New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Route 32 (Great Western Highway) (Springwood to Lapstone)

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.

For photos of the unnumbered section of NR32, left by the rerouting of the highway to connect with the Western Mwy, click here.

Springwood to Lapstone History:

• 1813: explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson successfully crossed the Blue Mountains by following the ridgeline separating the Grose and Cox Rivers.
• 1960s: the highway was deviated to bypass Springwood shopping centre, eliminating two narrow underpasses of the railway. These remain in use for local traffic.
• 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.

Length (Total):	1562 km
Length (Great Western Hwy):	203 km
Length (Springwood To Lapstone):	15 km
Route Number:
Forthcoming Alphanumeric:
Information gathered from Sam Laybutt, Michael Greenslade, Wikipedia and Roads and Traffic Authority.

Eastbound at Springwood
Looking towards Springwood near the Anglican Church, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Sign
Advance Directional Sign for the Springwood CBD. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Springwood Bypass
Inbound as you approach the Boland Avenue intersection, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Winmalee and Richmond Turn-off
Advance Directional Signage for the the Winmalee & Richmond turn-off. The road this sign is refering to is called George Street, which connects to Silva Road before joining up with Haweksbury Road via a roundabout, so therefore this sign is technically incorrect. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Hawkesbury Road Interchange
The Hawkesbury Road (George Street / Silva Road) interchange consists of an at-grade intesection on the western side of the overpass and a grade separated slip lane on the eastern side. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Macquarie Road
Inbound approaching the intersection of the road which was originally the highway through Springwood. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Valley Heights
Looking east though Valley Heights near The Avenue, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Footbridge
Heading southeast near Valley Heights railway station close to The Valley Road intersection. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign
RD Sign as you leave Valley Heights as you head towards Sydney, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Speed Camera Signage
Sydney bound through Warrimoo. December 2005

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Warrimoo
Turn off to Sun Valley Drive as you head south into Warrimoo. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Slip Lane to Warrimoo Shops
Eastbound at Warrimoo neat the turn off that travels under the highway via Eley Hawkins Drive to access the Warrimoo shopping strip. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Southbound at Warrimoo
Image shows typical conditions through this area. Taken near the old Ampol service station site, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Blaxland
Southbound as you enter the Blaxland area. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Wilson Road Junction
Southbound at the Wilson Road intersection (which used to be Bathurst Road) at Blaxland. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Blaxland Town Centre
Heading southwest through Blaxland near the railway station as you pass under Doctor George Munro Bridge. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Layton Avenue & Hope Street Intersection
Southbound at Blaxland, outside the only McDonalds restaurant in the Blue Mountains. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Southbound through Blaxland
Leaving Blaxland town centre, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Fletcher Street Overpass
Southeast through Glenbrook, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Mann & Hare Streets
Eastbound through Glenbrook, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Sign
Advance directional sign for Ross Street and the Glenbrook shopping precinct, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Eastbound at Glenbrook
Taken outside Brookdale Reserve, as you approach the RAAF compound, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Glenbrook Descent
Sydney bound as you start to descend the mountain into the Cumberland Plains of Sydney. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Glenbrook Descent
Sydney bound as you start to descend the mountain into the Cumberland Plains of Sydney. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Lapstone Descent
Sydney bound as you start to descend the mountain into the Cumberland Plains of Sydney. December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Governors Drive Interchange
Inbound at Lapstone, December 2005.

Image © Paul Rands

Start National Route 32
The eastern-most extremity of NR32, at Lapstone, July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching Governors Drive at Lapstone, July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands