Razorback Blockade Memorial
The Razorback Blockade Memorial is a tribute to a significant place in Australian history where 5 men lead a movement to overturn the road tax introduced in the 1950s.
Ted “Greendog” Stevens, Spencer Watling, Colin Bird, Barry Grimson and Jack Hibbert instigated and led the Razorback Blockade in April 1979. The men drove their trucks down the Hume Highway to Razorback Mountain and pulled them directly across the road to block it in protest.
The men along with fellow truck drivers were frustrated by the challenges faced by their industry including the road tax which had been introduce in the 1950s. At the time, the road over Razorback was the only route between Sydney and Melbourne so this event had a major impact on supplies getting through. The blockage brought together approximately 200 trucks on Razorback gaining widespread community support and starting a huge protest which stretched across the country. The Blockade held strong for nine days and ultimately ended when NSW premier Neville Wran agreed to scrap the road tax. The group of men that lead the Blockade are remembered as heroes in the road transport industry.
The memorial is located at a truck stop right at the site of the Blockade on the Old Hume Highway near Picton. The area includes signage and information about the event and a picnic area.
