List of road routes in Victoria (numeric)

Road routes in Victoria assist drivers navigating roads throughout the state, as roads may change names several times between destinations, or have a second local name in addition to a primary name. Victoria currently uses two route numbering schemes: the older, numerical shield-based system (which this article focuses on); and a newer, alphanumeric system, slowly replacing the older system.

Victoria implemented the federally-issued National Routes system between 1954 and 1955, using white-and-black shields highlighting interstate links between major regional centres; some of these routes were later upgraded into National Highways using green-and-gold shields when the National Roads Act was passed in 1974.

The original route numbering scheme, now known as the Metropolitan Route Numbering Scheme, allocated blue-and-white shields across Melbourne as metropolitan routes, numbered to fit around existing National Routes; this system received a major refurbishment in the late 1980s, with the creation of Tourist Routes as a result. Freeway Routes were spun off from this system between 1970 and 1987, and it was extended into a system covering rural Victoria as the State Route Numbering Scheme in 1985.

The Statewide Route Numbering Scheme, introduced in late 1996, has effectively replaced the previous scheme across regional Victoria, and is progressively replacing routes across Melbourne. It consists of alphanumeric routes, a one-to-three digit number prefixed with a letter (M, A, B, or C) that denotes the grade and importance of the road, and is now the state's default road route numbering system.

Some routes, in part or in their entirety, may have been made obsolete by the alphanumeric designation: these replacement routes are noted but not listed in full here. Some also may follow older alignments or routes later changed even after the new system was introduced, and are included here for the sake of completion. Roads are described in either a west–east or north–south alignment.

For a list of major highways and freeways in Melbourne, see List of highways in Melbourne and List of freeways in Victoria.

National Routes

National Routes were the first type of route numbering to be attempted in Australia on a large scale, signed with a white shield and black writing (similar in shape to the shield that appears on the Australian coat of arms), with Victoria receiving routes in 1954. They highlighted the interstate links connecting major population, industrial and principal regions of Victoria to the rest of the Australia, in a way that was readily identifiable to interstate travellers. The system was prepared by COSRA (Conference of State Road Authorities), held between 1953 and 1954: once each state road authority agreed to the scheme, it was rolled out federally.

In 1954, the Hume Highway was trialled as National Route 31, chosen due to its prominence as a transport corridor connecting Australia's largest cities (Melbourne and Sydney). Soon after, other National Routes across the state were allocated. Selected routes were later upgraded into National Highways when the National Roads Act was passed in 1974.

Victoria's National Routes were eventually replaced with the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme, introduced in stages across the state beginning in late 1996: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, rendering the black-and-white shield redundant. Most National Routes in rural Victoria kept their number during the conversion; an exception was National Route 16, which became B400. Most routes were replaced in 1997 - unless otherwise stated in the table below - with the last of Victoria's routes, National Route 79, finally eliminated in 2013 (although a vestige of Alternative National Route 1 still exists through southeastern Melbourne).

