State Route 83
Golden Highway


Distance sign on Golden Highway, heading west from the junction with Denman Road near Denman. Dec 2006.

In 2013, RMS will be implementing a new alpha-numeric route numbering system. For more information, visit the RMS Website.

Forthcoming alpha-numeric route number:

Length: 311km

Western Terminus: Newell Highway (Erskine St & Bourke St), Dubbo

Eastern Terminus: New England Highway, 12km west of Branxton

Focal Points: Newcastle (remote focal), Maitland, Denman, Merriwa, Dunedoo, Dubbo

RTA Internal Classification: State Highway No. 27

Proclaimed a State Highway: February 1997

Named: February 1997

State Route 84 is the Golden Highway, a very new additional to the New South Wales state highway system. It runs from the New England Highway between Branxton and Singleton to the Newell Highway at Dubbo, passing through Denman, Merriwa and Dunedoo. It is a major access route to the Upper Hunter Valley vineyards, which are centred on the area between Putty Road and Merriwa, as well as carrying an increasing volume of freight destined for the port at Newcastle. Rural traffic volumes peak at about 8,000 vpd near Broke Rd at Mt Thorley and they are at their lowest west of Cassilis (just over 1,000 vpd).

The Golden Highway evolved from a conglomeration of Main Roads into one continuous through route over a period of seventy years. Furthermore, prior to its declaration as a State Highway, the route was focused on joining the New England Highway at Muswellbrook. Mitchell Line Road, which was the former name of the section of Golden Hwy between Putty Rd and New England Hwy, was only declared a Main Road in October 1990.

The completion of sealing works along what is now the Golden Highway was in May 1983, paving the way for its increased use and later declaration as a State Highway. Earlier notable works included a bridge over the Krui River between Merriwa and Cassilis which was completed in May 1935 and a steel truss bridge over the Hunter River at Denman, opened on 17 December 1956. In February 1997, State Highway No. 27 was proclaimed and named "Golden Highway". The major push behind this declaration was the need for a well-defined road communication route between Dubbo and Newcastle, and the subsequent increase of freight going to Newcastle port rather than Sydney or Wollongong. This has been reflected by the use of Dubbo and Newcastle as remote focal points along the length of the highway, and the addition of Dubbo as focal point on reassurance signs heading west from Newcastle port.

The Golden Highway is a decent quality, probably on par with other rural State Highways (excluding those funded by the Commonwealth) however there are some lower standard sections between Dunedoo and Merriwa. This is where the Golden Highway crosses the Great Dividing Range, has the lowest traffic volumes and is also the final section to have been sealed. Work has been undertaken since its proclamation as a State Highway to replace a number of sub-standard bridges, the most notable of which located at Four Mile Creek west of Merriwa.

State Route 84, the Golden Highway's signed route marker, was introduced in 1974. The original route was identical the current route west of Denman however, instead of continuing southeast via Jerrys Plains and Mt Thorley to the New England Highway, State Route 84 turned northeast and followed Deman Road to the New England Highway at Muswellbrook. Upon proclamation of the Golden Highway in February 1997, State Route 84 was re-routed to follow the route of the new highway and thus the length along Denman Rd was decommissioned. Remnants of State Route 84, including the elusive "END SR84 " sign, can still be found at the junction of New England Hwy and Sydney St in Muswellbrook.

Explore Golden Highway:

Explore State Route 84:

