Length:

565 km (NSW Border to Ouyen: 123 km)

Termini:

Northern: NSW Border, Yelta.

Southern: Tullamarine Fwy (M2), Airport West

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Calder Hwy (unnumbered) in NSW, and meets Silver City Hwy (B79) in Curlwaa. B79 in NSW terminates at Sturt Hwy (A20), Buronga. Presumably, the B79 routing allows through traffic to avoid using the single-lane Abbotsford Bridge over the Murray River.

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Yelta, Merbein, Mildura, Red Cliffs and Ouyen

Current: M79 A79

Multiplexed with: A20

Former: 79

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

6530 (NSW Border to Ravenswood)

General Information:

The M79 / A79 corridor is a major route in Victoria's road system, and consists of urban arterial, undivided rural highway, divided highway and freeway conditions. The Calder Highway and Freeway form a strategic link in Victoria's road network and carries a high volume of commuter, freight, business and tourist traffic between Melbourne, Bendigo and Mildura. ²

A20, for 3 km, Mildura.

1925: North Western Highway (which later became Calder Highway) declared. ²

1928: North Western Highway renamed Calder Highway. ²

1997: Conversion from NR79 to M79 / A79 as part of VicRoads alphanumeric route numbering scheme.

Ouyen to New South Wales Border

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on the outskirts of Mildura, January 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign leaving Mildura, 2004.

Image © Jamie Scuglia

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional sign approaching Commercial St (C256) at Merbein, January 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

New South Wales Border to Ouyen

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Yelta just after the NSW Border, 2004.

Image © Jamie Scuglia

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on the outskirts of Mildura, April 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Jamie Scuglia from 2004.

Image © Ed Huang

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Calder Hwy (A79) (Seventeenth St), approaching the roundabout with Calder Hwy (A79 / A20), Sturt Hwy (A20) and Seventeenth St (unnumbered), Mildura, April 2025.

Image © Ed Huang

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Sturt Hwy (A20) and Fifteenth St at Mildura, January 2004. The A20 duplex ends at this intersection and A79 turns right at this location.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Trailblazer Assembly:

Old trailblazer assembly on Fifteenth St (unnumbered) approaching the roundabout with Calder Hwy (A79 / A20 and A79) and Sturt Hwy (A20 / A79 and A20). The directional panel for A20 is incorrect and should consist of a vertical 90° arrow and right-pointing horizontal 90° arrow. April 2025.

Image © Ed Huang

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign in the Mildura town centre, April 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Jamie Scuglia from 2004.

Image © Ed Huang

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Red Cliffs, 2004.

Image © Jamie Scuglia

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Calder Hwy (A79) at approaching Mallee Hwy (B12), Ouyen, 2004.

Image © Jamie Scuglia

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Calder Hwy (A79) at approaching Sunraysia Hwy (B220), Ouyen, 2004.

Image © Jamie Scuglia