Road
Photos & Information: New South Wales
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Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44) - Wentworthville to Strathfield: Historic Photos (Decommissioned) |
Statistics:
- Length: 45 km (Wentworthville to Strathfield: 14 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: Wentworthville, Westmead, Mays Hill, Parramatta, Granville, Clyde, Silverwater, Auburn, Lidcombe, Homebush West, Homebush and Strathfield
Route Numbering:
- Former:
- Multiplexes:
- 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.
Multiplexes along the route include:
- Tourist Drive 9, for 1300 m at Parramatta
History:
- 1791: A track was cut between Sydney and Parramatta, which was used for official business only, not general travel. 2
- January 1797: Governor Captain John Hunter orders the route be of the track between Sydney and Parramatta to be upgraded. 2
- July 1797: Work begins to widen the track between Sydney and Parramatta to 20 feet wide. 2
- August 1797: Completion of the widening of the track between Sydney and Parramatta. 2
- October 1797: Bridge over Duck River completed. 2
- 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
- 1896: Western Road extended to reach Warren, now located on Mitchell Highway. 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
Images presented below are of a historical nature.
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Former Level Crossing:
The former railway level crossing at Granville. 1930s.
Image © Department of Main Roads.
Scanned
from The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0
7240 0439 4
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Railway Overpass:
The railway overpass that replaced the level crossing at Granville. 1930s. This bridge, albeit modified is still in use today.
Image © Department of Main Roads.
Scanned
from The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0
7240 0439 4
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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
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