Photos of Golden Highway / State Route 84
The first mention of Golden Highway/State Route 84 westbound on New England Highway, 11km west of Branxton. Jan 2007.
New England Highway westbound approaching Golden Highway. Note the 'seagull' setup of the intersection, allowing eastbound Golden Highway traffic to merge with eastbound New England Highway traffic. Jan 2007.
Fingerboard sign on Golden Highway, approximately 50m west of New England Highway, at the rest area entrance. Its unusual that New England Highway isn't mentioned on this sign. Jan 2007.
Diagrammatic AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching the rest area and its eastern terminus at the New England Highway. Jan 2003.
The first westbound distance sign on Golden Highway, heading west from New England Highway. Jan 2007.
Unusual 'Welcome to the Golden Highway' distance sign found scattered along the route, heading west from New England Highway just prior to crossing the Main Northern Railway Line. Jan 2007.
Looking east along Golden Highway near Whittingham. The highway climbs the hill in the distance to meet New England Highway. Jan 2007.
Double-chevron ID sign facing westbound traffic at the junction of Golden Highway and the road normally known as Putty. Well, at least that would explain the removal of the 'Putty Road' name plate that adorned the empty posts. Dec 2006.
Brand-new AD sign southbound on what was formerly known as Putty Road, approaching the junction with Golden Highway east of Mount Thorley. Dec 2006.
Golden Highway eastbound approaching the junction with what was formerly known as Putty Road (possibly now Glenridding Rd?). Note that Golden Hwy traffic must turn-off to stay on the route. Jan 2007.
Unusual AD sign, advising traffic to get in the right lane to stay on Golden Highway, approaching the above junction. Jan 2007.
Broke Road northbound approaching Golden Highway at Mount Thorley. Don't know why this new sign shows Putty Road! Jan 2007.
Golden Highway eastbound approaching the junction with Broke Road, Mount Thorley. Jan 2007.
Golden Highway westbound approaching the junction with Putty Road and Mount Thorley Road at Mount Thorley. Note that Golden Highway traffic again has to turn-off to stay on the route. Jan 2007.
Overhead signage pointing Golden Highway traffic to the right-turn to stay on the route at Mount Thorley. Jan 2007.
Mount Thorley Road westbound approaching the overpass over the Golden Highway/Putty Road junction at Mount Thorley. Note the use of 'Putty Road' as the route name instead of Golden Highway. Jan 2007.
ID sign assembly on the eastbound ramp from Golden Highway to..err...Golden Highway, at Mount Thorley. This is the northern end of Putty Road - I believe the section of SR69 north to Golden Hwy to Singleton has probably reverted to its local name Glenridding Road. Jan 2007.
Diagrammatic AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Putty Road at Mount Thorley. Jan 2007.
Distance sign heading west on Golden Highway from Mount Thorley. Jan 2007.
Old black fingerboard sign on Golden Highway at Gouldsville Road, 3km west of Mount Thorley. This sign was removed in 2002.
Fingerboard sign showing 'Singleton' as the focal point incorrectly (despite the fact I believe Singleton should be a focal point on Golden Highway, it is not) at the junction with the entrance to a Coal & Allied Mine, between Mount Thorley and Warkworth. Jan 2007.
Looking west approaching Warkworth. Dec 2006.
Fingerboard signs at the junction of Golden Highway & Wallaby Scrub Road, Warkworth. Oct 2004.
Old black ID sign facing eastbound traffic at the entrance to Wambo Colliery, Warkworth. Jan 2007.
Looking west across Wollombi Brook at Warkworth. Dec 2006.
Just west of Warworth, the Golden Highway deviates to the south of a coal mine which swallowed the original highway alignment. Dec 2006.
Looking west along the deviation around the coal mine just west of Warkworth. Dec 2006.
Looking east across the Hunter River at Bowmans Crossing, 6km west of Jerrys Plains. Jan 2007.
Looking west between Edderton Road and Denman Road. Dec 2006.
Looking west between Edderton Road and Denman Road. The Golden Highway has many ascents and descents as it crosses the Great Dividing Range from Jerrys Plains to Dunedoo. Dec 2006.
Distance sign heading east from the junction with Denman Road, 4km east of Denman. Note the Singleton doesn't even get a mention on this sign despite being one of the most important Hunter Valley towns. Dec 2006.
Denman Rd westbound approaching Golden Highway. Dec 2006.
Golden Highway looking east towards the junction with Denman Rd. Prior to the proclamation of Golden Highway, State Route 84 continued straight at this intersection to meet the New England Highway at Muswellbrook. Dec 2006.
Distance sign heading west on Golden Highway from the junction with Denman Road. In the background is the 1956 steel truss bridge over the Hunter River. Dec 2006.
A closer view of the steel truss bridge that carries Golden Highway across the Hunter River at Denman. The bridge was built in 1956 to replace two low-level bridges, one on the Denman-Muswellbrook road and the other on the Denman-Jerrys Plains Rd, which were destroyed by floods. Dec 2006.
Golden Highway looking west into Denman. The highway doesn't pass through the town centre, instead turning north and heading towards Merriwa. Dec 2006.
Golden Highway (Palace Street) looking south approaching the junction with Crinoline Street, Denman. Newcastle is on a coverplate over 'Singleton'. Dec 2006.
Fingerboard sign on Golden Highway at the junction with Rosemount Road, 7km west of Denman. Dec 2006.
Looking west across Wybong Creek at Hollydeen. Dec 2006.
Distance sign heading east from the junction with Bylong Valley Way at Sandy Hollow. Note that Muswellbrook doesn't even get a mention on this sign, despite being the largest of the Hunter Valley towns, as well as being shown since Rylstone on Bylong Valley Way. Dec 2006.
Golden Highway north-westbound approaching the junction with Bylong Valley Way. Note that there is no mention Mudgee via Bylong Valley Way, due to there being approximately 35km of unsealed road. Prior to the comprehensive sign replacement program that was undertaken following the proclamation of Golden Highway, Mudgee was consistantly signed via Merriwa, Cassilis and Ulan. Dec 2006.
Fingerboard sign facing Wybong Road (former Main Road No. 208) at Sandy Hollow. It is interesting that, even before the decommissioning of the Muswellbrook-Sandy Hollow section of MR208, Muswellbrook was signed via Denman rather than via the shorter MR208 route. Dec 2006.
Distance sign heading north-west from Bylong Valley Way/Wybong Road. The village of Sandy Hollow is just ahead. Jan 2007.
Looking north-west from Sandy Hollow. Jan 2007.
