Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Hume Highway (National Highway 31) - Sutton Forest To Goulburn (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Hume Highway (National Highway 31) - Sutton Forest To Goulburn (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 500 km (Sutton Forest to Goulburn: 48 km)
Northern Terminus: Narellan Road (Metroad 9) interchange at Mt Annan, near Campbelltown on the outskirts of southwestern Sydney.
Southern Terminus: NSW-Vic border at Albury
Miscellaneous: Continues as Hume Freeway (M31) at the Victorian border and travels for 303 km to the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80).
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Marulan and Goulburn

Route Numbering:

Former:
Decommissioned: 2013
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW2 1

General Information:

The Hume Highway is one of Australia's most vital highway links. Providing access between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's 2 largest cities. The National Highway section of the Hume Highway consists of almost 100% dual carriageway road, either rural expressway or motorway standard. Works to duplicate small sections of highway that are not dual carriageway are well underway.

In NSW, the highway in one form or another started life as the Great South Road, linking Sydney with the southern highlands and eventually beyond. The highway was named in 1928 after Hamilton Hume (1797-1873), a famous explorer in the early 19th century who, in 1824, in conjunction with William Hovell first found an overland route between Sydney and the infant colonial outpost of Port Phillip, the original name of Melbourne.

NH31 is the main freight and commuter route between Sydney and Melbourne and has gone through a massive amount of transformation over the past 30 or so years, with many towns being bypassed along its route as well and gradual upgrades to motorway standards. Since the 1960s, the road has either been duplicated, where alignments allow for it, and also large deviations have also been part of the upgrade process.

The route around the Mittagong area averages around 16,000 vehicles every day, in other sections the number drops off a little or closer to Sydney increases.1

The route forms the Remembrance Driveway which honours war veterans, click here for the Remembrance Driveway web site.

Here are some interesting statistics on the Hume Highway: 2

The Goulburn Bypass is 13 km of concrete dual carriageway.

History:

1950s: In 1952, a group of citizens met and formed a committee under Lt-General Sir Frank Berryman to create a national memorial to servicemen by using trees and shrubs as living memorials. The NSW Premier, J J Cahill, officially launched the scheme on 9 December 1953. The Remembrance Driveway project as it was called started on 5 February 1954, when trees were planted at either end of the Driveway at the War Memorial, Canberra, and in Macquarie Place, Sydney, by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. By June 1959, 10,000 trees had been planted. Since then, planting of trees in avenues or groves has continued. When the M5 Motorway replaced the Hume Highway (and also Camden Valley Way) south of Liverpool, it became the focus for planting trees and shrubs in remembrance. 1
1958 Truck weigh station built further out of Marulan along the highway, replacing the one built in 1931.3
1986: Marulan Bypass opens, with new truck weigh stations (those were built in 1985) 3

Click here for the former alignment in the Wingello / Hanging Rock area
Click here for the former alignment through Marulan
Click here for the former alignment through Goulburn

