Length:

961 km

Termini:

Eastern: New South Wales Border, Maramingo Creek

Western: South Australian Border, Mumbannar

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Princes Highway (B1) in SA and Princes Highway (A1) in NSW

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Mumbannar, Dartmoor, Winnap, Drumborg, Heywood, Heathmere, Bolwarra, Narrawong, Tyrendarra, Tyrendarra East, Codrington, Yambuk, Port Fairy, Rosebrook, Killarney, Dennington, Warrnambool, Allansford, Panmure, Garvoc, Terang, Boorcan, Camperdown, Weerite, Pomborneit North, Pomborneit, Stonyford, Pirron Yallock, Colac, Colac East, Irrewarra, Warncoort, Winchelsea, Buckley, Mt Moriac, Waurn Ponds, Wandana Heights, Fyansford, Hamlyn Heights, Bell Post Hill, Corio, Lara, Mambourin, Werribee, Werribee South, Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing, Seabrook, Altona, Altona North, Southbank, South Melbourne, Burnley, Hawthorne, Chadstone, Eumemmering, Hallam, Narre Warren, Berwick, Officer, Pakenham, Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Tynong North, Garfield, Bunyip, Bunyip North, Longwarry North, Drouin West, Drouin, Warragul, Nilma, Darnum, Yarragon, Trafalgar, Moe, Hernes Oak, Morwell, Traralgon, Traralgon East, Flynn, Rosedale, Kilmany, Wurruk, Sale, Montgomery, Stratford, Munro, Fernbank, Bairnsdale, East Bairnsdale, Nicholson, Johnsonville, Swan Reach, Kalimna, Lakes Entrance, Toorloo Arm, Nowa Nowa, Tostaree, Wombat Creek, Simpsons Creek, Newmerella, Orbost, Brodribb River, Cabbage Tree Creek, Manorina, Bellbird Creek, Tonghi Creek, Cann River, Wingan River, Genoa and Maramingo Creek

Current: M1 A1

Former: 1 80 F80 F81 F82

Multiplexed with: 107 2 94

General Information:

National Route 1 was a major route that crossed roughly from east to west in Victoria. The standard varied from single carriageway rural highway to full freeway standard. The route connected several major population centres and numerous small towns and regional cities.

Princes Highway (West):

Starting out as a series of dirt tracks in the 1850s, Princes Highway West was the first major inland link between Geelong and the Western District. ¹ The Princes Highway (west) is a key route through south-western Victoria providing a link from Geelong to the South Australian border and beyond to Adelaide.

Princes Highway (East):

The eastern section of the Princes Highway connects Traralgon to the Gippsland area and also Victoria's northeast. It's mostly undivided rural highway, generally one lane each way with occasional overtaking lanes. Several of the towns serviced by the route are very popular tourist destinations.

Princes Freeway:

The Princes Freeway is in 2 sections. The western section connects with the West Gate Freeway and extends to the Geelong area. The eastern section connects with the Monash Freeway and joins up with the Princes Highway (East) at Traralgon. There is also a small section of Princes Freeway, otherwise known as Orbost Bypass, at Orbost. It's not dual carriageway however. ²

West Gate Freeway:

The West Gate Freeway connects the Princes Freeway (West), with CityLink southern link. Forming a section of the West Gate Freeway is the West Gate Bridge. The West Gate Bridge is the second-longest bridge in Australia. It is a cable-stayed bridge and has a span of 2582.6 metres. The West Gate Bridge collapsed on 15 October 1970, resulting in the deaths of 35 people. The bridge was rebuilt and completed in 1978. ³

South Eastern Freeway:

The South Eastern Freeway (later named Monash Freeway) runs from Melbourne's inner eastern suburbs and ended at Eumemmering, where it joined with the Gippsland Freeway before joining the Princes Highway. It was also known as the South Eastern Arterial. ⁴

State Route 107, for 22 km, between Bolwarra and Heywood. ²

Tourist Drive 2, for 10 km, between Spotswood and Melbourne.

Tourist Drive 94, for 23 km, between Hernes Oak and Traralgon.

1925: Princes Highway declared as a state highway, even though the name was in use for years prior. ²

1927: Construction of the original Genoa River Bridge. ⁵

1960s: Princes Highway (Geelong Road) duplicated. ⁶

1961: Victoria's first section of freeway opened to traffic - Maltby Bypass, now part of the Princes Freeway at Werribee. ⁷

1968: John Holland and World Services win the contracts to build the West Gate Bridge and construction begins. ⁸

15 October 1970: A span of West Gate Bridge collapsed during its construction, a memorial is in place for the workers who were killed, in the suburb of Spotswood. ⁹

1972: Construction recommences with many of the survivors returning to work on the West Gate Bridge. ⁸

1974: Closure of the vehicular ferry operated by Williamstown Council with the opening of the West Gate Bridge. ¹⁰

1978: Completion of the West Gate Bridge. ¹¹

1997: National Route 1 decommissioned outside the metropolitan area and replaced by A1 and M1, and M1 between Geelong and Eumemmering.

SA Border to NSW Border

Trailblazer:

NR1 trailblazer at Sale near the junction with South Gipplsand Hwy (SR180) and Foster St, September 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Alignment:

Old Princes Highway alignment at Genoa, April 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Old Alignment:

Old Princes Highway alignment at Genoa, April 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

NSW Border to SA Border

Genoa River Bridge:

Looking towards the Genoa town centre at the original Genoa River Bridge, April 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Genoa River Bridge:

Looking towards the Genoa town centre at the original Genoa River Bridge, April 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign with remnant NR1 shield, at Cabbage Tree Creek for the junction with Marlo-Cabbage Tree Rd, April 2010.

Image © Paul Rands