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Photo Gallery
New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Route 32 (Great Western Highway) (Katoomba
to Springwood)
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.
In 1994 the highway was terminated at Emu Plains with
the closure of the Knapsack Gully Viaduct. An extension
to the M4 motorway at Emu Plains was constructed which
rejoined with the highway at Lapstone. The upper portion
of the Great Western Highway from Russell Street is
now only used by residents and cars coming from Blaxland
via Mitchells Pass.
Katoomba
to Springwood History:
- 1813: explorers Blaxland,
Wentworth and Lawson successfully crossed the Blue Mountains
by following the ridgeline separating the Grose and Cox Rivers.
- 1820-30s: highway route moved to northern side of railway in the Leura area.
- 1957: a short deviation immediately west of Linden eliminated two narrow overpasses of the railway, both of which had right angle bend approaches from both directions.
- East of Wentworth Falls, near Kings Tableland Road, a 600 m long section of the highway was deviated to remove a series of closely-spaced sharp curves.
- 1980s: Deviation of the Highway between Sinclair Crescent and Myall Avenue Leura,
leaving a one kilometre long section of disused Highway pavement
along the southern edge of the Digger Cooper Reserve.
- 1985:
construction of the Katoomba Bypass which eliminated the
historic No 10 level crossing at Katoomba.
- July 2000: Four lanes and pedestrian
bridge at Warrimoo railway station.
- August 2004: Removal of the sharp bend at ‘Shell Corner' and upgrade to 4 lanes at Katoomba.
- June 2001: Four lanes and pedestrian bridge at Faulconbridge railway station.
- August 2003: Upgrade from two lanes to four-lane divided carriageway at Linden. Three new bridges, including bridge for Tollgate Drive and pedestrian signals at Linden railway station.
- June 2005: Falls Road
to West Street at Wentworth Falls upgraded to a four-lane
divided carriageway. Access improved
at three intersections. Wider road shoulders
for bus set-down and pick-up.
New cycle lanes.
Tableland Road to Station Street
upgraded to four lanes. Improved
road safety and cycle facilities.
- November 2006: Woodford to Hazelbrook: four lanes, divided
carriageway and intersection improvements
| Length (Total): |
1562 km |
| Length (Great Western Hwy): |
203 km |
| Length (Katoomba
to Springwood): |
39 km |
| Route Number: |
 |
| Forthcoming Alphanumeric: |
 |
| Information gathered
from Sam Laybutt, Michael Greenslade, Wikipedia and Roads and Traffic Authority. |
|
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Explorers
Tree. Pulpit Hill, Katoomba
One of Australia's famous landmarks - The Explorers
Tree, well it was a tree, now all that is left is a
dead trunk, which was filled with concrete years ago.
The tree is famed for its inscribed initials of the
explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson, who crossed
the mountains in 1813. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Robinson |
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Shell
Corner Deviation
As part of the Great Western Highway upgrade
program, the RTA has widened the existing two-lane highway
to a four-lane divided highway between Albion Street
and west of Watson Way at Katoomba. The project has
eliminated the notorious Shell Corner bends, this is
the start of the upgraded section of roadway. December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Shell
Corner Deviation
Looking towards the Katoomba CBD area in the
Shell Corner upgrade section of the highway which opened
on 6-Aug-2004. This is on the intersection with Bathurst
Road and Old Great Western Highway (where you can access
the actual Shell Corner). December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Bathurst
Road Overpass
Eastbound as you pass under Bathurst Road.
The bridge is named after Aunty Dawn Colless. December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Albion Street
Looking at the eastbound carriageway before
the Albion Street intersection at Katoomba. December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Albion
Street Intersection
Corner of Great Western Highway (EB) and Albion
Street Katoomba, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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AD
Sign
Advance Directional Sign for Echo Point and
other local tourist destinations. Located on the Whitton
Street intersection for the turn off to Yeaman Bridge
over the railway and connection to Parke Street Katoomba,
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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AD
Sign
Advance Directional Sign approaching the Whitton
Street intersection and the turn off to Yeaman Bridge
over the railway to connect with Parke Street Katoomba,
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Great
Western Highway Katoomba
Photo taken December 2005 alongside Russell Hawk Park
near The Edge Cinema and Hungry Jacks.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Apprpaching
Camp Street
Sydney bound as you near Camp Street Katoomba, December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Wood
Street Intersection
Approaching the Katomba Hospital and the Wood Street
intersection, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Leura
Entering Leura from Katoomba, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
the new Leura Interchange
Eastbound through Leura. The underpass at Leura Mall
was partially opened to traffic on 17-Oct-2005. This
image is from December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Alphanumeric
Sign
NSW has begun phasing in Alphanumeric (MAB) route numbers,
starting with the opening of the M7, no other routes
have been introduced although many signs have the new
numbers under coverplates of current numbers. Here at
the Leura Mall interchange in December 2005, this sign
is showing the route's alphanumeric number when it isn't
supposed to.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
the new Leura Interchange
Eastbound through Leura. The underpass at Leura Mall
was partially opened to traffic on 17-Oct-2005. This
image is from December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Leura
Interchange
Eastbound through Leura. The underpass at Leura Mall
was partially opened to traffic on 17-Oct-2005. This
image is from December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Leura
Mall Underpass
View inside the Leura Underpass / Tunnel, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Eastbound
at Leura
Looking towards Sydney from the Leura interchange, December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Digger Cooper Reserve
Looking towards Sydney at Leura, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Leura Mall Interchange
Heading towards Katoomba at Leura, July 2006.
