Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Mid Western Hwy

Mid Western Highway

The Mid Western Highway connects the western Riverina in New South Wales with Bathurst & Sydney while also forming a section of the Adelaide-Brisbane corridor. Starting in the Riverina town of Hay, the highway heads north-east through the Hay Plains to reach the service town of Goolgowi before reaching the Cocoparra Ranges which bring a much needed change in scenery. Continuing east, the highway enters more hospitable countryside, passing through the small towns of Rankins Springs and Weethalle before reaching West Wyalong. From West Wyalong, the Mid Western Hwy joins with the Newell Highway for approximately 30km before branching eastwards through cattle and sheep farming countryside, through the historic town of Grenfell and further east, Cowra. The road then slowly climbs up into the Great Dividing Range passing through Blayney before concluding at the important regional centre of Bathurst. Continuing east to Sydney from Bathurst, motorists will now need to follow the Great Western Highway.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The Mid Western Highway is given its name as it passes through central western New South Wales.
Start: Cobb Highway (Hay)
Principal Towns: Hay, Goolgowi, West Wyalong, Grenfell, Cowra, Blayney, Bathurst
Finish: Mitchell Hwy/Great Western Hwy junction (Bathurst)
Length: 516km
Road Standard: All bitumen
Road Quality: Fairly average and at times narrow for most of its length which is surprising as part of it forms a key section of the Adelaide-Brisbane journey. Road passes through very flat and remote country from Hay to West Wyalong. The highway quality generally improves between Cowra and Bathurst due to increased traffic and despite being more windy, several overtaking lanes are already in place.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 110km/hr Hay-Rankins Springs, Rankins Springs-Bathurst 100km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Sturt Highway, Click for the Cobb Highway, Click for the Great Western Highway.

Photos from the Mid Western Highway (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Heading east along the Sturt Hwy approaching the Mid Western/Cobb Hwy roundabout, South Hay (2004).

Distance sign, heading north along the Cobb/Mid Western Hwy, South Hay (2006).

First distance sign, heading north-east from Hay (2004).

The Mid Western Highway, heading north-east across the Hay Plains between Hay and Goolgowi (2004).

Distance sign upon leaving Goolgowi on the Mid Western Hwy (2000).

Approaching the Kidman Way roundabout on the Mid Western Highway at Goolgowi (2004).

Distance sign, heading north-east between Goolgowi and Rankins Springs (2004).

Directional sign, heading north on the Mid Western Highway at Rankins Springs (2004).

Distance sign, heading west on the Mid Western Highway from West Wyalong (2004).

Approaching the Newell Highway junction and West Wyalong on the Mid Western Highway (2004).

Heading east on the Mid Western/Newell Highways approaching the Temora turnoff, Wyalong (2004).

Distance sign, heading east on the Mid Western/Newell Highways from Wyalong (2004).

Heading west on the Mid Western Hwy as it departs Cowra (2002).

Heading north along the Olympic Hwy as it approaches the Mid Western Hwy, Cowra (2006).

On the Mid Western Hwy, heading east from Cowra - note the incorrect Hwy 24 shield (2002).

Heading north-east along the Mid Western Hwy as it passes through the small town of Lyndhurst (2006).

Distance sign, heading north-east on the Mid Western Hwy from Blayney (2006).

Distance sign, heading south-west from Bathurst. Note the A41 route number which will become current once the new system is fully implemented across NSW (2006).

Heading south-east along Brilliant St in Bathurst as it approaches the start of the Mid Western Hwy - note the use of the A41 again (2006).

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	Heading east along the Sturt Hwy approaching the Mid Western/Cobb Hwy roundabout, South Hay (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north along the Cobb/Mid Western Hwy, South Hay (2006).
	First distance sign, heading north-east from Hay (2004).
	The Mid Western Highway, heading north-east across the Hay Plains between Hay and Goolgowi (2004).
	Distance sign upon leaving Goolgowi on the Mid Western Hwy (2000).
	Approaching the Kidman Way roundabout on the Mid Western Highway at Goolgowi (2004).
	Distance sign, heading north-east between Goolgowi and Rankins Springs (2004).
	Directional sign, heading north on the Mid Western Highway at Rankins Springs (2004).
	Distance sign, heading west on the Mid Western Highway from West Wyalong (2004).
	Approaching the Newell Highway junction and West Wyalong on the Mid Western Highway (2004).
	Heading east on the Mid Western/Newell Highways approaching the Temora turnoff, Wyalong (2004).
	Distance sign, heading east on the Mid Western/Newell Highways from Wyalong (2004).
	Heading west on the Mid Western Hwy as it departs Cowra (2002).
	Heading north along the Olympic Hwy as it approaches the Mid Western Hwy, Cowra (2006).
	On the Mid Western Hwy, heading east from Cowra - note the incorrect Hwy 24 shield (2002).
	Heading north-east along the Mid Western Hwy as it passes through the small town of Lyndhurst (2006).
	Distance sign, heading north-east on the Mid Western Hwy from Blayney (2006).
	Distance sign, heading south-west from Bathurst. Note the A41 route number which will become current once the new system is fully implemented across NSW (2006).
	Heading south-east along Brilliant St in Bathurst as it approaches the start of the Mid Western Hwy - note the use of the A41 again (2006).