Queensland Heritage Council member and engineer Andrew Barnes said the Suttor River Causeway, dating back to 1876, was an important demonstration of engineering techniques and materials used in early rural road construction.

“It’s a rare, early civil engineering project,” Mr Barnes said.

Old Bowen Downs Road was established in the early 1860s linking Port Denison (now Bowen) and Bowen Downs Station near Aramac.

It was a vital communication and supply line until the late 1890s.

Increased traffic brought about by a growing wool trade and the discovery of gold made the stone causeway over Suttor River at St Anns, west of Mackay, a priority.

Even when a more direct Port Denison Road was built, a fortnightly mail service was maintained using the 568 kilometre Old Bowen Downs Road.

Today, only a remnant remains between Strathmore Station and Mount Douglas of what was a well-used route and the stone causeway is used mainly by local residents short-cutting between St Anns Station and Scartwater.