Images © Paul Rands |
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Leura Mall Interchange
Heading towards Katoomba at Leura, July 2006.
Images © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Leura Mall
Heading towards Katoomba at Leura, July 2006.
Images © Paul Rands |
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Alphanumeric AD Sign
Sign heading towards Katoomba at Leura showing forthcoming alphanumeric route number for the highway, July 2006.
Images © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Leura Mall
Heading towards Katoomba at Leura, July 2006.
Images © Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Paul Sorenson Bridge
Eastbound at Leura near the Sinlair Crescent and Scott
Avenue intersections, December 2005. |
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Outside
Kedumba Park at Wentworth Falls
Eastbound December 2005. The park features an old highway
alignment as part of its access road.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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West
Street Intersection
Eastbound at West Street Wentworth Falls, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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West
Street Intersection
Eastbound at West Street Wentworth Falls, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Valley
Road Intersection
Eastbound at Wentworth Falls, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Distance
Sign
RD Sign approaching Mitchell Street Wentworth Falls,
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Adele Avenue and Falls Road Intersection
Eastbound at Wentworth Falls, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Station Street Intersection
Eastbound at Wentworth Falls, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Looking
Southwest near Dalrymple Avenue
Wentworth Falls on the yet to be ugraded section of
the highway, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Old
Bathurst Road Intersection
Heading south near the Rest Easy Motel at Wentworth
Falls. This intersection connects to a former alignment
of the highway. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Looking
southeast at Wentworth Falls
Approaching the intersection with Shortland Street,
Between the 2 connections to Old Bathurst Road, December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Descending
Boddington Hill
Looking towards Sydney from Boddington Hill at Wentworth
Hills, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Descending
Boddington Hill
Looking towards Sydney from Boddington Hill at Wentworth
Hills, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Entering
Bullaburra
Eastbound, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Entering
Bullaburra
Eastbound, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Bullaburra
Town Centre
Approaching the pedestrian signals outside the railway
station near Cooranga Street. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Entering
Lawson
Sydney bound into the town of Lawson, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Ridge Street
Sydney bound through the Lawson CBD, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Wilson Street
Heading northwest along the highway as you near the
primary school and Wilson Street, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Eastbound
at Lawson
Looking in an easterly direction near the pedestrian
signals outside the Catholic School. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Narrow
Rail Overpass
Crossing the narrow 2 lane railway bridge between Somers
Street and Badgerys Crescent at Lawson, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Eastbound
at Queens Road
Looking east as you pass through the Queens Road intersection
at Lawson. Note the traffic, this is the result of 2
lanes merging to one to pass through the Lawson shopping
strip. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Hazelbrook
CBD
Heading southeast through Hazelbrook near Oaklands Road.
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Rosedale
Avenue Intersection
Passing through the Rosedale Avenue junction with the
connection to the railway station (former highway) and
signals for Winbourne Road. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Great
Western Highway at Hazelbrook
Heading southeast past the railway station access road.
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Hazelbrook
Heading southeast between Beechmount Avenue and Clearview
Parade as you pass under the footbridge. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Hazelbrook
Outbound Merge
Traffic queued for the merge to one lane as you head
into Hazelbrook from Sydney. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Woodford
Heading southeast as you pass the local B&B. December
2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Inbound
Carriageway
Sydney bound as you pass by Woodford Railway station,
December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Inbound
at Woodford
Signage for the Bulls Camp Reserve near The Appian Way
at Woodford, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Bulls
Camp Reserve Intersection
Heading northeast at Woodford as you pass the historical
Bulls Camp Reserve. Initially known as '18 Mile Hollow',
it was set aside as a stock reserve in 1829 and became
a camp for convicts engaged in repairs to the road.
In conjunction with this, a military stockade was established
here to supervise the repairs and maintain good order
on the road, particularly with the emergence of gold
shipments in the 1850s.
The reserve's present name derives
from Captain John Bull (1806-1901). Bull arrived in
Sydney in November 1842 and, almost immediately, was
appointed assistant engineer and superintendent of road
gangs on the Bathurst Road.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Tollgate
Drive Inbound Junction
Heading northeast through Linden, at the historical
Tollgate Drive area. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Tollgate
Drive Overpass
Passing under Tollgate Drive. Tollgate Drive used to
be part of the main road from Sydney to Bathurst. Image
from December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Eastbound
at Linden
Highway as it sweeps past the railway station. This
area was once quite narrow and windy. December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Faulconbridge
Heading northwest past the the U-turn facility and fruit
market, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Faulconbridge
Taken December 2005 near Bellevue Road.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Faulconbridge
Image showing the roadway between Clifton Avenue and
Parkes Crescent, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Centenary
Footbridge
Looking Sydney bound at Faulconbridge near the railway
station and Railway Avenue, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Eastbound
at Faulconbridge
December 2005 near St Georges Crescent.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Approaching
Everton Road
Heading into the CBD of Faulconbridge, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
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Faulconbridge
CBD
Looking southeast towards Sydney, December 2005.
Image ©
Paul Rands |