Sutton Forest to Goulburn		Goulburn to Sutton Forest
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Services Sign: Services sign at Penrose for the Kingsbury VC Rest Area, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Hume Street: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with Hume St (former Hume Hwy) at South Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Kingsbury VC Rest Area: Hume Hwy at Penrose at the junction with Kingsbury VC Rest Area and Penrose Forest Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Hume Street: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with Hume St (former Hume Hwy) at South Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Hanging Rock approaching Hanging Rock Rd (former Hume Hwy), December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Goulburn on the off ramp to Hume St, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Hanging Rock Road: Looking south at the intersection with Hanging Rock Road at Wingello. Hanging Rock Road is a former alignment of the Hume Hwy. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Hume Street: Intersection directional signs at the top of the off ramp to Hume St, Goulburn, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Aerial Speed Checks Sign: Sign indicating aerial speed checks are performed in the area, northbound at Hanging Rock, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Hume St, Goulburn, approaching the Hume Hwy (NH31) interchange, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Paddy's River: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Paddy's River at Paddy's River, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		ID Sign: Intersection directional sign on the northbound ramp to Sydney from the South Goulburn interchange, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Murimba Road: The at-grade junction with Murrimba Road at Paddy's River, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Speedometer Check Length Ahead: Sign at Goulburn indicating a length of road with signs placed at 1 km intervals, which can be used to check the accuracy of speedomters in vehicles, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Inverary Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the junction with Inverary Rd in Paddy's River, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Start Speedometer Check Length: The beginning of the Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Hume Highway: Council fingerboard for an old alignment of the Hume Hwy at Wingello, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Speedometer Check Length - 1km: Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Highland Way (TD16) at Marulan indicating the Hume Hwy is to be renamed Hume Mwy, May 2011. It's likely the renaming will occur when the alphanumeric route numbering system is fully launched in NSW. Image © Paul Rands		View of the highway: Hume Highway, east of the Goulburn surburban area. Northbound, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Stop Revive Sign: Sign used to get motorists to stop at the town of Marulan or at the very least at the service centre on the highway. Marulan is about 2 hours south of Sydney, and the RTA recommends that drivers should stop every 2 hours on their trip. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Speedometer Check Length - 2km: Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	By-Passed Town Signage: More signage indicating a by-passed town, this time Marulan, which was by-passed in about 1985 / 86. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Speedometer Check Length - 3km: Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station Sign Sign indicating that the Marulan truck inspection station is not far away. All heavy vehicles over a certain weight are required to enter the station. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Mulwaree River: Northbound at Goulburn, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services & Historic Town Sign: Southbound sign indicating that Marulan is an historic town and that there's a number of services available. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Speedometer Check Length - 4km: Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Sign: Southbound sign indicating the exit for Marulan, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		End Speedometer Check Length: End of the Speedometer Check Length at Goulburn, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Marulan Exit Sign: Sign marking the Marulan Exit, southbound, April 2006. Note the northbound heavy vehicle checking station in the distance. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Signage for the North Goulburn (Sydney Rd) interchange, Goulburn, October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station: Supplemental advance directional sign for the Heavy Vehicle Checking Station at Marulan, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Signage for the North Goulburn (Sydney Rd) interchange, October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Truck and Bus Speed Limit Sign: Large sign indicating the reduced speed limit for heavy vehicles approaching the Marulan weighstation, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Sydney Road: Sign denoting the North Goulburn interchange for northbound travellers, October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Safe-T-Cam Sign: Sign indicating the use of the Safe-T-Cam system, which monitors the driving habits of heavy vehicle drivers. Southbound at Marulan, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Sydney Road: Sydney Rd (former Hume Hwy) interchange at Goulburn North, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	George Street Interchange: Interchange connecting with George Street Marulan and the heavy vehicle inspection station, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Sydney Road: Sydney Rd (former Hume Hwy) interchange at Goulburn North, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Safe-T-Cam: Here's an image of the Safe-T-Cam on the Marulan exit, which is also the entrance ramp to the southbound heavy vehicle inspection station. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound RD Sign: Distance sign after the Sydney Rd interchange at Goulburn North, October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Directional Signs Original black ID signs from when the heavy vehicle inspection station was constructed in 1985. These have since been replaced, but faced southbound traffic leaving the heavy vehicle inspection station. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Sign indicating distance to next available services after Goulburn, Southbound at North Goulburn, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station: Photo of the southbound weighstation at Marulan, December 2007. Both north and southbound building feature a clock facing highway traffic indicating time and local temperature. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound at Towrang: Typical highway conditions near Goulburn at the town of Towrang, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Safe-T-Cam: Safe-T-Cam for monitoring heavy vehicles. Southbound carriageway at Marulan outside the heavy vehicle inspection station, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Towrang approaching Towrang Rd, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign for the Marulan Service Centre, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Towrang Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the junction with Towrang Rd at Towrang, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Service Centre Interchange: Exit to the southbound service centre at Marulan, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign for the Chowne VC Rest Area, Murrays Flat, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Service Centre: View of the southbound Marulan Service Centre, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign Services sign for the Chowne VC Rest Area, Murrays Flat, April 2006, northbound. Image © Paul Rands
	Directional Fingerboard: Facing west at the George St junction with the Old Hume Highwy at Marulan and also northbound service centre traffic is this fingerboard denoting access to Sydney via the northbound carriageway of the highway. April 2006. The name placard is much older than the fingerboard itself, probably dating back to the construction of either the bypass or the service centres. Image © Paul Rands		Chowne VC Rest Area: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Murrays Flat at the junction with Chowne VC Rest Area, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Directional Fingerboard: Facing west at the George St junction with the Old Hume Highwy at Marulan and also northbound service centre traffic is this fingerboard denoting access to Sydney via the northbound carriageway of the highway. April 2006. The name placard is much older than the fingerboard itself, probably dating back to the construction of either the bypass or the service centres. