road, Pascoe Vale, Somerton, Mickleham, and the onto the historic remnants of Old Sydney Road itself. We uncover the Indigenous pathways that predated the colonial roads, the bullock teams and stagecoaches that braved the journey, and the gold rush travelers who flooded north in the 1850’s. From the coaching inns of Pascoe Vale to the convict chain gangs of Mickleham, this is a story of movement, survival, and the relentless push northwards. Plus, in our next episode, we’ll dive into the recent vandalism of John Batman’s maker at the Queen Vic Market-a reminder that Melbourne’s colonial past is still very much a battleground. Hit play and take a drive through history!