Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
A32   Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway (A32) - Katoomba to Cobar

Statistics:

Route Numbering:

General Information:

National Route 32 is 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 A32 from Glenbrook in Sydney's west, to its terminus at Bathurst. Great Western Hwy is signposted as A44 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 (M4) 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.

The Mitchell Highway links north-western NSW with Dubbo, Bathurst and eventually Sydney.

The highway starts at Bathurst as A32 and heads west through the Great Dividing Range to Orange then continues north through Molong, Wellington and Dubbo. From Dubbo, the highway follows the Bourke railway line in a north-westerly direction to Nyngan. The highway's route number changes to B71 (after the Barrier Highway junction at Nyngan), and then it continues north-west to Bourke and terminates at the QLD border, just north of Barringun.

The Mitchell Highway is named after Major Thomas Mitchell, who was Surveyor-General of New South Wales in the 1820s and explored much of inland New South Wales and Victoria.

The Barrier Highway is a highway in New South Wales and South Australia.

The Barrier Highway starts at Nyngan where it joins the Mitchell Highway. It heads west to Cobar. It then continues to Wilcannia, then further west it passes through Broken Hill and enters South Australia, turning southwest towards Adelaide. It joins Main North Road at Giles Corner between Riverton and Tarlee. Route A32 continues on Main North Road to Gawler where it joins the Sturt Highway (A20). The area traversed by the Barrier Highway is remote and very sparsely settled.

History:

Katoomba to Cobar   Cobar to Katoomba
Preview: Description:   Preview: Description:
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Great Western Hwy (A32) approaching Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Lewis Street in Cobar, August 2011.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Nyngan approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Mitchell Hwy (B71), November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at Nyngan facing Barrier Hwy (A32) at the junction with Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Mitchell Hwy (B71), November 2016. A32 turns right at this location.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign in Bathurst after the Mid Western Hwy (A41) roundabout, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Entering Nyngan:
Mitchell Hwy (A32) as it enters the town of Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign in Bathurst approaching Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Moonagee St and Pangee St at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign in Bathurst on the Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the junction with Moonagee St and Pangee St in Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) at Shadforth approaching Millthorpe Rd, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Moonagee St at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

RD sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Shadforth after Millthorpe Rd, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Moonagee St in Nyngan, November 2016. A32 turns right at this location.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Dairy Creek Rd, Orange, February 2011.

Image © Paul Rands

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Edward St in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Oxley Hwy (unnumbered, former NR34) and Nevertire-Bogan Rd at Nevertire, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Manildra St at Narromine, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) at West Dubbo approaching Newell Hwy (A39), January 2014.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Banjo Paterson Way in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Banjo Paterson Way in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign as Mitchell Hwy (A32) leaves Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Edward St in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign
ID sign facing the rest area north of Molong, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Edward St (B81) in Molong, June 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign
AD sign approaching the roundabout with Renshaw-McGirr Way and Percy St, Wellington, August 2011.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the roundabout with Mitchell Hwy (A32), Coronation Dr and Woodward St, Orange, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Intersection Directional Sign
ID sign at the roundabout with Renshaw-McGirr Way and Percy St, Wellington, August 2011.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the roundabout with Mitchell Hwy (A32), Coronation Dr and Woodward St, Orange, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Darling St, Dubbo, August 2008.

Image © Richard Wardle

  Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Orange, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly at the junction with Dandaloo St in Narromine, August 2008.

Image © Richard Wardle

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign in Bathurst on the Bradwardine Rd roundabout, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection directonal Sign:
ID sign assembly facing Warren Rd at Narromine, August 2008. 

Image © Richard Wardle

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Mitchell Hwy (A32) approaching Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Great Western Hwy (A32), September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign as you leave Narromine, August 2011. Click here for a photo of this location by Richard Wardle from August 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the roundabout with Great Western Hwy (A32), Brilliant St, Mid Western Hwy (A41) and Mitchell Hwy (A32), September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32), Oxley Hwy and Nevertire-Bogan Rd at Nevertire, August 2011. The B56 route number is in error.

Image © Paul Rands

  Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign in Bathurst after the Mid Western Hwy (A41) roundabout, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Moonagee St in Nyngan, November 2016. A32 turns left at this location.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Durham St, Bathurst, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Pangee St approaching Moonagee and St Mitchell Hwy (A32) at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

  Intersection Directional Sign:
ID signs at the Durham St junction in Bathurst, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Moonagee St approaching Mitchell Hwy (A32) and Pangee St at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Bentinck St, Bathurst, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Nyngan, November 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

  Reassurance Directional Sign:
RD sign at Bathurst, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Kidman Way (B87) in Cobar, August 2011.

Image © Paul Rands

  Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign Gilmour St (TD3), Kelso, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign Littlebourne St (TD1), Kelso, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      rD Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Kelso, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Yetholme Dr and Eusdale Rd at Yetholme, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
RD sign at Wallerawang, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Barton Av in Wallerawang, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
RD sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Wallerawang, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Marrangaroo, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Castlereagh Highway Interchange:
ID sign at the interchange with Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Marrangaroo, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
RD sign at Marrangaroo, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign apprroaching Main St (B59) and Caroline Av in Lithgow, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign apprroaching Main St (B59) and Caroline Av in Lithgow, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Col Drewe Dr at Lithgow, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) passes through South Bowenfels, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) descends River Lett Hill at Hartley, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Jenolan Caves Rd (TD1) and Blackmans Ck Rd in Harley, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) leaves Hartley, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Very Steep Climb:
Very steep climb sign at the base of Victoria Pass, at Hartley, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Station St in Mt Victoria, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

      Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign as Great Western Hwy (A32) passes through Blackheath, September 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Click here for the continuation of A32 between Glenbrook and Katoomba

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads (and unclassified Regional Roads), 25 February 2008
2 Department of Main Roads. The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4
3 Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Western Region, Completed Projects, Railway overpass at Molong.
4 ABC Western Plains, 30 Years Since Wellington Bridge Collapse, 6 January 2019
5
Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, Completed projects.
6 Roads & Traffic Authority, Community update, Road activity update – Western NSW, February 2003.
7 Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, Media Release, Molong overpass construction underway, October 14 2009.
8 Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Great Western Highway, Installation of mid-block pedestrian lights – Great Western Highway, Blackheath, 31 May 2010.
9 Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects approved under Round 2 of the Federal Government's Heavy Vehicle Safety Productivity Program, March 2010.

Last updated: 07-Sep-2020 20:06

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