Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway and Barrier Highway (A32)
Katoomba to Cobar
Statistics:
- Length:
- 1146 km (Katoomba to Cobar: 586 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:
- Medlow Bath, Blackheath, Mt Victoria, Hartley, Bowenfels, Lithgow, Marrangaroo, Mt Lambie, Meadow Flat, Yetholme, Glanmire, Raglan, Kelso, Bathurst, Dunkeld, Vittoria, Guyong, Lucknow, Orange, Molong, Wellington, Geurie, Wongarbon, Dubbo, Narromine, Trangie, Nevertire, Nyngan and Cobar.
Route Numbering:
- Current: A32
- Former: 32
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW5 (Glenbrook to Bathurst)
- HW7 (Bathurst to Nyngan)
- HW8 (Nyngan to South Australia)
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.
The Mitchell Highway links north-western NSW with Dubbo, Bathurst and eventually Sydney.
The highway starts at Bathurst as A32 and heads west through the Great Dividing Range to Orange then continues north through Molong, Wellington and Dubbo. From Dubbo, the highway follows the Bourke railway line in a north-westerly direction to Nyngan. The highway's route number changes to B71 (after the Barrier Highway junction at Nyngan), and then it continues north-west to Bourke and terminates at the QLD border, just north of Barringun.
The Mitchell Highway is named after Major Thomas Mitchell, who was Surveyor-General of New South Wales in the 1820s and explored much of inland New South Wales and Victoria.
The Barrier Highway is a highway in New South Wales and South Australia.
The Barrier Highway starts at Nyngan where it joins the Mitchell Highway. It heads west to Cobar. It then continues to Wilcannia, then further west it passes through Broken Hill and enters South Australia, turning southwest towards Adelaide. It joins Main North Road at Giles Corner between Riverton and Tarlee. Route A32 continues on Main North Road to Gawler where it joins the Sturt Highway (A20). The area traversed by the Barrier Highway is remote and very sparsely settled.
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
- 7 November 1814: Construction of mountain pass at Mt York. 2
- 6 December 1814: Work begins on 1 bridge over the Lett River and another over the Cox River. the were completed in 6 days. 2
- 15 December 1814: Completion of the mountain pass at Mt York. 2
- 14 January 1815: Completion of a 12 feet wide 101 mile track to Bathurst. 2
- 1829: Work begins on Victoria Pass. 2
- 23 October 1832: Victoria Pass is opened by Governor Bourke. 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
- 1896: Western Road extended to reach Warren, now located on Oxley 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
- 1932: Construction of the Cox's River Deviation. 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. 44% or 120 miles of Mitchell Hwy paved with bitumen surface. 2
- 1950s: The Forty Bends section of the highway near Lithgow was eliminated. 2
- 1953: Reconstruction program commences of the Barrier Hwy. 2
- 1960: Dust-free road surface completed along Mitchell Hwy between Bathurst and Dubbo. 2
- 26 September 1969: Opening of the 2013 feet long 28 span prestressed concrete bridge over the Macquarie River at Dubbo. At the time it was the fourth longest bridge in the state. 2
- 1970s: Bituminous sealing of the Barrier Highway completed. 2
- 6 November 1972: Completion of bituminous sealing along Mitchell Highway. 2
- 6 January 1989: Bridge over Macquarie River at Wellington collapsed into the river after a collision on the bridge involving a truck carrying heavy excavation equipment. 4
- 20 September 1991: Evans Bridge over Macquarie River in Bathurst opened to traffic by then NSW MP Don Page. 5
- December 1991: New bridge over Macquarie River at Wellington opened to traffic. 4
- June 2002: Improved alignment and overtaking lane constructed on Great Western Hwy at Soldiers Pinch at Mount Victoria. 6
- 2003: Two overtaking lanes built on the Mitchell Highway between Dubbo and Wellington. Reconstruction and widening of the highway including intersection improvements at the Milthorpe Road intersection at Vittoria. Reconstruction and widening of the highway including sealing road shoulders and line marking at Narromine. 11 km of widening works 70 km west of Cobar on Barrier Hwy. 7
- December 2003: Improved alignment, replacement bridge and new signalised intersection on Great Western Hwy at Medlow Bath. 6
- October 2009: Construction begins on replacement bridge over the railway line on the Mitchell Hwy at Molong. 8
- 8 June 2010: Installation begins of pedestrian signals on Great Western Hwy at Blackheath. 9
- 2011: Rest area upgrades on the Mitchell Hwy at Gamboola, Two Mile Creek, Larras Lee and Nevertire. 10
- 2013: NR32 replaced by A32 route number.
