Princes Highway, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
The Princes Highway route through Melbourne
, runs along former alignments with which originally Highway 1
(now the M1) now run on Melbourne's freeway network.
, where the road travels direct to the Werribee
town centre before continuing north-east toward the freeway
or locally known as Geelong Road via Hoppers Crossing
. This stretch through Werribee is 9 km and varies from a two lane single carriageway to a four lane dual carriageway.
and traverses through the Melbourne
city centre and an interchange with the M1 at Southbank
2 km south of the city to Berwick
, more than 40 km south-east of the city centre. The highway here yet again intersects with the M1, and the commencement of the bypassed sections
of the Princes Freeway
heading into eastern Victoria. Major suburban centres along the route include Footscray
and Parkville
along the western suburbs, and Caulfield
, Chadstone
and Dandenong
serve as significant centres on the south-eastern metropolitan region of the Princes Highway. In total the highway traverses 58 km through the Melbourne metropolitan region, which is the longest and the southeastern portion alone runs for 41 km.
However, the confusion of arrangement of roads along the current Princes Highway reservation makes the M1 far more prominent to navigate through Melbourne
as oppose to the Princes Highway name. It commences as Geelong Road, which is a far more indirect route into Melbourne
as oppose to the West Gate Freeway
as it first heads northwest to Parkville
before turning southeast. As Geelong Road approaches the Ballarat Road junction, which becomes the Western Freeway
to Adelaide
, the name then changes after it to Ballarat Road, Smithfield Road, Racecourse Road, Flemington Road
, Harker Street, Curzon Street, and then King Street, in that order through Parkville
and North Melbourne
, into the Melbourne CBD
. From there it continues as Kings Way south of the city centre and interchanges with the M1 at Southbank
before continuing as Queens Road through Albert Park (this section of highway is shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan
as part of the F14 freeway corridor). The highway then becomes Dandenong Road from St. Kilda to Springvale
, before the more official Princes Highway name recommences to Berwick
(with the minor exception that it becomes Lonsdale Street (through central Dandenong
)). This reason for this confusing naming of the highway is that it follows streets and roads which were already named when the highway was named in 1920 and were never renamed.
Through Melbourne and its suburbs Highway 1
runs along Melbourne's freeway network with the West Gate Freeway
which bypasses central Melbourne and the inner western suburbs, and the Monash Freeway
, which bypasses Dandenong
and intersects the Princes Highway at Berwick
. These two freeways have been linked by the southern link of the CityLink
tollway. This avoids the confusing and congested arrangement of roads that is the Princes Highway in central Melbourne.
The majority of the Melbourne section of the highway is a six lane divided carriageway, with the exception of inner Melbourne traffic conditions, which varies from eight lane divided carriageways to four lane single carriageways.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, runs along former alignments with which originally Highway 1
Highway 1 (Australia)
Australia's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway...
(now the M1) now run on Melbourne's freeway network.
Werribee section
The western-most suburban section of the highway begins in Werribee SouthWerribee South, Victoria
Werribee South is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham...
, where the road travels direct to the Werribee
Werribee, Victoria
Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
town centre before continuing north-east toward the freeway
Princes Freeway
The Princes Freeway is a , 2 section freeway, which links Melbourne to Geelong on the west and Morwell on the east . It continues beyond these extremities as the Princes Highway towards Adelaide to the west and Sydney to the east...
or locally known as Geelong Road via Hoppers Crossing
Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
Hoppers Crossing is an outer suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 28.8 km south-west of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. According to estimated Population figures from 2006 the population of Hoppers Crossing was 39,051...
. This stretch through Werribee is 9 km and varies from a two lane single carriageway to a four lane dual carriageway.
Melbourne section
The more significant section of the bypassed section of the Princes Highway commences at Laverton NorthLaverton North, Victoria
Laverton North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 km west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham.It is predominantly an industrial suburb, with the Federation Trail flowing through....
and traverses through the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
city centre and an interchange with the M1 at Southbank
Southbank, Victoria
Southbank is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located direct south of the Yarra River opposite Melbourne's Hoddle Grid. The northernmost area is considered part of the Central Business District and Central Activities District of the city. Its Local Government Area are the...
2 km south of the city to Berwick
Berwick, Victoria
Berwick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Berwick had a population of 36,420....
, more than 40 km south-east of the city centre. The highway here yet again intersects with the M1, and the commencement of the bypassed sections
Old Princes Highway, Victoria
-East:The Old Princes Highway route through the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne and eastern Victoria, Australia, along former alignments with which originally Highway 1 had traversed through now runs as bypasses of towns, including Pakenham, Warragul and Moe via the Princes Freeway.It...
of the Princes Freeway
Princes Freeway
The Princes Freeway is a , 2 section freeway, which links Melbourne to Geelong on the west and Morwell on the east . It continues beyond these extremities as the Princes Highway towards Adelaide to the west and Sydney to the east...
heading into eastern Victoria. Major suburban centres along the route include Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
and Parkville
Parkville, Victoria
Parkville is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, the population was 4,980....
along the western suburbs, and Caulfield
Caulfield, Victoria
Caulfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira...