Badly faded welcome sign to the City of Muswellbrook, looking east 26km west of Denman. This type of sign was installed on most major roads where they crossed local government area boundaries in the Hunter Region during the late 1980s. Jan 2007.
Looking west at the crossing of Halls Creek, 27km west of Denman. The current bridge was constructed in 2003 to replace the old narrow concrete bridge on the left. Jan 2007.
Looking north into the tiny village of Gungal. Jan 2007.
Looking north between Gungal and Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Old black 'M10' kilometre plate, heading north-west towards Merriwa. Most of the Golden Highway is devoid of kilometre plates - those that remain generally date from the 1980s. Jan 2007.
Looking north-west at the crest of another hill-climb, this time approximately 4km from Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Looking north-west into Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Distance sign heading south-east from Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Golden Highway (Bettington Street) looking west towards Vennacher Street (Scone-Merriwa road) in Merriwa. The road from Merriwa to Willow Tree includes about 35km of unsealed road but is well worth the trip for the views from the Liverpool Range. Jan 2007.
Golden Highway (Bettington Street) looking west at Vennacher Street, Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Vennacher Street (Merriwa-Scone road) looking south towards Golden Highway (Bettington St) at Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Distance sign heading west from Merriwa on Golden Highway. The bridge over the Merriwa River is in the background. It is interesting that Cassilis is no included on this sign, given the obvious lack of intermediate focal points. Prior to the proclamation of the Golden Highway, Cassilis was the focal point west of Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Looking east into Merriwa, near Cullingral Road. Jan 2007.
Rare section of lower-standard road, between Merriwa and Ringwood Road. This is what most of the route was like prior to its upgrading to highway status. Jan 2007.
Golden Highway looking west to the junction with Ringwood Road, 8km west of Merriwa. This curve and crest was recently upgraded due to safety issues on the old, narrower alignment. Jan 2007.
Fingerboard sign facing Ringwood Road traffic at the junction with Golden Highway. Ringwood Road itself is signed to Wollar, Bylong and the Goulburn River National Park. Jan 2007.
Looking east as the Golden Highway ascends to meet Ringwood Road, 8km west of Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Looking east approaching the narrow bridge over Bow Creek, 11km west of Merriwa. Note the oversize truck. Jan 2007.
A Hunter Region welcome sign, eastbound 25km west of Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Looking east across the narrow Collaroy Bridge over Krui River, built in 1935, 27km west of Merriwa. Jan 2007.
Looking east towards the junction with Willy Wally Road, 13km east of Cassilis, showing the typical heavily undulating terrain through which the highway passes. Jan 2007.
Looking east to the crossing of Borambil Creek, 6km east of Cassilis. Jan 2007.
New AD sign heading west towards the junction with Cassilis Road, advising traffic bound for Coolah to continue along the Golden Highway. Prior to the proclamation of Golden Highway, Coolah traffic was signed via Cassilis and a 6km section of unsealed road. Jan 2007.
Distance sign heading east from Cassilis Road. Jan 2007.
Looking west to the junction with Cassilis Road. Coolah traffic used to turn right here in the old days. Jan 2007.
Unusually designed double chevron ID sign at the junction with Cassilis Road. I wonder what is under the 'Dunedoo/Dubbo' coverplate. Jan 2007.
Stock grazing by the side of Golden Highway as it approaches the Tim Houlahan Bridge over the Munmurra River, 1km west of Cassilis Road. Jan 2007.
Looking east to the bridge over Four Mile Creek. The approaches on both sides were both reconstructed in recent years under the Federal Government's 'Black Spot' programme. Jan 2007.
Fingerboard sign at the entrance to the Cassilis Park Rest Area, 7km west of Cassilis. Jan 2007.
Reassurance directional sign showing distances to the next rest areas, heading west from Cassilis Park Rest Area. Jan 2007.
Looking west along the long downhill grade towards the junction with Ulan Road, 9km west of Cassilis. Jan 2007.
Looking west to the junction with Ulan Road. Way back near Sandy Hollow I mentioned that Mudgee was signed via Golden Highway, well this is the turnoff you take to get to Mudgee - 201km vs 176km via Wollar/Bylong. Jan 2007.
Golden Highway westbound approaching the junction with Vinegaroy Road, 13km west of Cassilis. Vinegaroy Road (and the remainder of the route into Coolah) is shown on most maps as Warrumbungles Way however signage does not show that name. Jan 2007.
ID sign at the junction of Golden Highway & Vinegaroy Road. Jan 2007.
Looking east at the junction of Golden Highway & Vinegaroy Road, 13km west of Cassilis/51km east of Dunedoo. Note the brown fingerboard sign has faded quite badly after being exposed to the northwestern sky.
Photo taken: January 2011.
Typical late 1990s Golden Highway RD sign westbound after the junction with Vinegaroy Road, 51km east of Dunedoo. You can just see a road branching off to the right - that road was part of the minor rural road which served the Uarbry area before construction of the present Cassilis-Dunedoo connection in the early 1970s.
Photo taken: January 2011.
Golden Highway looking east across Sawpit Gully, 50km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway crosses the Great Dividing Range east of Uarbry and this sign marks the spot just east of Stotts Road, 47km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Golden Highway & Tongy Lane, 43km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east across the Talbragar River and flood plain at Uarbry, 41km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east, 39km east of Dunedoo, showing some old white-painted guard rail which is showing its age.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Between Dunedoo and Uarbry the Golden Highway passes through fertile agricultural lands along the Talbragar River. This view is looking east approximately 37km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east across the Denis McGrath Bridge over Cainbil Creek, 31km east of Dunedoo. This bridge was constructed to replace a low-level, single lane floodway as part of the construction of a high-quality sealed road between Cassilis and Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east across Back Creek, 28km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.

