Fallen timber, steep grades and potholes were some of the hazards to be expected on the road to Port Macquarie.

The Armidale Express of March 2, 1923, said: “The road has been allowed to get out of repair, and has been almost impassable for many years. At present, road traffic between Walcha and Port Macquarie makes a long detour through Armidale and Kempsey.”

On Tuesday, March 6, 1923, an 18-strong party including members of the Walcha and Apsley councils and newspaper representatives left Walcha aboard four of the more robust motor vehicles of the day to explore the old road to Port Macquarie.

The Port Macquarie News of March 10 carried a report of the trip, which reads: “For the first 34 miles to Yarrowitch, where the party breakfasted, the road was good. From there to the 46-mile peg it was fair, and no real difficulty was experienced until the 64-mile peg was reached.

“From this point for 14 miles the road defies description. It passes over a series of precipitous mountain spurs with very steep grades and deeply rutted clay surfaces. By a singularly unhappy coincidence, the drought in this area chose to break... The rain descended in torrents and the ruts quickly became rushing streams.

“The cars slipped and slid down Little Black Hill and then came the ascent of Little Orange Hill. With considerable effort all cars but one, which was stuck fast, got up. The male members of the party got out to push and pull the bogged vehicle until it too made the ascent.

“It took five hours to cover this 14-mile stretch. The exhausted group in one car decided to spend the night at Yarras; the other cars reached Long Flat at 10.30pm.

“The travellers, whose arrival time at Port Macquarie had been a matter of conjecture, were greeted by the mayor, aldermen and several residents... The party left for the return trip to Walcha, but this time by way of Kempsey and Armidale.”