Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Castlereagh Highway (National Route 55) (Decommissioned)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 343 km
- Termini:
- Northern: QLD Border, Angledool
- Southern: Oxley Hwy (NR34) and Newell Hwy (NH39), Gilgandra
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A55 in Queensland
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Gilgandra, Curban, Armatree, Gulargambone, Combara, Coonamble, Wingadee, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Angledool
Route Numbering:
- Current: B55
- Former: 55
- Multiplexed with: 37
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW18
General Information:
National Route 55 was a rural highway linking the New South Wales western plains with southern Queensland. The road is undivided along its entire length.
The highway named after the Castlereagh River, which runs parallel with the highway.
- National Route 37, for 4 km, Walgett.
History:
- 18 July 1814: Work commenced on the road. The following year Governor Macquarie, his wife and official party travelled the brand new road, which eventually led to more waterways and open country discovered by European settlers. 2
- 1969: Work begins to finish the bituminous sealing of the highway. 3
- 2013: National Route 55 replaced by B55.
Gilgandra to QLD Border
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Oxley Hwy (NR34) approaching Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at Gilgandra, November 2010.
Image © Rob Tilley
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Black ID sign on the corner of Oxley Hwy (NR34) and Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at Gilgandra, May 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Gilgandra Town Centre:
Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) as it passes through the Gilgandra town centre, July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Distance Sign:
Black reassurance directional sign as the Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) leaves Gilgandra, December 2002.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Black ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) and King St, Coonamble, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Coonamble approaching Aberford St and Castlereagh St, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Black ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) and Wee Waa St, December 2003. This sign pre-dates the introduction of NR37.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Horses Sign:
Sign that is common to the more isolated areas of the state asking motorists to stop and wait for horses if on the bridge, Namoi River at Walgett, October 2010.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly at the end of the NR37 duplex in Walgett, October 2010. NR55 continues straight ahead at this junction. Note the missing NR37 shield.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) leaves Walgett, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Barwon River:
Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) as it crosses the Barwon River near Walgett, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Advance Directional Sign:
Black AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) approaching Gwydir Hwy (NR38), October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Walgett, December 2003. Note the missing route number.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Black ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) and Llanillo Rd at Lightning Ridge, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Lightning Ridge, December 2003. Note the missing route number.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) approaching Bill O'Brien Way at Lightning Ridge, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Advance Directional Sign:
Black AD sign at Lightning Ridge approaching Bill O'Brien Way, December 2003. This sign pre-dates the extension of NR55 to the NSW / QLD Border.
Image © Michael Greenslade
No Fuel Next 63 km:
Sign on Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at Lightning Ridge indicating distance to the next available fuel, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Angledool approaching Goodooga Rd, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Kilometre Plate:
Black kilometre plate near the NSW / QLD Border at Angledool, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
NSW-QLD Border:
Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at the border with Queensland, October 2005. NR55 ends here and becomes A55.
Image © Paul Rands
QLD Border to Gilgandra
NSW-QLD Border:
Castlereagh Hwy as it crosses from Queensland into New South Wales at Angledool, December 2003. A55 becomes NR55 at this location.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID signs facing Bill O'Brien Way at Lightning Ridge, October 2005. Note the incorrect SR shield on the top sign and the alphanumeric route number on the bottom sign.
Image © Paul Rands
110 km/h Zone:
The 110 km/h zone along Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at Lightning Ridge, October 2005. This speed zone is uncommon away from the state's freeways.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Walgett approaching Gwydir Hwy (NR83), December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Dust Sign:
Sign requesting truck drivers to stop at the bay beyond the sign to drop dust from their vehicles before entering the town centre, Walgett, October 2010.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Walgett, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Coonamble approaching Aberford St and Castlereagh St, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Gilgandra:
Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) as it passes through the town of Gilgandra, April 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Advance Directional Sign:
Black AD sign on Oxley Hwy (NR34) approaching Castlereagh Hwy (Miller St) at Gilgandra. May 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Black Intersection Directional Sign:
Signage on the junction with the Castlereagh & Oxley Highways at Gilgandra. May 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Black Advance Directional Sign:
Black AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (Miller St) (NR55) approaching the Oxley Highway (Warren Rd) (NR34) at Gilgandra. May 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (Miller St) (NR55) approaching the Oxley Highway (Warren Rd) (NR34) at Gilgandra. April 2012. Click or tap here for a photo by Rob Tilley from May 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
Signage on the junction with the Castlereagh & Oxley Highways at Gilgandra. April 2012. Click or tap here for a photo by Rob Tilley from May 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Historical Roads of New South Wales brochure, Castlereagh Highway.
3 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.