Katoomba to Cobar
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (A32) approaching Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign in Bathurst after the Mid Western Hwy (A41) roundabout, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign in Bathurst approaching Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign in Bathurst on the Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) at Shadforth approaching Millthorpe Rd, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
RD sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Shadforth after Millthorpe Rd, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Dairy Creek Rd, Orange, February 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Edward St in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Banjo Paterson Way in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign as Mitchell Hwy (A32) leaves Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign
ID sign facing the rest area north of Molong, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching the roundabout with Renshaw-McGirr Way and Percy St, Wellington, August 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign
ID sign at the roundabout with Renshaw-McGirr Way and Percy St, Wellington, August 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Darling St, Dubbo, August 2008.
Image © Richard Wardle
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly at the junction with Dandaloo St in Narromine, August 2008.
Image © Richard Wardle
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly facing Warren Rd at Narromine, August 2008.
Image © Richard Wardle
Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign as you leave Narromine, August 2011. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Richard Wardle from August 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32), Oxley Hwy and Nevertire-Bogan Rd at Nevertire, August 2011. The B56 route number is in error.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Moonagee St in Nyngan, November 2016. A32 turns left at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Pangee St approaching Moonagee and St Mitchell Hwy (A32) at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Moonagee St approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Pangee St at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Kidman Way (B87) in Cobar, August 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Cobar to Katoomba
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Lewis Street in Cobar, August 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Nyngan approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Mitchell Hwy (B71), November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at Nyngan facing Barrier Hwy (A32) at the junction with Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Mitchell Hwy (B71), November 2016. A32 turns right at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Nyngan:
Mitchell Hwy (A32) as it enters the town of Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Moonagee St and Pangee St at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the junction with Moonagee St and Pangee St in Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Moonagee St at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Moonagee St in Nyngan, November 2016. A32 turns right at this location.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Nyngan, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Oxley Hwy (unnumbered, former NR34) and Nevertire-Bogan Rd at Nevertire, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Manildra St at Narromine, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) at West Dubbo approaching Newell Hwy (A39), January 2014.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Banjo Paterson Way in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Edward St in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the roundabout with Mitchell Hwy (A32), Coronation Dr and Woodward St, Orange, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the roundabout with Mitchell Hwy (A32), Coronation Dr and Woodward St, Orange, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Orange, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign in Bathurst on the Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Great Western Hwy (A32), September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign in Bathurst after the Mid Western Hwy (A41) roundabout, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Durham St, Bathurst, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID signs at the Durham St junction in Bathurst, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Bentinck St, Bathurst, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign at Bathurst, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign Gilmour St (TD3), Kelso, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign Littlebourne St (TD1), Kelso, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
RD Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Kelso, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Yetholme Dr and Eusdale Rd at Yetholme, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Wallerawang, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Barton Av in Wallerawang, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Wallerawang, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Marrangaroo, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Castlereagh Highway Interchange:
ID sign at the interchange with Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Marrangaroo, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Marrangaroo, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Main St (B59) and Caroline Av in Lithgow, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign approaching Main St (B59) and Caroline Av in Lithgow, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Col Drewe Dr at Lithgow, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) passes through South Bowenfels, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) descends River Lett Hill at Hartley, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Jenolan Caves Rd (TD1) and Blackmans Ck Rd in Harley, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Hartley, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Very Steep Climb:
Very steep climb sign at the base of Victoria Pass, at Hartley, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Station St in Mt Victoria, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) passes through Blackheath, 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 ABC Western Plains, 30 Years Since Wellington Bridge Collapse, 6 January 2019.
5 Tyler Bullock.
6 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, Completed projects.
7 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Community update, Road activity update - Western NSW, February 2003.
8 Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, Media Release, Molong overpass construction underway, October 14 2009.
9 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, Installation of mid-block pedestrian lights - Great Western Highway, Blackheath, 31 May 2010.
10 NSW Government, Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects approved under Round 2 of the Federal Government's Heavy Vehicle Safety Productivity Program, March 2010.