Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway (National Route 32) - South Australia Border to Nyngan

Statistics:

• Length: 1146 km (SA Border to Nyngan: 636 km)
• Western Terminus: NSW-SA Border at Cockburn
• Eastern Terminus: Western Fwy (Metroad 4) and Governors Dr at Glenbrook
• Miscellaneous: Continues as A32 (Barrier Hwy) in South Australia
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Nyngan, Cobar, Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Cockburn

Route Numbering:

• Current:   
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW8 (Nyngan to South Australia) 1
• Forthcoming Alphanumeric:  

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.

• Barrier Highway:

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:

• 1953: Reconstruction program commences of the Barrier Hwy. 2
• 1970s: Bitumous sealing of the Barrier Highway completed. 2

SA Border to Nyngan			Nyngan to SA Border
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	State Welcome Sign: NSW border signage at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver			Timezone Sign: Sign east of Broken Hill indicating a change in time zone, March 2006. Because Broken Hill primarily does business with South Australia, the town operates on South Australian time. Image © Richard Wardle
	NSW Load Limits Sign: Load limits sign as you cross the NSW-SA border at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver			Entering Cockburn: Local council sign welcoming visitors to Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver
	Distance Sign: RD sign eastbound at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver			NSW-SA Border: Old wooden border crossing sign at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign as Barrier Hwy (NR32) leaves Broken Hill, March 2006. Image © Richard Wardle
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly facing the Florida Rest Area at Canbelego, March 2006. Image © Richard Wardle
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Barrier Hwy (NR32) at Nyngan approaching Mitchell Hwy (NR71 & NR32), March 2006. NR32 turns right at this junction. Image © Richard Wardle
Click here for the continuation of NR32 between Nyngan and Dubbo Click here for the continuation of Barrier Highway as A32 within South Australia

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