Length:

1147 km (Glenbrook to Emu Plains: 2 km)

Termini:

Eastern: NSW-SA Border, Cockburn

Western: Western Mwy (Metroad 4) and Governors Dr (unnumbered), Glenbrook

Miscellaneous:

Continued as A32 (Barrier Hwy) in South Australia

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Glenbrook and Emu Plains

Current: None

Former: 32

General Information:

National Route 32 was 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 National Route 32 from Glenbrook in Sydney's west, to its terminus at Bathurst. Great Western Hwy is signposted as SR44 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 terminated at Emu Plains with the closure of the Knapsack Gully Viaduct. An extension to the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) 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.

May 1813: Successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth and Lieutenant William Lawson. ¹

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. ¹

14 January 1815: Completion of a 12 feet wide 101 mile track to Bathurst. ¹

1832: Construction begins on Lennox Bridge, over Lapstone Creek, along what is known as Mitchell's Pass. ¹

1833: Completion of Lennox Bridge. ¹

22 March 1834: Completion of Mitchells Pass. ¹

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. ¹

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. ¹

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. ¹

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.¹

1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.

This page concentrates on the former alignment between Glenbrook and Emu Plains

Glenbrook to Emu Plains

Eastbound at Emu Plains:

Looking towards Emu Plains near Grey Street, April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Eastbound at Emu Plains:

Looking towards Emu Plains near Brougham Street, April 2006. This area was once striped with 2 lanes in each direction.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Eastbound AD sign approaching the corner of the Great Western Hwy (SR44 (former NR32)) & Russell St (SR44) at Emu Plains, April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands