Pioneer to Goshen
Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Counsels Rd (C841) & Chaplins Rd, 25km southeast of Pioneer. Source: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.
Northwestern Terminus: Gladstone Main Rd (B82) & Tebrakunna Rd (C841), Pioneer
Southeastern Terminus: Tasman Highway (A3) & Lottah Rd (C841), 18km west of St Helens
Route taken: Garibaldi Rd, Tebrakunna Rd, Counsels Rd, Terrys Rd, Lottah Rd
Focal Points: Pioneer, (Goulds Country), 'To A3'
Responsibility: Local Government (Lottah Rd), Forestry Commission (Garibaldi Rd, Tebrakunna Rd, Counsels Rd, Terrys Rd)
C841 is a 38km long, mostly unsealed route through mountainous country in north eastern Tasmania. Linking Tasman Hwy (A3) near Goshen with the tiny timber village of Pioneer, it is mainly used by forestry traffic generated along the route. It is also used by log trucks as an alternative to the Tasman Hwy between Goshen and Herrick as it avoids the notoriously narrow and winding Welborough Pass. Although of a lower standard than the Tasman Hwy (A3), C841 carries considerably less traffic and therefore reduces the risk of crashes between log trucks and other vehicles, particularly tourists.
With no significant tourist attractions along its length, C841 is not a frequently used tourist route, although it does provide access to a vast area of state forest. Lottah Rd, at the southern end of the route, branches off to provide access to The Blue Tier Reserve.
The bridge over the Ringarooma River at Pioneer - Tebrakunna Bridge - was previously a large timber beam structure which was washed away during floods in winter 2007. Following closure of the road for nearly 3 years, a replacement concrete structure was opened to traffic on 31 March 2010. This work was funded by the Federal Government as part of its North East Freight Roads Upgrade package of works.1
According to the topographic maps, C841 originally took a different route for 2km east from Tebrakunna Bridge. The original route headed further south along what is now Garibaldi Rd, turning west to rejoin the current alignment at the junction with Three Notch Track. The original route included crossing the Wynniford River twice, which was presumably the motivation for constructing the deviation.
31 March 2010 - Replacement Tebrakunna Bridge over the Ringarooma River at Pioneer opened to traffic
1. Department of Transport & Infrastructure, North East Freight Roads Upgrade, available from: http://www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au (accessed 17 April 2011)
Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Gladstone Main Rd (B82) & Garibaldi Rd (C841), Pioneer.
Garibaldi Rd (C841) looking east from the junction with Gladstone Main Rd (B82) showing forestry signage and load limit signage for the Tebrakunna Bridge. Note the road closure.
Three photos showing the remains of the old Tebrakunna Bridge over the Ringarooma River at Pioneer. The timber bridge was washed away during a flood in winter 2007, closing the road for nearly 3 years. A replacement concrete structure was funded by the Federal Government and opened to traffic on 31 March 2010.
Looking east across the brand new Tebrakunna Bridge over the Ringarooma River at Pioneer.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking south at the end of the sealed road, 200m east of Tebrakunna Bridge. The current route deviates to the left, whilst the old route via the two bridges over the Wynniford River branches off to the right.
Source: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking southeast, approximately 2km east of Pioneer.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking southeast towards the junction with the old alignment & Three Notch Track, 3km east of Pioneer.
Fingerboard signs at the junction of Tebrakunna Rd (C841), Three Notch Track & the old alignment, 3km east of Pioneer. Note how the fingerboards do not face traffic from Three Notch Rd - they are only visible to through traffic on C841.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking east through the forest, 5km east of Pioneer.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking north through the forest near Lanka Rd, 9km east of Pioneer.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking southeast towards the junction with Bridge Rd, 10km east of Pioneer. C841 veers to the left.
Source: Pter Renshaw, March 2008.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking south towards Bridge Rd, 10km east of Pioneer. C841 turns sharply to the right.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking west across the bridge over the Great Musselroe River, 13km east of Pioneer.
Bottom photo: Peter Renshaw, March 2008.
Tebrakunna Rd (C841) looking south towards the junction with Frasers Rd, 15km east of Pioneer.
Improvised fingerboard signage omitting reference to C841 at the intersection of Tebrakunna Rd (C841) & Frasers Rd. Frasers Rd in the background leads to the Goulds Country Airstrip.
Looking south along Tebrakunna Rd (C841), south of the junction with Frasers Rd.
Signage at the intersection where Tebrakunna Rd meets Counsels Rd, 17km east of Pioneer. Tebrakunna Rd makes a sharp left turn to the east whilst C841 continues southwards as Counsels Rd.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south near the intersection with Tebrakunna Rd, 17km south of Pioneer.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south near Red Stump Rd, 18km south of Pioneer.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south approximately 21km south of Pioneer.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Counsels Rd (C841) & Richards Rd, 23km southeast of Pioneer. Note the fingerboards do not face the side road, which approaches from the west.
Atmospheric late afternoon view westwards along Counsels Rd (C841) towards the junction with Richards Rd at the crest of the hill, 24km southeast of Pioneer.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south at the intersection with Chaplins Rd which approaches from the left. The photo clearly shows the strange placement of fingerboard signs with their backs to the side road, only visible to through traffic on C841, if they turn their head.
Fingerboard sign assembly, as shown in the above photograph, at the intersection of Counsels Rd (C841) & Chaplins Rd, 25km southeast of Pioneer.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Counsels Rd (C841) & New England Rd, 27km southeast of Pioneer. Again the fingerboards are placed so they are not visible to traffic approaching on the side road.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south across Ansons River, which at this location is small enough to fit within a culvert, 28km southeast of Pioneer.
Counsels Rd (C841) looking south at the intersection with Mother Logans Rd, 29km south of Pioneer. Mother Logans Rd leads east through the forests to meet Ansons Bay Rd (C843). Counsels Rd ends here with C843 continuing southward along Terrys Creek Rd.
Terrys Creek Rd (C841) looking south, approximately 7km north of Tasman Hwy (A3) showing the gentle descent into the Terrys Creek valley.
Terrys Creek Rd (C841) looking south approaching a short steep section of road, approximately 6km north of Tasman Hwy (A3).
A northerly view of Terrys Creek Rd (C841) approximately 4km north of Tasman Hwy (A3) showing the corrugated surface.
Terrys Creek Rd (C841) looking south approximately 1km north of Tasman Hwy (A3).
Terrys Creek Rd (C841) looking northeast at the end of the sealed surface, 500m north of Tasman Hwy (A3).
Terrys Creek Rd (C841) looking southwest towards the bridge over Ransom River, 100m north of Tasman Hwy (A3). The junction with Lottah Rd is located just beyond the bridge. C843 turns left and then almost immediately meets the Tasman Hwy (A3).
Fingerboard signs at the intersection of Lottah Rd (C841) & Terrys Creek Rd (C841), 100m north of the Tasman Hwy (A3). Lottah Rd leads northwest through the locality of Goulds Country to The Blue Tier Reserve.
Fingerboard signs at the intersection of Tasman Hwy (A3) & Lottah Rd (C841), 18km west of St Helens. Note no mention of Pioneer for C841 traffic - this is to discourage through traffic from deviating off the Tasman Hwy onto the much lower standard C841 to reach Pioneer.
Source: Peter Renshaw, November 2007.
AD sign northwestbound on Tasman Hwy (A3) approaching the junction with Lottah Rd (C841), 18km west of St Helens.
AD sign eastbound on Tasman Hwy (A3) approaching the junction with Lottah Rd (C841), 18km west of St Helens.
Last updated 22 April 2011