, Chadstone
Chadstone, Victoria
Chadstone is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. Landmarks include the Waverley Basketball Centre, Jordanville Community Centre and the Matthew Flinders Hotel...
and Dandenong
Dandenong, Victoria
Dandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
serve as significant centres on the south-eastern metropolitan region of the Princes Highway. In total the highway traverses 58 km through the Melbourne metropolitan region, which is the longest and the southeastern portion alone runs for 41 km.
However, the confusion of arrangement of roads along the current Princes Highway reservation makes the M1 far more prominent to navigate through Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
as oppose to the Princes Highway name. It commences as Geelong Road, which is a far more indirect route into Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
as oppose to the West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Geelong to Melbourne CBD and beyond. It is also a link between Melbourne and the west and linking industrial and residential areas west of the Yarra River with the city and port areas. The iconic West Gate Bridge is a part of the...
as it first heads northwest to Parkville
Parkville, Victoria
Parkville is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, the population was 4,980....
before turning southeast. As Geelong Road approaches the Ballarat Road junction, which becomes the Western Freeway
Western Freeway
Western Freeway or Western Expressway may mean:In roads:*Western Freeway , Virginia, United States*Western Freeway , Australia*Western Freeway, Brisbane, Australia*Western Freeway , India...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the name then changes after it to Ballarat Road, Smithfield Road, Racecourse Road, Flemington Road
Flemington Road, Melbourne
Flemington Road is a major thoroughfare in the inner suburbs of North Melbourne and Parkville in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the north end of Elizabeth Street to the south end of Mount Alexander Road, Flemington, and provides a main connection between the Melbourne CBD and the...
, Harker Street, Curzon Street, and then King Street, in that order through Parkville
Parkville, Victoria
Parkville is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, the population was 4,980....
and North Melbourne
North Melbourne, Victoria
North Melbourne is a large inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It is bounded by the CityLink freeway to the west, Victoria Street to the south, O'Connell and Peel Streets to the east and Flemington Road to the north. Its...
, into the Melbourne CBD
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. From there it continues as Kings Way south of the city centre and interchanges with the M1 at Southbank
Southbank, Victoria
Southbank is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located direct south of the Yarra River opposite Melbourne's Hoddle Grid. The northernmost area is considered part of the Central Business District and Central Activities District of the city. Its Local Government Area are the...
before continuing as Queens Road through Albert Park (this section of highway is shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan
1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan
The 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan was a road and rail transport plan for Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia instituted by Henry Bolte's state government...
as part of the F14 freeway corridor). The highway then becomes Dandenong Road from St. Kilda to Springvale
Springvale, Victoria
Springvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, approximately 20 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Dandenong...
, before the more official Princes Highway name recommences to Berwick
Berwick, Victoria
Berwick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Berwick had a population of 36,420....
(with the minor exception that it becomes Lonsdale Street (through central Dandenong
Dandenong, Victoria
Dandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
)). This reason for this confusing naming of the highway is that it follows streets and roads which were already named when the highway was named in 1920 and were never renamed.
Through Melbourne and its suburbs Highway 1
Highway 1 (Australia)
Australia's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway...
runs along Melbourne's freeway network with the West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Geelong to Melbourne CBD and beyond. It is also a link between Melbourne and the west and linking industrial and residential areas west of the Yarra River with the city and port areas. The iconic West Gate Bridge is a part of the...
which bypasses central Melbourne and the inner western suburbs, and the Monash Freeway
Monash Freeway
Monash Freeway is an urban freeway in Victoria, Australia linking Melbourne's CBD to its southeastern suburbs and the Gippsland region. The entire stretch of the Monash Freeway bears the designation...
, which bypasses Dandenong
Dandenong, Victoria
Dandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
and intersects the Princes Highway at Berwick
Berwick, Victoria
Berwick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Berwick had a population of 36,420....
. These two freeways have been linked by the southern link of the CityLink
CityLink
CityLink is a system of tolled urban Highways in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two existing freeways and construct two new Toll roads—labelled the Western and Southern Links—directly linking a number of existing freeways to...
tollway. This avoids the confusing and congested arrangement of roads that is the Princes Highway in central Melbourne.
The majority of the Melbourne section of the highway is a six lane divided carriageway, with the exception of inner Melbourne traffic conditions, which varies from eight lane divided carriageways to four lane single carriageways.