An unusual rock formation called 'The Ivy Rock' on the northern side of the highway at Moreton Bay Flat, approximately 24km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east at the junction with Merotherie Road, a minor rural road which heads south to Gulgong, 22km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east approximately 20km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east approximately 17km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Now-superseded style of rest area RD sign, eastbound on Golden Highway near the Black Stump Way junction, 11km east of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
RD sign eastbound on Golden Highway at the junction with Black Stump Way, with the new-style rest area RD sign in the background. This sign is an older design pre-dating the proclamation of the Golden Highway which is why it includes Muswellbrook and Singleton - two focal points which are not shown on newer signs on this highway. Amusingly, the 'M95' kilometre plate is located just behind the RD sign which says that Merriwa is 93km away.
Photo taken: September 2011.
ID sign installed in 2004 at the junction with Black Stump Way. Thumbs up for the inclusion of Gulgong (the focal point southbound on Black Stump Way) but notice the ommission of the remote focal points (i.e. Newcastle & Dubbo) to make yet another signposting inconsistency. April 2006.
Non-standrd RD sign showing distances to the next two 'Rest Stops' along Golden Highway - normally symbols are used rather than text to denote rest areas. April 2006.
AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Black Stump Way. April 2006.

Older and new AD signs westbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Castlereagh Highway at Craboon. The older sign had the correct route markers, correct focal points and was alpha-numeric-ready so I am not sure why it was replaced with the incorrect sign shown below! The new sign omits SR86 which, of course, should be shown for the through movement.
Top photo: April 2006.
Bottom photo: September 2011.
Three generations of AD signs northbound on Castlereagh Highway approaching the junction with Golden Highway at Craboon. The top photo shows a terrible, non-standard diagrammatic sign missing a SR84 shield for the left turn. The middle photo shows the sign which replaced it and which corrected the route marker situation but omitted Coolah! The bottom photo shows the most recent AD sign which now screws up the route marker situation again and still omits Coolah! I find it difficult to understand how the RTA keeps managing to screw this sign up - you wouldn't know that SR86 turns left here based on this sign.
Top photo: January 2003.
Middle photo: April 2006.
Bottom photo: September 2011.

