Length:

20 km

Termini:

Northern: Heidelberg-Warrandyte Rd (MR42 / TD2), Doncaster East

Southern: Princes Hwy (ALT-NR1), Clayton

Miscellaneous:

Declared Names: Blackburn Rd, Maroondah HWY, Blackburn Rd and Andersons Ck Rd

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Clayton, Notting Hill, Glen Waverley, Burwood East, Blackburn South, Blackburn, Blackburn North and Doncaster East

Current: 13

Multiplexed with: 42

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

Arterial 5307 (Clayton to Blackburn and Blackburn to Doncaster East)

Arterial 5947 (Doncaster East)

Arterial 6720 (Blackburn)

General Information:

Located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Metropolitan Route 13 is a suburban arterial road which consists of divided and undivided roadway.

Blackburn Road is a major thoroughfare that passes through the suburb of Blackburn, which is believed to have been named after James Blackburn, (1803-1854), who was transported for forgery to Tasmania 'for the term of his natural life'. He was an architect and engineer of previously irreproachable character who lapsed just once into crime when financially hard-pressed. Employed in the Roads Department as an engineer, he worked so well and honourably that he was granted a free pardon in 1841. In 1849 he came to Melbourne with his wife and children and was appointed City Surveyor soon afterwards. In 1851 he designed the Yan Yean water supply system, but died before it was completed, after a riding accident. The section of Blackburn Road from Clayton through Notting Hill was originally called May's Road then May Road (which was named after early settler Edward May a member and Chairman of the Roads Board who had a market garden on the road). The Surrey Road segment of the route was originally known and shown as Essex Rd up to the late 1950s. ²

Metropolitan Route 34, for 200 m, Blackburn.

1962: Blackburn Road widening. ³

1965: Introduction of MR13 number. ⁴

Clayton to Doncaster East

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign assembly on Blackburn Road in Glen Waverley, facing traffic exiting the Monash Freeway (M1). November 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

Northbound AD sign on the Monash Fwy interchange at Glen Waverley. November 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Northbound RD sign on Blackburn Road in Glen Waverley. November 2006.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign on Surrey Rd (MR13) at Blackburn, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

AD Sign:

Advance directional sign approaching the Eastern Freeway (M3, then MR83) interchange on Blackburn Road in Blackburn North, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the access point for westbound traffic at the interchange with the Eastern Freeway (M3, then MR83) in Blackburn North, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Eastern Fwy (M3) interchange at Doncaster East, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Doncaster East to Clayton

Supplemental AD Sign:

Supplemental advance directional sign at Blackburn North approaching Eastern Fwy (M3, then MR83), November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the interchange with the Eastern Freeway (M3, then MR83) in Blackburn North, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Surrey Rd (MR13) approaching Maroondah Hwy (Whitehorse Rd) (MR34) at Blackburn, November 2005. The MR34 duplex starts at this junction.

Image © Rob Tilley