The first routes used for overland travel were paths taken through the wild by Aborigines. The first recorded European overland expedition from Sydney to the Hunter Valley was in 1823 by a team led by Major Morrisett. That same year, Sydney was connected to Maitland through the development of Howe's Track. At this point overland travel was very rough and took a long time, and travel by ship was preferred.

Even after the Great Northern Road was finished, ships were still used to move passengers and export cargo. At this time roads were mainly used as stock routes. Roads did not become an effcient way of moving goods until improvements were made in the 1940's.

Within towns, roads were developed at a faster pace. In Newcastle, the first road was Watt Street, which originated from a path used to carry coal to cargo ships.