Older and new ID and fingerboard signs at the junction of Castlereagh Highway & Golden Highway, Craboon. On both occassions, Mendooran and Coolah appear on signs at this junction but not on the AD signs shown above.
Top photo: April 2006.
Bottom photo: September 2011.

Older and new AD signs eastbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Castlereagh Highway at Craboon. Whilst the RTA haven't managed to screw up this new sign, I am still wondering why it was necessary or desirable to replace the sign and omit Newcastle and Mudgee as focal points.
Top photo: April 2006.
Bottom photo: September 2011.
Distance sign heading west on Golden Highway from the junction with Castlereagh Highway. Note that unusual use of 'Castlereagh Highway JCN' as a focal point - and the use of 'JCN' as opposed to 'JCT' as normally used in NSW. April 2006.
Golden Highway (SR84/SR86) looking east from the tiny hamlet of Craboon towards the Castlereagh Highway junction and the bridges over the Talbragar River.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway (SR84/SR86) looking east from the tiny hamlet of Craboon towards the Castlereagh Highway junction and the bridges over the Talbragar River.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign at the intersection of Golden Highway & Digilah Road, on the eastern outskirts of Dunedoo. This sign was obviously put together without too much thought - no focal points for SR86! Oh well, at least they included the shields...April 2006.
Distance sign heading east from Dunedoo. Note the missing SR86 shield - another new RTA sign with a new error!
Photo taken: April 2006.
Looking west to the level crossing of the Wallerawang-Gwabegar rail line at Dunedoo. April 2006.
ID signs at the junction of Golden Highway (Bolaro Street) & Wargundy Street, Dunedoo. Note the older sign on top correctly shows the SR84/SR86 duplex but doesn't mention Mendooran. The newer, alpha-numeric-ready sign on the bottom correctly shows the two focal points but doesn't include the SR86 shield!
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west along Golden Highway (Bolaro Street) through Dunedoo town centre.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west along Golden Highway (Bolaro Street) through Dunedoo town centre.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Distance sign on Golden Highway, heading east from the junction with Castlereagh Highway on the western side of Dunedoo. April 2006.
AD sign westbound on Golden Highway (Bolaro St) approaching the Castlereagh Hwy junction. This is the western end of the SR84/86 duplex.
Photo taken: April 2006.
ID sign assembly at the junction of Golden & Castlereagh Highways. Note the unusual use of a sub-sign to include SR86/Gulgong. April 2006.
AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Castlereagh Hwy at Dunedoo. April 2006.
Distance sign heading east from Dunedoo on Golden Highway. The SR84 shield is on a coverplate covering an erroneous SR86 shield. April 2006.
Golden Highway looking east towards the bridge over Limestone Creek, 5km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east, 6.5km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east at the bridge over Tucklan Creek, 10km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the junction of Golden Highway & Merotherie Street, Cobbora. Cobbora was once considered to be the major town in the district but its role was taken by Dunedoo after construction of the Gwabegar branch railway line. Now it is nothing more than a couple of houses just off the Golden Highway.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking nortyh near Isbester Creek, approximately 19km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the junction of Golden Highway & Spring Ridge Road, 20km west of Dunedoo. This sign assembly is typical of the comprehensive re-signing undertaken after the highway was proclaimed in 1997.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east through the forested road reserve between Sandy Creek and Spring Ridge Road, approximately 22km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Signage welcoming eastbound traffic into Warrumbungle Shire just east of the LGA boundary at Sandy Creek, 23km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east towards the high-level bridge over Sandy Creek which was constructed in the 1970s. Note the white-painted guard railing which is showing its age with the exposed rust.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east towards Sweeneys Lane at the locality of Medway, 27km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.

