This included building the Yarrowitch Deviation, an 11 mile stretch of new road between Yarrowitch and Tobin’s Creek to replace one of the last remaining difficult portions of the old road.

The unemployed of Walcha were heartened when the government also announced that preference would be given to local out-of-work men to make up the 300 strong workforce required for the project.

This was in sharp contrast to the rules that applied to the earlier Tobin’s Creek Deviation where the great majority of the 700 jobs went to the unemployed from further afield, including many miners who had been laid off at the Newcastle area coalfields.

During September 1932 some 650 men from Walcha and nearby centres applied for just 14 new positions to add to the 150 men already engaged on the Yarrowitch Deviation.

The Macleay Argus of May 30, 1933, gave an update on the works saying: “Last week saw the completion of the earthworks on the 11-mile section near Yarrowitch. Wonderful progress has been made despite the amount of time lost owing to wet weather. Of course there is still the metalling and gravelling to be done but this should not take any great length of time if conditions are at all favourable.”

The official opening of the new highway took place in the rain on Saturday, September 30, 1933 with Deputy Premier of NSW Michael Bruxner doing the honours.

The Port Macquarie News of October 7, 1933, said in its report of the official luncheon held at the site: “The walls of the marquee were decked out with leaves of great tree ferns and the tent poles wreathed in gum tips, flannel flowers, scarlet bottle brush, clematis and fern.

While the various speakers recounted the history of the district and the building of the great road, scrub birds outside held celebrations, providing music for the visitors.”