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Photo Gallery
New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Route 32 (Great Western Highway) (Bathurst to Lithgow)
The highway is signposted as National
Route 32 from Lapstone in Sydney's west, to its terminus
at Bathurst. If you wish to see the SR44 section of
the highway, click
here.
The Great Western Highway runs from
Sydney to Bathurst. The Great Western Highway is regarded
as one of the oldest roads in Australia. Starting as
George Street in downtown Sydney, and becoming Parramatta
Road, it heads west across metropolitain Sydney to Penrith,
where it crosses the Nepean River. It then crosses the
Blue Mountains and the Great Dividing Range to Bathurst.
The road across the Blue Mountains was built by William
Cox in 1815 shortly after a viable route across the
mountains was discovered. An obelisk at Macquarie Place
in Sydney records the construction of the road during
the rule of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
This section looks at the alignment of the Great Western Highway from Lithgow to Bathurst. A route that has experienced significant upgrades throughout the 1980s and 90s. Large sections of dual carriageway exist along with rural highway. This section passes through towns and localities such as Wallerawang, Mt Lambie, Meadow Flat, Kirkconnell, Yetholme, Raglan, Kelso and Bathurst.
 Bathurst to Lithgow History:
In 1813 Blaxland,
Wentworth and Lawson were to successfully cross the Blue Mountains
by following the ridgeline separating the Grose and Cox Rivers. In November 1813, Governor Macquarie
dispatched Surveyor George William Evans to confirm the crossing,
and using Lawson’s notes and directions, Evans’ party was able to
reach further west to arrive at what is now Bathurst.
On July 12 1814, the Sydney Gazette announced:
It being the Intention of His Excellency the Governor to send in the
course of a few Days a Working Party, of thirty Men, under the Protection
of a Guard of eight Soldiers, to commence the Construction of a Cart
Road from ‘Emu Plains’ (hitherto erroneously called ‘Emu Island’) situate
on the left Bank of the Nepean River, across the Blue Mountains to the
extensive Tract of Champagne Country lately explored by Mr Evans…
Magistrate William Cox was given the task of overseeing the
construction of the new road, which the Governor’s office described as
‘an object of the first Importance to the future Prosperity of the
Colony’ (Sydney Gazette, July 12 1814). By January 1815, the 12 foot
wide, 160km long convict built road was complete. In April and May
1815, Governor and Mrs Macquarie undertook a ‘Tour to the Newly
Discovered Country’ along Cox’s road and selected the site for the
town of Bathurst.
Continuous improvements were made to the Cox’s Road (Cox’s
Causeway) during the 1820’s and 1830’s, especially under the
direction of the Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell. The challenging
topography of the Blue Mountains demanded ambitious engineering
responses, and by the late 1830’s Cox’s rough track had been transformed into the Great Western Road with bridges, retaining walls
and huge cuttings blast out of the mountains by convict labour.
- 1813: explorers Blaxland,
Wentworth and Lawson successfully crossed the Blue Mountains
by following the ridgeline separating the Grose and Cox Rivers.
- 1930s: Between Marrangaroo Creek and the state forest west of Wallerawang, the highway was reconstructed in reinforced concrete as an unemployment relief project.
- 1950s: the ‘Forty Bends’, where the Highway runs along the foot of Hassans Walls approaching Lithgow, were eased.
- 1960s: At Yetholme, the Highway was almost entirely reconstructed and widened to three lanes for most of its length.
- 1990s: minor deviations of the Highway were undertaken in conjunction with widening through the Lithgow suburbs of South Littleton and Bowenfels. Between Marrangaroo Creek and the state forest west of Wallerawang, most of the highway's 1930s concrete section was removed when the highway was deviated and duplicated in the 1990s. Further west, the highway has been almost entirely rerouted.
| Length (Total): |
1562 km |
| Length (Great Western Hwy): |
203 km |
| Length (Bathurst to Lithgow): |
59 km |
| Route Number: |
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| Forthcoming Alphanumeric: |
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| Information gathered
from Sam Laybutt, Michael Greenslade, Wikipedia and Roads and Traffic Authority. |
|
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Advance Directional Sign
AD sign as you approach Main Street, Lithgow, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Main Street Intersection
Junction with Main Street, Lithgow, westbound, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Distance Sign
Westbound RD sign after the Main Street intersection in Lithgow, July 2006
Image © Paul Rands |
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Marangaroo
Westbound on the dual carriageways built in the 1980s at Marangaroo, Jul 2007.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Distance Sign
Westbound RD sign after the Reserve Road intersection, Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching the interchange for Castlereagh Highway (SR86) at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Supplementary AD Signs
Signage for attactions / services accessible from the Castlereagh Highway interchange at Marangaroo, July 2006. Note the badly designed services sign, with the arrow on the wrong side of the sign.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Castlereagh Highway Interchange
Looking westbound through the interchange at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Castlereagh Highway Interchange
Looking westbound through the interchange at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Distance Sign
Westbound RD Sign after Castlereagh Highway neart Forest Ridge Drive at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Frosty Warning
Sign
Warning sign with flashing lights used along the route for frosty conditions, this time westbound at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Fog Warning Sign
Sign regarding driving conditions in fog, westbound at Marangaroo, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Westbound at Wallerawang
Typical highway conditions as you pass through undulating territory at Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Westbound at Wallerawang
Typical highway conditions as you pass through undulating territory at Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Cox's River
Crossing the Cox's River in Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Pipers Flat Road Junction
Looking at the Intersection of Pipers Flat Road
and Great Western Highway Wallerawang, February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching the intersection with Barton Avenue at Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Barton Avenue Junction
Westbound through the intersection with Barton Avenue at the town of Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Distance Sign
RD sign after the Barton Av intersection at Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Snow and Ice Warning Sign
Fold up sign used to warn of snow and ice on the roadway, Westbound at Wallerawang, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Entering Mount Lambie
Heading westbound into Mount Lambie, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Weather Sign
This area of NR32 is prone to frost and ice in colder months, and along the route between LIthgow and Bathurst you'll several signs with flashing lights warning of various conditions Mt Lambie, westbound.
