[4] The road was constructed over several decades with final asphalt concrete sealing completed during the 1960s.

The highway is also a popular tourist route with scenic countryside, fishing and historic spots along its path.

131 was declared from Hopefield to Lowesdale (and continuing north via Daysdale to Urana),[2] and Main Road No.

212 was declared from the intersection with Hume Highway in Albury, via Howlong to Corowa (and continuing westwards via Tocumwal and Tuppal to the intersection with Moama-Booligal Road, today Cobb Highway, in Deniliquin),[2] on the same day, 8 August 1928.

[3] Its western end was re-aligned on 1 February 1950, running from Corowa via Hopefield, Lowesdale, Berrigan and Finley to Denilquin (subsuming Main Road 331);[10] Main Road 131 was truncated to Lowesdale as a result, and the former alignment to Tocumwal was re-declared as Main Road 86 (between the intersection with State Highway 20 just north of Corowa to the state border with Victoria just outside Wahgunyah) and Main Road 550 (between Corowa and Tocumwal).