Each state has several ways to number its roads to help motorists navigate their way around the network. This page explores the different route shields, both past and present. Some of the shields here are no longer in use, but are explained below.
An alphanumeric route number, as used in all states and territories, except Western Australia. Usually part of a larger sign, not stand alone as shown here.
Bordered alphanumeric shield formerly used in in the ACT and NSW. Usually part of a larger sign, not stand alone. This image also represents the standalone alphanumeric shields used in other states.
Once used in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia and is used to indicate Federal funding (Auslink) along a route. National Highways were major roads that linked large capital cities and selected large regional cities.
Used in the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Western Australia and is used to indicate Federal funding (Auslink) along a route. National Highways are major roads that link large capital cities and selected large regional cities. Officially no longer in use in NSW, QLD, Vic and SA.
Used in ACT, NT and WA. And placed on major interregional routes. No longer officially used in NSW, QLD, SA & Vic. Never used in Tas.
Used right across Australia (except ACT and SA (apart from one route that crossed from VIC into SA)) until the introduction of alphanumeric routes in NSW, Tas and Vic.
Used in most states to indicate routes that have tourist interest sites along them. The ACT once used different coloured variations of the shield, with just the route number, for its tourist drives.
Used only in Western Australia, Tourist Ways are similar to Tourist Drives, but often longer and sometimes more remote.
Used in NSW in the 1970s on freeways. Signposted routes include F1, F3, F4, F5, F6 and F8.
Used in QLD during the 1970s and 80s.
Used in VIC during the 1970s and 80s.
Once used solely in Sydney and Brisbane, and were used on major arterial routes through each city.
Original version of this shield. Introduced to Sydney during the 1970s, Sydney Ring Roads were pre-cursors to Metroads.
Updated version of this shield. Introduced to Sydney during the 1970s, Sydney Ring Roads were pre-cursors to Metroads.
Introduced in the 1980s, numbers for Melbourne Ring Roads using this format seem to have only ever made it onto signage on the Metropolitan Ring Road, which later became M80.