The top photo shows a set of older black fingerboard signs that were located at the junction with Main Road No.353, near Elong Elong. These signs, incorrectly omitting the SR84 shield, were replaced with the typical new fingerboard sign as shown in the bottom photo. The crossing of Four Mile Creek can also be seen in the bottom photo.
Top photo: January 2003.
Bottom photo: September 2011.
ID and fingerboard signs at the junction of Golden Highway & Boomley Road, 25km west of Dunedoo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking west through the village of Elong Elong. The highway passes between the shops and residences (on the left) and the railway facilities (on the right).
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the junction of Golden Highway & Elong Road, Elong Elong. Note the unusual focal point - 'Wellington Rd' refers to the junction with Main Road No. 353.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Non-standard rest area RD sign westbound on Golden Highway as you leave Elong Elong.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east alongside the Dubbo-Merrygoen railway line between Muronbong and Elong Elong.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east across the bridge over Spicers Creek, 50km west of Dunedoo. This bridge was constructed as part of a lengthy deviation which bypassed two level crossings, two open creek crossings and a long length of substandard road through Muronbong.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Dodgy AD sign westbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Muronbong Road at Muronbong. I'm not sure why this sign survived being replaced when practically all other signs were replaced.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Standard 1990s style AD sign on Muronbong Road approaching the junction with Golden Highway at Muronbong. Muronbong Road forms part fo the direct route between Dubbo and Mudgee and thus attracts a fair amount of traffic for a local road.
Photo taken: September 2011.

Fingerboard signs at the junction of Golden Highway & Muronbong Road, Muronbong. Note the dodgy shields - there's something not quite right with their shape.
Photos taken: September 2011.
Another dodgy AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching Muronbong Road at Muronbong.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east towards the grain silos at Muronbong. The intersection with Muronbong Road is located at the trees in the distance.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east through a winding and undulating section of the Golden Highway between Ballimore and Muronbong.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Brand new, alpha-numeric-ready AD sign approaching the junction with Ballimore Road at Ballimore, which is located beyond the bridge over Ballimore Creek.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the junction of Golden Highway & Federation Street at the western end of Ballimore. I suspect that the Dubbo-Dunedoo main road (No. 206) once crossed the railway twice to pass through the village.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Brand new, alpha-numeric ready AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway approaching Federation Street, Ballimore.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west across the bridge over Mitchells Creek, 27km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Fingerboard sign assembly at the junction of Golden Highway & Barbigal Road, 26km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east through a curving section of the highway at Barbigal, 25km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking east from the bridge over Plain Creek towards the level crossing of the Dubbo-Merrygoen railway line, 21km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west across the high level bridge over Plain Creek, 21km east of Dubbo. The remains of the former floodway can be seen to the right.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Unusual sign warning of water on the road, eastbound on Golden Highway between Beni and Plain Creek, approximately 17km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east towards the junction with Beni Road, 75km west of Dunedoo/14km east of Dubbo.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west at the level crossing of the Dubbo-Merrygoen railway line at Beni. This crossing and the intersection with Boothenba Road on the right is to be realigned in the 2011/12 financial year.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east towards the junction with Old Mendooran Road, 12km east of Dubbo. Old Mendooran Road crosses the Talbragar River via a low-level floodway before joining the current Brocklehurst-Mendooran Road.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east through the green fields between the edge of Dubbo and Beni.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Another easterly view of the Golden Highway through beautiful green fields, from near the edge of the Dubbo urban area. The intersection in the middle distance is Durraween Road.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west into the urban area of Dubbo, western terminus of the Golden Highway. Oct 2004.