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign with distance to Marulan, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Southbound distance sign after the Marulan service centre, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Service Centre Sign: Sign for the Marulan service centre, northbound Marulan South, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign located after the Marulan services indicating when the next services will be available, in this case, Goulburn, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Marulan South approaching South Marulan Rd, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Marulan South Road Approach: Southbound approaching the turn-off to Marulan South, December 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign with distance to nearest town, South Marulan, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Marulan South Road: Looking at the intersection with Marulan South Road. Southbound, December 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign at South Marulan, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Marulan South: Typical highway conditions south of the Marulan services. Note the old highway alignment in the left of shot. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		South Marulan Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with South Marulan Rd in Marulan, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Rest Area Sign: Typical Remembrance Driveway rest area signage along the highway. This one is for Derrick VC, at Murray's Flats, April 2006, southbound. Image © Paul Rands		Bypassed Town Sign: Signage as you head north at Marulan South, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Carrick Road Turn-off: Southbound at Boxers Creek. April 2006. This section of the highway had the wire rope barriers installed after 1995. Image © Paul Rands		Services SIgn: Services sign for the Marulan service centre, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign for Derrick VC Rest Area, Towrang, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Services SIgn: Services sign for the Marulan town centre, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Derrick VC Rest Area: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Towrang at the junction with Derrick VC Rest Area, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Service Centre: Hume Hwy at the interchange with the Marulan service centre. October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Towrang approaching Towrang Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Hume Hwy (NH31) at Marulan approaching George Street (the old Hume Highway). October 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Towrang Road Junction: Intersection with Towrang Road at Boxers Creek, southbound, December 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		George Street: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the junction with George St in Marulan, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Signage: Sign north of the North Goulburn interchange indicating access to Gouburn, December 2009. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		George Street: Corner of Hume Hwy (NH31) and George St, Marulan, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Drives Sign: Southbound sign at Boxers Creek, near Boxers Creek Road, for local Goulburn district tourist drives, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Heavy Vehicle Checking Station: Advance directional sign for the heavy vehicle checking station at Marulan, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Boxers Creek for Sydney Rd interchange, December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Heavy Vehicle Checking Station: Supplemental advance directional sign for the heavy vehicle checking station at Marulan, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist and Services Sign: Sign located at Goulburn North indicating historical importance of Goulburn and also the services on offer within the town, December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Special Truck Speed Limit: Northbound at Marulan is this special speed limit sign for heavy vehicles, that enter the inspection station. April 2006. This sign has since been removed. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Signage: Signage showing access to various other towns from the upcoming interchange with Sydney Rd (former Hume Hwy) Goulburn North.t, December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Safe-T-Cam Site: Safe-T-Cam site signage near Marulan heavy vehicle checking station, Jun 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Signage: Signage showing access to various other towns from the upcoming interchange with Sydney Rd (former Hume Hwy) Goulburn North. December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Heavy Vehicle Checking Station: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with the heavy vehicle checking station at Marulan, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Bypassed Town Signage: Typical NSW bypassed town signage for Goulburn, southbound at North Goulburn, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Heavy Vehicle Checking Station: View of the northbound heavy vehicle checking station and camera gantry. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Sydney Road: Southbound at North Goulburn. This used to be where the highway would travel into Goulburn. Now that section of roadway forms part of the interchange and the access road to the CBD. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Safe-T-Cam: Safe-T-Cam gantry at Marulan, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	WIRES Sign: Sign with old pre-8-digit phone number at Goulburn North for the WIRES wildlife rescue service, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		End Lane Restrictions Sign: Sign ending lane restrictions for heavy vehicles, Marulan, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Sydney Road: Sydney Rd overpass at North Goulburn, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Tourist Drive Supplemental AD Sign Signage showing access to Highland Way (TD16) (former Old Argyle Road) and the town of Wingello, April 2006. The Old Argyle Road was once part of the Great South Road, the predecessor of the Hume Highway. Image © Paul Rands
	Sydney Road: Sydney Rd interchange at North Goulburn, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wingello approaching Highand Way (TD16), October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Sydney Road Interchange: Looking at the ramp that travels towards Goulburn, April 2006. Governors Hill is where this cuts through to and then the old highway travels down the hill into the CBD. Image © Paul Rands		Highland Way: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the junction with Highland Way (TD16) at Wingello, June 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Bungonia Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Goulburn as passes under Bungonia Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign between Marulan and Wingello, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Mulwaree River: Hume Hwy (NH31) as crosses the Mulwaree River at Goulburn, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Aerial Speed Checks Sign: Sign indicating aerial speed checks are performed in the area, northbound at Wingello. October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Heading south on Goulburn Bypass (Hume Hwy) as you approach the Hume Street interchange, December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound Crossing Paddy's River At Wingello, April 2006. This is the southern edge of the Southern Highlands. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Sign: Heading south on Goulburn Bypass (Hume Hwy) as you approach the Hume Street interchange, December 2009. Click here for a photo from December 2007 of the old sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wingello approaching Murrimba Rd, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Street Interchange: Looking southbound through the Hume Street interchange at South Goulburn as the bypass reconnects with the older section of the Hume Highway, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Hanging Rock Road (Sth) Junction Intersection with the southern end of Hanging Rock Road (former highway alignment) at Wingello, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the Hume St interchange at Goulburn South, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign at Hanging Rock for the service centre at Sutton Forest, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Street Interchange: Hume Hwy (NH31) at South Goulburn as it passes under Hume St, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Entering Southern Highlands Wine Region: Sign indicating the Hume Hwy (NH31) crossing into the Southern Highlands Wine Region, Hanging Rock, October 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Southbound AD sign on the old Hume Highway (Hume Street) at South Goulburn, approaching the Volleyball Interchange with the highway. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Diagrammatic Sign: Directional sign on the roundabout itself with the highway at South Goulburn, April 2006. The top leg goes to the Woolscour Abbatoirs. Image © Paul Rands
	Directional Sign: ID sign on the roundabout at the Hume Street interchange. July 2006 at South Goulburn. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound On-Ramp: Looking down the southbound on-ramp at the Hume Street interchange at South Goulburn, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the contiunation of Hume Hwy (NH31) between Goulburn and Yass Click here for the contiuation of Hume Hwy (NH31) between Sutton Forest and Mittagong

1 Roads and Traffic Authority
2 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
3 Argyle County web site

Last updated: 27-Feb-2017 21:08

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