Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway, Parramatta Road, Wattle Street, Dobroyd Parade, City West Link and The Crescent (A44)
Emu Plains to Mount Druitt
Statistics:
- Length:
- 45 km (Emu Plains to Mount Druitt: 17 km)
- Termini:
- Eastern: Victoria Rd (A4 and A40), Rozelle
- Western: Western Mwy (M4) and Leonay Pde, Emu Plains
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Emu Plains, Penrith, Kingswood, Werrington, St Marys, Oxley Park, Colyton and Mt Druitt
Route Numbering:
- Current: A44
- Former: 32 44
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW5
General Information:
A44 is an east-west route that forms a major arterial route in Sydney's western suburbs. it's a mostly multi-lane road, much of which is divided. it's Australia's oldest road built by European settlers.
Since the completion of Western Mwy (M4) the importance of the route has changed, however it's still one of the city's busier routes and services residential, commercial and industrial areas.
History:
- 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
- 1939: After successful testing of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts, the system was implemented statewide. Also the full completion of pavement along the Great Western Road. 2
- 1960s: Great Western Hwy re-routed to its present location at Prospect. 2
- 1980s: Great Western Hwy widened from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between St Marys and Werrington. Also Great Western Highway re-routed away from High St in Penrith after the opening of a pedestrian mall along High St.
- 1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.
- 2013: State Route 44 replaced by A44.
Emu Plains to Mount Druitt
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with the ramps to Western Mwy (M4) and Leonay Pde at Leonay, December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Russell St (A44) at Leonay approaching the northern ramps with the Western Mwy (M4), December 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the Western Mwy (M4) and Leonay Pde interchange at Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the unnumbered section of Great Western Hwy in Emu Plains approaching Russell St (A44) and Great Western Hwy (A44), September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the junction with the unnumbered section of Great Western Hwy, Russell St (A44) and Great Western Hwy (A44) in Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign on Great Western Hwy (A44) at Emu Plains, near Centro shopping centre, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Old Bathurst Rd, Emu Plains, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Mulgoa Rd, Castlereagh Rd and Henry St in Penrith, September 2013. A44 turns left to bypass the Penrith CBD at this intersection.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Mulgoa Rd, Castlereagh Rd and Henry St in Penrith, September 2013. A44 turns left to bypass the Penrith CBD at this intersection.
Image © Paul Rands
Castlereagh Road, Mulgoa Road & Henry Street Junction:
Great Western Hwy (A44) as it negotiates its way through Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Rd and Jane St (A44) in Penrith, September 2013. A44 turns right at this junction.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the unnumbered section of Castlereagh Rd in Penrith approaching Jane St (A44) and the A44 section of Castlereagh Rd, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Castlereagh Rd and Jane St (A44) in Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of North St (A44) and Lawson St, Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (High St) (A44) approaching Parker St (A9) in Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign on Great Western Hwy (High St) (A44) approaching Parker St (A9) in Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Parker Street:
Intersection directional sign on the junction with Parker St, Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Parker Street:
Intersection directional sign on the junction with Parker St, Penrith, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Kingswood, near Nepean Hospital, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Werrington Rd at Werrington, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Queen St and Mamre Rd in St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Queen St and Mamre Rd in St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Queen Street & Mamre Road:
Corner of Queen St and Mamre Rd in St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Queen Street & Mamre Road:
Corner of Queen St and Mamre Rd in St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at St Marys near Magdelaine St, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Glossop St, St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Glossop Street:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the junction with Glossop St in St Marys, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Hewitt St, Colyton, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Mt Druitt, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Mt Druitt approaching Carlisle Av, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Mt Druitt approaching Carlisle Av, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Carlisle Avenue:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A44) and Carlisle Av in Mt Druitt, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Mt Druitt, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Mount Druitt to Emu Plains
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Roper Rd, Colyton, approaching Gt Western Hwy (A44), April 2023.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly facing Roper Rd, Colyton, April 2023.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mamre Rd, St Marys approaching Great Western Hwy (A44) and Queen St, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Mamre Rd at the junction with Great Western Hwy (A44) and Queen St, St Marys, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign near South Creek, St Marys, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Werrington, approaching Werrington Rd and Reserve Rd, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Werrington Road & Reserve Road:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A44), Reserve Rd and Werrington Rd at Werrington, December 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (A44), Penrith, approaching Memorial Av, May 2017.
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.