Old and new RD signs eastbound on Golden Highway near the junction with Merrilea Road on the eastern outskirts of Dubbo. Note the change in focal points.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Prior to 2008/09, Wheelers Lane junctioned with the Golden Highway as a typical 3-way priority control junction. The top photo shows the old black fingerboard sign which was replaced with the terrible sign assembly shown in the bottom photo. Fortunately this abortion of a sign didn't last long as in 2008/09 Dubbo City Council rebuilt the junction as part of a scheme to link Wheelers Lane with Yarrandale Road and these signs were replaced with those shown below.
Top photo: January 2003.
Bottom photo: October 2004.
Alpha-numeric-ready AD sign westbound on Golden Highway (Cobbora Road) approaching the junction with Wheelers Lane & Yarrandale Road. Note the use of the stack style AD sign - the diagrammatic roundabout AD signs are being phased out.
Photo taken: September 2011.
AD sign northbound on Wheelers Lane approaching the junction with Golden Highway.
Photo taken: September 2011.
ID sign assembly facing westbound traffic at the junction of Golden Highway, Wheelers Lane & Yarrandale Road.
Photo taken: September 2011.
AD sign westbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Wheelers Lane & Yarrandale Road.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Golden Highway looking east at Barden Avenue. The traffic signals serve Tony McGrane Place which is the old alignment of Yarrandale Road, prior to its deviation to meet Wheelers Lane. It now provides access to Lourdes Hospital, Charles Sturt University and Dubbo College Senior Campus without interference from heavy vehicles.
Photo taken: September 2011.
AD sign westbound on Golden Highway approaching the junction with Myall Street. A good design effort, although the sign should say 'To Newell Highway' and the NH39 route marker is non-standard.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west towards the level crossing of the Dubbo-Coonamble branch railway line.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Looking west approaching the junction with Fitzroy Street near Dubbo CBD. Note the warning sign for the level crossing on Fitzroy Street.
Photo taken: September 2011.
Brand new, alpha-numeric-ready, RD sign eastbound on Golden Highway (Erskine Street) approaching the junction with Fitzroy Street.
Photo taken: September 2011.

Old and new AD signs westbound on Golden Highway (Erskine Street) approaching the junction with Newell Highway (Bourke Street), Dubbo. The old sign had the NH39 coverplate on top of a NR39 shield and was quite old. I love the old road name without a patch.
Top photo: October 2004.
Bottom photo: September 2011.

Old and new ID sign assemblies at the junction of Newell Highway & Golden Highway, Dubbo. Note there's much less clutter in the new sign assembly although the amount of information provided has been reduced.
Top photo: October 2004.
Bottom photo: September 2011.
Newell Highway (Bourke St) southbound approaching Golden Highway (Erksine St) in Dubbo. Dec 2006.

Old and new AD signs eastbound on Newell Highway approaching the junction with Golden Highway. I hope a truck isn't parked in front of that sign when you are looking for the left turn!
Top photo: October 2004.
Bottom photo: September 2011.
State Route 84 used to get a mention from the junction of Newell & Mitchell Highways, probably an anachronism from the relocation of Newell Highway around Dubbo's CBD. This sign was westbound on Mitchell Highway approaching Newell Highway. Oct 2004.
Unconventional assembly of AD signs facing eastbound traffic at the junction of Newell & Mitchell Highways, Dubbo. I believe this sign assembly has been replaced as part of a rationalisation of signage on Newell Hwy through Dubbo. Oct 2004.
AD sign northbound on Newell Highway approaching Mitchell Highway. This was the first mention of SR84 heading north on Newell Hwy until the sign's replacement with one excluding both SR84 and Dunedoo. Oct 2004.

Last updated 11 December 2012
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