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

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44) - Wentworthville to Strathfield (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

Click here for historic photos of the route between Wentworthville and Strathfield

Wentworthville to Strathfield		Strathfield to Wentworthville
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign facing Parkes St in Parramatta, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Leicester Av & Concord Rd, Strathfield, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Parramatta Rd (Great Western Hwy) (SR44) approaching James Ruse Dr at Granville, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the corner Parramatta Rd (SR44) and Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) at Auburn, February 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	James Ruse Drive: Corner of Parramatta Rd (Great Western Hwy (SR44) and James Ruse Dr at Clyde, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on Great Western Hwy (Parramatta Rd) (SR44) at Granville approaching Woodville Rd and Western Mwy (Metroad 4), September 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Auburn, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Great Western Hwy (Parramatta Rd) (SR44) at Granville approaching Woodville Rd and Western Mwy (Metroad 4), September 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Rawson St, Auburn, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Western Motorway, Woodville Road & Church Street Junction: Great Western Hwy (SR44) (Parramatta Rd) at the junction with Church St (SR44), Woodville Rd and Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Granville, September 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) and St Hilliers Rd (Metroad 6), Auburn, March 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Western Motorway, Woodville Road & Church Street Junction: Great Western Hwy (SR44) (Parramatta Rd) at the junction with Church St (SR44), Woodville Rd and Western Mwy (Metroad 4) at Granville, September 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the corner Parramatta Rd (SR44) (Great Western Hwy) (SR44) and Silverwater Rd (Metroad 6) at Auburn, February 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign over the lanes of the off ramp from the Western Mwy (Metoad 4) approaching Church St (SR44) at Parramatta, January 2010. Image © Paul Rands
			Church Street: Junction of Western Mwy (Metroad 4) off ramp and Church St (SR44) at Parramatta, January 2010. Image © Paul Rands
			Church Street: Northbound on Church Street (Great Western Hwy) (SR44) in Parramatta. This area is nicknamed Auto Alley, due to the number of car yards along it. Note the old priority road intersection warning sign. Priority road signs were phased out during the 1980s, January 2010. Image © Paul Rands
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the unnumbered section of Church St and Parkes Stin Parramatta. SR44 turns left at this junction, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the intersection with the unnumbered section of Church St and Parkes Stin Parramatta. SR44 turns left at this junction, January 2010. Image © Paul Rands
			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the intersection with the unnumbered section of Church St and Parkes St in Parramatta. SR44 turns left at this junction, December 2012. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of State Route 44 between Mt Druitt and Wentworthville

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: 16-Nov-2013 21:02

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