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)
Mount Druitt to Parramatta
Statistics:
- Length:
- 45 km (Mount Druitt to Parramatta: km)
- Termini:
- Eastern: Victoria Rd (A4 and A40), Rozelle
- Western: Western Mwy (M4) and Leonay Pde, Emu Plains
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Minchinbury, Rooty Hill, Huntingwood, Arndell Park, Blacktown, Prospect, Greystaynes, Girraween, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville, Westmead and Mays Hill
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:
- 1791: A track was cut between Sydney and Parramatta, which was used for official business only, not general travel. 2
- January 1797: Governor Captain John Hunter orders the route be of the track between Sydney and Parramatta to be upgraded. 2
- July 1797: Work begins to widen the track between Sydney and Parramatta to 20 feet wide. 2
- August 1797: Completion of the widening of the track between Sydney and Parramatta. 2
- October 1797: Bridge over Duck River completed. 2
- 10 May 1810: Tolling is introduced along the route between Sydney and Parramatta, and beyond to Windsor. The tolling was introduced to fund road upgrades. 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
- 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 Blacktown and Prospect.
- 2013: State Route 44 replaced by A44.
Mount Druitt to Parramatta
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Kington St, Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Kington Street:
ID sign at the Kington St junction, Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Rooty Hill Rd Sth and Wallgrove Rd at Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Rooty Hill Rd Sth and Wallgrove Rd at Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Rooty Hill Rd Sth and Wallgrove Rd at Rooty Hill for the Westlink (M7) interchange, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Wallgrove Road & Rooty Hill Road South:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the Rooty Hill Rd Sth and Wallgrove Rd junction in Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Wallgrove Road & Rooty Hill Road South:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the Rooty Hill Rd Sth and Wallgrove Rd junction in Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Westlink Interchange:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the interchange with Westlink (M7) at Rooty Hill, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign at Eastern Creek near the former OTC site, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Doonside Rd and Brabham Dr in Eastern Ck, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Doonside Road & Brabham Drive:
Intersection directional sign at the junction with Doonside Rd and Brabham Dr in Eastern Creek, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Doonside Road & Brabham Drive:
Intersection directional sign at the junction with Doonside Rd and Brabham Dr in Eastern Creek, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Reservoir Rd, Blacktown, February 2026. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Reservoir Rd, Blacktown, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reservoir Road:
Corner of Great Western Highway (A44) and Reservoir Road at Blacktown, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Reservoir Road:
Corner of Great Western Highway (A44) and Reservoir Road at Blacktown, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Blacktown, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Flushcombe Road:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A44) and Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Prospect Hwy at Prospect, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Prospect Highway Interchange:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the interchange with Prospect Hwy in Prospect, September 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Department of Main Roads from 1969.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Blacktown Rd and Clunies Ross St, Prospect, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Toongabbie Rd at Prospect, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Toongabbie Road:
Corner of Great Western Hwy (A44) and Toongabbie Rd in Prospect, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Greystanes Rd in Girraween, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Cumberland Hwy (A28) at Wentworthville, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Cumberland Hwy (A28) at Wentworthville, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Cumberland Hwy (A28) at Wentworthville, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Cumberland Highway:
Great Western Hwy (A44) at the intersection with Cumberland Hwy (A28) in Wentworthville, September 2013.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the corner of Great Western Hwy (A44) and O'Connell St, Parramatta, January 2017.
Image © Spenser Tan
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (A44) approaching Marsden St at Parramatta, January 2017.
Image © Spenser Tan
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.