Mount Direction to Lefroy

C809 AD sign westbound on Bridport Main Rd (B82) approaching the junction with Dalrymple Rd (C809). Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007.

Introduced: 1980

Length: 17km

Northern Terminus: Bridport Main Rd (B82) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), 11km west of Pipers River

Southern Terminus: East Tamar Hwy (A8) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), Mt Direction

Route taken: Dalrymple Rd

Focal Points: Mt Direction, (Pipers River)

Responsibility: Local Government

C809 is a sealed, but narrow, rural route in northern Tasmania, skirting the eastern edge of Tippogoree Hills, which separate north-east Tasmania from the Tamar River catchment. It runs from the East Tamar Highway (A8) at Mount Direction to the Bridport Main Road (B82), although it is rarely used as a through route, its main roles being a link between the north-east and the Tamar River foreshore.

Signposting along the route leaves a lot to be desired, with no less than three junctions with C routes missing fingerboards. The most important junction along the route, with C814, is unmarked despite signage along C809 advising motorists to turn at C814 to reach Pipers River and the north-east.

Photos of route C809
	AD sign northbound on East Tamar Highway (A8) approaching the junction with Dalrymple Rd (C809) at Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	AD sign southbound on East Tamar Highway (A8) approaching the junction with Dalrymple Rd (C809) at Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, May 2007.
	Fingerboard sign, missing a C809 route marker, at the intersection of East Tamar Highway (A8) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, May 2007.
	A8 fingerboard signs at the intersection of East Tamar Highway (A8) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), Mt Direction. Note the C809 fingerboards hiding in the bushes to the right of the A8 signs. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2008.
	C809 fingerboard assembly that was hiding in the bushes and has not been re-erected. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2008.
	Fingerboard sign, missing a C809 shield, at the intersection of East Tamar Highway (A8) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, May 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south-west to the intersection with East Tamar Highway (A8) at Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking north about 100m north-east of East Tamar Highway (A8) at Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south at Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, August 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south at the intersection with Old Bangor Tram Rd (C812). The bridge in the background carries the Launceston-Bell Bay railway line. Source: Peter Renshaw, May 2007.
	Close-up of the fingerboards at the intersection of Dalrymple Rd (C809) & Old Bangor Tram Rd (C812), 2km north of Mt Direction. C812 is actually not signed at this intersection - it is one of three intersections along C809 with fingerboards missing. Source: Peter Renshaw, May 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south about 1km north of Old Bangor Tram Rd (C812) with Mt Direction in the distance. In convict times there was a sempahore on top of Mt Direction to relay messages between Low Head and Launceston. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Top: East Arm Rd (C810) looking east to the intersection with Dalrymple Rd (C809), showing the lack of fingerboards. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007. Bottom: George Town Council subsequently erected an ID sign assembly, however they failed to include mention of C809 and used the wrong focal point - Bridport instead of Pipers River. There is still no mention of C810. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2008.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south across Dans Creek, about 1km north of East Arm Rd (C810). Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking north across the three bridges which carry the road across Fourteen Mile Creek, just south of the intersection with The Glen Rd (C813). Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Fingerboard signs at the intersection of Dalrymple Rd (C809) & The Glen Rd (C813), 7km north of Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south to the intersection with The Glen Rd (C813), 7km north of Mt Direction. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking north from the above spot - the narrow and undulating sealed pavement characterises this route. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south at the intersection with Industry Rd (C814). Note the absence of any fingerboards, despite C809 traffic being advised at previous junctions to turn onto C814 to reach Pipers River! Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking north alongside Cranbourne private airfield, approximately 2km north of Industry Rd (C814). Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south alongside Cranbourne private airfield with Mt Arthur as an impressive backdrop. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking south to the intersection with Monarch Hill Rd near Tippogoree. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Dalrymple Rd (C809) looking north to the intersection with Bridport Main Rd (B82). Note the modified T-junction warning sign, showing the unusual slip lane arrangement. Source: Peter Renshaw, September 2007.
	Fingerboard sign facing northbound C809 traffic at the intersection of Bridport Main Rd (B82) & Dalrymple Rd (C809). Note the slip lane, which suggests south-to-west is a dominant traffic movement. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007.
	Fingerboard signs at the intersection of Bridport Main Rd (B82) & Dalrymple Rd (C809), 11km west of Pipers River. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007.
	Bridport Main Rd (B82) eastbound approaching the junction with Dalrymple Rd (C809), 11km west of Pipers River. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007.
	Bridport Main Rd (B82) westbound approaching the intersection with Dalrymple Rd (C809), 11km west of Pipers River. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2007.