Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44) - Emu Plains to Mt Druitt (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 45 km (Emu Plains to Mt Druitt: 16 km)
Western Terminus: Western Motorway (Metroad 4) and Leonay Parade at Emu Plains
Eastern Terminus: Western Motorway & Parramatta Road (Metroad 4) at Strathfield
Miscellaneous: Great Western Highway is truncated at Emu Plains from Russell Street, but continues as National Route 32 from Lapstone at the end of the Western Motorway (Metroad 4). Parramatta Road continues as Metroad 4 from North Strathfield
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route:Emu Plains, Penrith, Kingswood, Werrington, St Marys, Oxley Park and Colyton

Route Numbering:

Former:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW5 1
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

State Route 44 is an east-west route that forms a major arterial route in Sydney's western suburbs. It's a mostly multi-laned road, much of which is divided. It's Australia's oldest road.

Since the completion of Western Mwy (Metroad 4) the importance of the route has changed, however it's still one of the city's busier routes.

History:

10 May 1810: Tolling is introduced along the route between Sydney and Parramatta, and beyond to Windsor. The tolling was introduced to fund road upgrades. 2
June 1858: The Main Roads Management Act appoints Captain BH Martindale as the person responsible for the management of 3 main roads in the colony including the Great Western Road, from Sydney via Parramatta, Penrith, Hartley and Bathurst to Wellington. 2
7 June 1926: A board meeting resolved to set aside funding from the Commonwealth's road funding scheme for road development to be used on some of NSW 'great trunk routes', which included the Great Western Road. 2
1938: Installation of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts along a 60 mile stretch between Parramatta and Mt Victoria. These were implemented for testing, for a possible statewide rollout. 2
1939: After successful testing of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts, the system was implemented statewide. Also the full completion of pavement along the Great Western Road. 2
1980s: Great Western Hwy widened from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between St Marys and Werrington, and also between Blacktown and Prospect. Also Great Western Highway re-routed away from High St in Penrith after the opening of a pedestrian mall along High St.
1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.

Emu Plains to Mt Druitt		Mt Druitt to Emu Plains
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Glenbrook approaching the Russell St (SR44) interchange, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Great Western Hwy (SR44) at Kingswood approaching Parker St (Metroad 9), June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Leonay at the Russell St (SR44) interchange , April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Great Western Hwy (SR44) at Kingswood approaching Parker St (Metroad 9), June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Russel Street: Looking north on Russell St (SR44) in Emu Plains, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Parker Street: Great Western Hwy (SR44) at Parker St (Metroad 9), Kingswood, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Corner of Great Western Highway & Russell Street: Northbound at Emu Plains. Before the Western Motorway was extended beyond Russell Street, the Great Western Highway used to head west (left in this photo) and up the mountains. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Great Western Hwy (SR44) approaching High St (former NR32) and North St (SR44) at Penrith, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Distance signage as you pass the Lennox Shopping Centre, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		High Street: Corner of Great Western Hwy (SR44), North St (SR44) and High St, Penrith, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the intersection with Old Bathurst Road (former main road west over the mountains) at Emu Plains, the street on the right of the photo is Napier Avenue, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on North St (SR44) Penrith, approaching Kendall and Henry Streets, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Signage at the intersection with Old Bathurst Road at Emu Plains, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Henry Street: Intersection directional sign on North St (SR44) at the junction with Henry St in Penrith, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Emu Plains Town Centre: Great Western Hwy as it passes through the shopping strip at Emu Plains, near the Billington Pl intersection. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Henry Street: Intersection directional sign on North St (SR44) at the junction with Henry St in Penrith, June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Victoria Bridge: Victoria Bridge at Emu Plains. The bridge was a rail bridge before the steel truss bridge beside it was built for trains. When that opened Victoria Bridge was opened to road traffic and tolled. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Lawson St in Penrith, June 2006. SR44 becomes Belmore St from this point. Image © Paul Rands
	Victoria Bridge: Victoria Bridge over the Nepean River at Penrith. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the roundabout with Lawson St in Penrith, June 2006. SR44 becomes Belmore St from this point. Image © Paul Rands
	Bruce Neale Drive: Corner of Great Western Hwy and Bruce Neale Dr in Penrith, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Station Street: Belmore St (SR44) outside Penrith Railway Station, approaching Station St and Jane St (SR44), June 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Great Western Hwy near Ladbury Av in Penrith, approaching Castlereagh Rd, Mulgoa Rd and High St, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly on Jane St (SR44) near Penrith City Council chambers, approaching Castlereagh Rd in Penrith, June 2006. SR44 turns left and then immediately right at this point. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on Great Western Hwy in Penrith, approaching Castlereagh Rd, Mulgoa Rd and High St, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Castlereagh Rd Penrith approaching the Jane St (SR44) junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	North & Henry Streets: Henry St at the junction with North St (SR44) in Penrith , April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Castlereagh Rd Penrith approaching the Jane St (SR44) junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gt Western Hwy at Penrith approaching Parker St (Metroad 9), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Jane Street: Corner of Castlereagh Rd and Jane St in Penrith. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on Gt Western Hwy at Penrith approaching Parker St (Metroad 9), April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Castlereagh Rd Penrith approaching the High St, Mulgoa Rd and Gt Western Hwy (SR44) junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Parker Street: Corner of Great Western Hwy (SR44) and Parker St (Metroad 9) at Penrith , April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Rd, High St, Mulgoa Rd and Gt Western Hwy (SR44) junction in Penrith. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Signs: AD signs on Parker St (Metroad 9) approaching Great Western Hwy, Penrith, September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Parker Street & Great Western Highway: Parker St (Metroad 9) at the junction with Great Western Hwy (SR44) at Penrith , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Kingswood, after the Parker St intersection, September 2007. Note the police random breath testing operation in the distance. Image © Paul Rands
	Bringelly Road: Corner of Great Western Hwy (SR44) and Bringelly Rd in Kingswood , September 2007. Bringelly Rd used to perform the function Parker St performs now. The route was moved to Parker St due to the level crossing over the railway left of the signals. Image © Paul Rands
	Kingswood: Great Western Hwy (SR44) between Kingswood and Werrington, near the University of Western Sydney and the TAFE college , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Great Western Highway (SR44) at Werrington approaching Gipps Street and Werrington Road , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Werrington Road & Gipps Street: Great Western Highway (SR44) at Werrington at the junction with Gipps Street and Werrington Road , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at St Marys, outside the Band Club, approaching Queen St and Mamre Rd , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at St Marys, outside the Band Club, approaching Queen St and Mamre Rd , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Mamre Rd approaching Great Western Hwy (SR44) and Queen St in St Marys , September 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign as you approach the signals at Glossop Street, St Marys, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Bennett Road Eastbound through Colyton near the Bennett Road junction. According to old editions of the Gregory's Street directory, Bennett Road used to be the terminus of the old F4 Freeway back in the 1970s and early 80s. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Taken on the junction with Melbourne Street, this is the AD sign for Hewitt Street at Colyton, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of SR44 between Mt Druitt and Wentworthville Click here for the continuation of Great Western Hwy as National Route 32

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads (and unclassified Regional Roads), 25 February 2008
2 Department of Main Roads. The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4

Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55

This site © Paul Rands. All rights reserved. Some portions © (copyright) by their respective and credited owners. Permission must be obtained before using any images from this site. For details, please email by clicking here.