July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Frosty
Sign
Another weather conditions sign near Mount Lambie. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Frosty Warning
Sign
Another warning sign used along the route for frosty conditions, this time westbound at Mount Lambie. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Lawsons Creek
Crossing Lawsons Creek, located in Meadow Flat. July 2006, westbound.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Distance
Sign
RD sign westbound at Meadow Flat. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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ID
Sign Assembly
Westbound at Meadow Flat at the intersection with Meadow Flat - Sunny Corner Road. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Tourist RD Sign
Westbound at Meadow Flat is this sign with distances to local tourist information. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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AD Sign
Westbound advance directional sign approaching the intersection with Hazel Grove Roat at Kirkconnell. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Hazel Grove Road Intersection
Westbound at Kirkconnell at the Hazel Grove Road junction, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Variable Message Sign
Westbound VMS after the intersection with Hazel Grove Road at Kirkconnell, February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Distance Sign
Westbound RD sign after the intersection with Hazel Grove Road at Kirkconnell. July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Sunny Corner Road Intersection
Looking westbound at the intersection with Sunny Corner Road at Kirkconnell.
February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Diagrammatic AD Sign
AD sign with incorrect NH32 sheild approaching Eusdale Road at Yetholme. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Yetholme
Westbound near the roadhouse at Yetholme and also at the Eusdale Road intersection, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Westbound at Yetholme
Typical scene in the Yetholme area. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Road Conditions Warning Sign
Another variation of the road conditions signage between Lithgow and Bathurst. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Approaching Walang Drive
Westbound at Walang as you look over the plains towards Bathurst, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Entering Glanmire
Westbound on the Great Western Highway in the village of Glanmire, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Glanmire
Westbound on the Great Western Highway in the village of Glanmire, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Council Area Sign
Sign announcing the Bathurst Local Government Area, westbound near Raglan, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Entering Raglan
Westbound heading into Raglan, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Westbound at Raglan
Looking towards Bathurst at the intersection of Eugenie Street and PJ Moodie Memorial Drive at Raglan. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Raglan Roadhouse
Westbound past the roadhouse in Raglan, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Westbound near Kelso
Traveling westward between Raglan and Kelso, complete with 1950s roadside landscaping and also according to the kilometre post, 5 km from Bathurst CBD, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Entering Kelso
Westbound as you enter the town of Kelso. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Entering Kelso
Westbound as you enter the town of Kelso. February 2007.
Image ©
David Whiteman |
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Approaching Littlebourne Street
Westbound in Kelso approaching the Littlebourne St traffic signals. July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Gilmore Street
Unusual AD sign, westbound at Kelso approaching the Gimore Street junction, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Crossing Raglan Creek
Westbound at Bathurst, after the Gilmore Street intersection, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Crossing Macquarie River
Westbound at Bathurst, this bridge opened to traffic in the early 90s, replacing a winding and narrow section of highway, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Sydney Road Bathurst
Approaching Bathurst's CBD as the highway skirts past the CBD, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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AD
Sign
Directional sign for Bentick Street Bathurst, which is used to access the Mount Panorama racing circuit and also part of the route to Crookwell and Goulburn. July 2006. Click here for close up of sign supplied by David Whiteman.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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AD Sign
Westbound advance directional sign approach the intersection with Durham Street, Bathurst. February 2007. Click here for close up of sign supplied by David Whiteman.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Corner of Durham Street / Great Western Highway
ID sign assembly in Bathurst.
July 2006. Click here for close up of sign supplied by David Whiteman.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Stewart Street
Heading southwest along Stewart Street (Great Western Hwy) at Bathurst, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Stewart Street
Looking southwest at the Piper Street intersection, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign
Approaching the end of the Great Western Highway and the beginning of the Mitchell Highway (NR32 continuation) and Mid Western Highway (NR24) at Bathurst. July 2006.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Mid Western Highway ID Sign
Intersection directional sign on the roundabout at the corner of the Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway (Vittoria St), Mid Western Highway and Brilliant Street in Bathurst, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands |
