Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway and Barrier Highway (A32)
Glenbrook to Katoomba
Statistics:
- Length:
- 1146 km (Glenbrook to Katoomba: 43 km).
- Termini:
- Eastern: Western Mwy (M4) and Governors Dr at Glenbrook.
- Western: NSW-SA Border at Cockburn.
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A32 (Barrier Hwy) in South Australia.
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Glenbrook, Blaxland, Warrimoo, Valley Heights, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Linden, Woodford, Hazelbrook, Lawson, Bullaburra, Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba.
Route Numbering:
- Current: A32
- Former: 32
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW5 (Glenbrook to Bathurst)
General Information:
National Route 32 is the main route linking the New South Wales state capital, Sydney, with the west of the state. The road varies from arterial road conditions, rural expressway and rural highway.
The highway is signposted as A32 from Glenbrook in Sydney's west, to its terminus at Bathurst. Great Western Hwy is signposted as A44 in the sydney area.
The Great Western Highway is regarded as one of the oldest roads in Australia. Starting as George Street in the Sydney CBD, and following Parramatta Road, it heads west across metropolitan Sydney to Penrith, where it crosses the Nepean River. It then crosses the Blue Mountains and the Great Dividing Range to Bathurst.
The road across the Blue Mountains was built by William Cox in the 1800s shortly after a viable route across the mountains was discovered. An obelisk at Macquarie Place in Sydney records the construction of the road during the rule of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
In the 90s, the highway was truncated at Emu Plains with the closure of the Knapsack Gully Viaduct. An extension to the Western Mwy (M4) at Emu Plains was constructed, which rejoined with the highway at Glenbrook. The upper portion of the Great Western Highway from Russell Street is now only used by residents and cars coming from Blaxland via Mitchells Pass. Mitchells Pass is section of the former main road over the Blue Mountains.
History:
- May 1813: Successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth and Lieutennant William Lawson. 2
- 18 July 1814: Work commences from Emu Plains (Emu Ford) on what eventually becomes Great Western Road. The Chief Magistrate at Windsor, William Cox supervised the construction of what was the first road over the Blue Mountains. 2
- 14 January 1815: Completion of a 12 feet wide 101 mile track to Bathurst. 2
- 1832: Construction begins on Lennox Bridge, over Lapstone Creek, along what is known as Mitchell's Pass. 2
- 1833: Completion of Lennox Bridge. 2
- 22 March 1834: Completion of Mitchells Pass. 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
- 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 Construction of railway overpass on the Mitchell Hwy at Molong. 3
- 1939: After successful testing of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts, the system was implemented statewide. Also completion of pavement along the Great Western Road. 2
- 1950s: Completion of a ¾ mile section of highway constructed between Linden and Woodford to bypass 2 badly aligned railway bridges, which were the site of several bad crashes. Also the bypassing of the railway level crossing at Katoomba. A 1 mile long deviation and a new overbridge over the railway line to eliminate sharp approaches to the previous bridge. 2
- 1980s: Great Western Hwy widened from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between St Marys and Werrington, and also between Blacktown and Prospect. Also Great Western Highway re-routed away from High St in Penrith after the opening of a pedestrian mall along High St. Also widening works at various locations between Blaxland and Katoomba.
- 31 December 1985: Katoomba Bypass / Bent Street Deviation opened to traffic by Minister for Main Roads Laurie Brereton. 4
- February 1986: Katoomba Bypass / Bent Street Deviation completed. 4
- 1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (M4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.
- 15 December 1993: The westbound carriageway of the Woodford Bends opened to traffic by the then Minister for Main Roads Bruce Baird. 4
- July 2000: New pedestrian bridge constructed on Great Western Hwy at Valley Heights. 5
- July 2000: Four lane upgrade and construction of a pedestrian bridge at railway station on Great Western Hwy at Warrimoo. 5
- February 2001: Parking improvements and construction of a pedestrian bridge at railway station on Great Western Hwy at Blaxland. 5
- June 2001: Four lane upgrade and construction of pedestrian bridge at railway station on Great Western Hwy at Faulconbridge. 5
- 01 September 2001: Faulconbridge widening and upgrade works opened by then Blue Mountains MP Bob Debus. 4
- August 2003: Four lane upgrade with new bridges and pedestrian signals constructed on Great Western Hwy at Linden. 5
- August 2004: Four lane upgrade, two new bridges, new traffic signals on a new alignment bypassing Shell Corner on Great Western Hwy at Katoomba. 5
- June 2005: Four lane upgrade with three improved intersections and new off-road shared pedestrian/cyclist path on Great Western Hwy at Wentworth Falls. 5
- August 2005: Median barrier extended and wider shoulder for cyclists on Great Western Hwy along Lapstone Hill near Glenbrook. 5
- May 2006: Four lane upgrade on Great Western Hwy from Willow Park Avenue, Leura to Bowling Green Avenue, Katoomba. March 2009: Four lane upgrade on Great Western Hwy from Kings Road and Bowling Green Avenue at Katoomba. 5
- August 2008: Works begin on widening Great Western Hwy at Lawson. 6
- 2011: Upgrade and widening works begin on the Great Western Highway Upgrade between Station Street, Woodford and Winbourne Road, Hazelbrook. 7 Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2011.
- 2013: NR32 replaced by A32 route number.
Glenbrook to Katoomba
Start A32:
Western Mwy (M4) as it meets Great Western Hwy (A32) at Glenbrook, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Tourism based distance sign at Glenbrook, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Glenbrook, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Blaxland approaching Hope St and Layton Av, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Warrimoo approaching the Warrimoo shops service road, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Valley Heights approaching Macquarie Rd, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Springwood approaching Macquarie Rd, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Macquarie Road:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A32) and Macquarie Rd at Springwood, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Springwood, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Woodford approaching Station St, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Station Street:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A32) and Station St, Woodford, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Hazelbrook approaching Oaklands Rd, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Bullaburra:
Great Western Hwy (A32) as it enters the town of Bullaburra, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Bullaburra:
Great Western Hwy (A32) as it through the town of Bullaburra, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
AD Sign:
Advance directional sign at Leura approaching Leura Mall (then TD5), July 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Katoomba, approaching Goldsmith Pl and Civic Pl, November 2024.
Image © Paul Rands
Katoomba to Glenbrook
Bathurst Road:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A32) and Bathurst Rd, Katoomba, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (A32) approaching Bathurst Rd at Katoomba, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Parke St, Katoomba, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the Parke St junction, Katoomba, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Woodlands Rd, Katoomba, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Leura Mall interchange in Leura, September 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Leura Mall Interchange:
Great Western Hwy (A32) at the Leura Mall interchange, Leura, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Leura Mall Interchange:
Great Western Hwy (A32) at the Leura Mall interchange, Leura, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Bullaburra:
Great Western Hwy (A32) as it enters the town of Bullaburra, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Bullaburra:
Great Western Hwy (A32) as it through the town of Bullaburra, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Staples Cr, Lawson, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Orient St, Lawson, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Orient Street:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A32) and Orient St, Lawson, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching George St, Springwood, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
George Street:
ID sign with incorrect name at the corner of Great Western Hwy (A32) and George St, Springwood, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing George St, Springwood, October 2017.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Sun Valley, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Ross St, Glenbrook, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
End A32:
End of A32 and the beginning of M4 at Glenbrook, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.
3 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Western Region, Completed Projects, Railway overpass at Molong.
4 Tyler Bullock.
5 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, Completed projects.
6 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Community update, Road activity update - Western NSW, February 2003.
7 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, July 2011.