Length:

45 km (Melbourne Airport to Sunbury: 22 km)

Termini:

Northern: Calder Fwy (M79) and Napier St, Sunbury

Southern: West Gate Fwy (M1), Port Melbourne

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Melbourne Airport, Bulla and Sunbury

Current: C706 C707 C743

Former: 43

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

5821 (Melbourne Airport to Sunbury)

5825 (Sunbury town centre to Calder Fwy)

5826 (Sunbury)

General Information:

Metropolitan Route 43 was located in the western and inner western suburbs of Melbourne and connected the Melbourne CBD with Melbourne Airport in the city's northwest. It included a full freeway route and partially tolled, using passes and e-tags, from Port Melbourne to Pascoe Vale South.

The early incarnation of the Tullamarine Fwy prior to 1970 was Lancefield Road, skirting the western edge of Essendon Airport. ¹

MR43 originally extended up Sunbury Rd to Sunbury, through the town to Gap Rd, terminating at the Calder Fwy. ²

1989: Introduction of State Route 43. ³

1999: State Route 43 between Sunbury and Melbourne Airport renumbered to C706, C707 and C743 as part of the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme. ³ This change caused State Route 43 to remain only in the metropolitan area.

Sunbury to Melbourne Airport

Trailblazer:

State Route 43 trailblazer on Ridell Rd approaching Horne St (now C706) and Macedon St (now C743), Sunbury, September 2025.

Image © Paul Rands

Click or tap here for the continuation of Metropolitan Route 43 between Essendon North and Melbourne Airport