NSW STATE ROUTE 84
Golden Highway


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

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 Treet is about 35km unsealed but 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.
Distance sign heading east from the junction with Black Stump Way, 8km east of Dunedoo. Note the inclusion of Muswellbrook and Singleton as focal points - this sign pre-dates the proclamation of Golden Highway and just had a nameplate affixed to the top of the sign in 2004. April 2006.
Brand-new 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.
AD sign westbound approaching the junction with Castlereagh Highway near Craboon. State Route 86 joins the Golden Highway for the trip through to Dunedoo, where it splits off onto the Castlereagh Highway to continue its northward journey. Castlereagh Highway itself ends here and recommences on the western side of Dunedoo. April 2006.
AD sign northbound on Castlereagh Highway approaching Golden Highway near Craboon. Note the omission of Coolah (which is shown on State Route 86 signs as far south as Ilford!) for the right turn. Aprill 2006.
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.
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.
Looking west to the level crossing of the Wallerawang-Gwabegar rail line at Dunedoo. April 2006.
Looking south along Golden Highway (Bolaro Street) through Dunedoo. April 2006.
Distance sign on Golden Highway, heading east from the junction with Castlereagh Highway on the western side of Dunedoo. 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.
Fingerboard sign at the junction with Boomley Road, 35km west of Dunedoo. April 2006.
Older black fingerboard signs at the junction with Guerie Road, near Elong Elong. These signs, ommitting the SR84 shield, were replaced with the typical new fingerboard sign as depicted above.
Looking west into the urban area of Dubbo, western terminus of the Golden Highway. Oct 2004.
Distance sign eastbound on Golden Highway leaving Dubbo. Note the retention of Cassilis as a focal point but also the inclusion of Newcastle (probably replacing Muswellbrook) - a bit of an old and new. Oct 2004.
Ugly fingerboard-come-ID-sign with erroneous NR27 shield at the junction with Wheelers Lane, on the outskirts of Dubbo. Oct 2004.
This sign was replaced by the ridiculously-inept sign depicted in the above photo - makes you wonder why they bothered replacing it! Jan 2003.
AD sign eastbound on Golden Highway (Cobbora Rd) approaching Myall Street. No mention of State Route 84 anymore, just the routes that it leads to, as State Route 84 terminates just ahead at the Newell Hwy junction. Oct 2004.
AD sign westbound on Golden Highway (Erskine Street) approaching Newell Highway. This sign probably dates from the 1970s - a NR39 lies beneath the horrible coverplate. Oct 2004.
ID sign assembly (which has since been replaced) at the intersection of Golden Highway (Erskine Street) and Newell Highway (Bourke Street/Erskine Street) in Dubbo. This is the western terminus of both Golden Highway and State Route 84. Oct 2004.
Newell Highway (Bourke St) southbound approaching Golden Highway (Erksine St) in Dubbo. Dec 2006.
AD sign eastbound on Newell Highway (Erskine St) approaching the beginning of Golden Highway in Dubbo. Oct 2004.
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 25 March 2007
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