Route Component roads From Via To Length NotesNational Route 1Princes Highway (west)Vic/SA borderVic/NSW borderReplaced by / (later by between Waurn Ponds and Corio when Geelong Ring Road opened in 2009) – re-aligned through southeastern Melbourne from Kings Way, St Kilda Road, and Wellington Street to Queens Road/Queens Way when St Kilda Junction reconstruction was completed in 1969– re-aligned through western Melbourne from Geelong and Ballarat Roads, Smithfield and Racecourse Roads, Flemington Road, Harker and Curzon Streets, King Street (replaced by ) to West Gate Freeway, Roger and Lorimer and Claredon Streets when the West Gate Bridge opened in 1978– re-aligned through South Melbourne from Rogers and Lorimer and Claredon Streets, Market/York Streets to West Gate Freeway when its extension opened in 1988– re-aligned through southeastern Melbourne from Kings Way, Queens Road/Queens Way, and Princes Highway (replaced by ) to Sturt/Power Streets, City Road, Alexandra Avenue, Swan Street, Batman Avenue, and South Eastern Arterial when the South Eastern Arterial link opened in 1988– replaced by Replaced by , later removed when Burnley Tunnel opened in 2000, Swan Street renamed Olympic Boulevard in 2006Batman AvenueReplaced by , later by as part of CityLink in 1999, then removed when Burnley Tunnel opened in 2000South Eastern Freeway Replaced by , later by as part of CityLink in 1999South Eastern Freeway Replaced by , renamed Monash Freeway in 1999South Gippsland FreewayReplaced by , later by when Hallam bypass opened in 2003, then in 2025Princes Highway Replaced by , later by when Hallam bypass opened in 2003Princes Freeway Replaced by Princes Highway Replaced by , later by when Pakenham bypass opened in 2007Princes Freeway Replaced by Princes Highway Replaced by /AlternateNational Route 1HeywoodHomertonTyrendarraPortland bypass route, replaced by: from Heywood to Homerton; from Heywood to TyrendarraBrooklynSouthbank – replaced when the West Gate Bridge opened in 1978– replaced by along Geelong and Ballarat Roads, Smithfield and Racecourse Roads; along Flemington Road, Harker and Curzon and King Streets when West Gate Freeway extension opened in 1988SouthbankBerwick – replaced when South Eastern Arterial opened in 1988 along current alignment to Eumemmering– eastern end extended along Princes Highway from Eumemmering to Berwick (replacing ) when Hallam bypass opened in 2003National Route 8Vic/SA borderParkvilleProgressively reallocated along Western Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by in 1974National Route 12Mallee HighwayVic/SA borderVic/NSW border – eastern end of route extended from Ouyen to Piangil in 1990– replaced by National Route 16Murray Valley HighwayVic/NSW borderVic/NSW border – western end of route re-aligned from Hattah–Robinvale Road terminating in Hattah, to current alignment in late 20th century– replaced by – NSW section still allocated as until 2013– was partly still mistakenly signed as in Wodonga until about 2018National Route 20Sturt HighwayVic/SA borderMilduraVic/NSW borderReplaced by in 1992National Route 23Cann Valley HighwayCann RiverVic/NSW borderReplaced by , renamed Monaro Highway in 1996National Route 31Vic/NSW borderParkvilleProgressively reallocated along Hume Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by in 1974National Route 39Goulburn Valley HighwaySeymourVic/NSW borderReplaced by in 1992AlternativeNational Route 39Kialla WestSheppartonCongupnaShepparton bypass route, replaced by National Route 75Northern HighwayWallanVic/NSW border – southern end extended from Kilmore to Wallan (along former alignment) in 1976 when Kilmore bypass opened– replaced by National Route 79Calder HighwayVic/NSW borderSouthbankReplaced by Calder FreewayProgressively reallocated along Calder Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by Tullamarine Freeway – re-aligned between Niddrie and Flemington from Keilor and Mount Alexander roads (replaced by ) to current allocation when Tullamarine Freeway opened in 1970– allocation removed in 2013, not replaced – southern end of route extended from Parkville through the city to Southbank (along former alignment) when West Gate Freeway extension opened in 1988– replaced by in 2013AlternateNational Route 79Calder Alternative HighwayMarongLockwoodRavenswoodBendigo bypass route, replaced by NiddrieEssendonFlemingtonReplaced when Tullamarine Freeway opened in 1970, removed in 1989

National Highways

With the passing of the National Roads Act in 1974, selected National Routes were further upgraded to the status of a National Highway: interstate roads linking Australia's capital cities and major regional centres that received federal funding, and were of higher importance than other National Routes. These new routes were symbolised by green shields with gold writing, and the word "National" along the top of the shield. Victoria's first two National Highways, the Western and Hume Highways, were declared in 1974 and their shields converted in the following years; the Sturt and Goulburn Valley Highways were declared later in 1992.

Like National Routes, Victoria's National Highways were also replaced with the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme, introduced across the state beginning in late 1996: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, all keeping their number during the conversion, but also initially keeping the National green-and-gold shield design; this was eventually eliminated in 2014. While most routes were replaced in 1997, the tail-ends of some routes terminating in suburban Melbourne were kept for some years afterwards, until bypassed or reallocated with the opening of a related road project: these are stated in the table below. The last of Victoria's National Highways, the tail-end of National Highway 8, was finally eliminated in 2009.

Route Component roads From Via To Length NotesNational Highway 8Western HighwayVic/SA borderParkvilleReplaced by in 1997, progressively being replaced by from 2013Western FreewayProgressively reallocated along Western Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by in 1997, progressively being replaced by from 2013Western HighwayReplaced by in 1997 between Ravenhall and Ardeer, later by when Deer Park bypass opened in 2009, renamed to Ballarat RoadBallarat RoadReplaced by when Deer Park bypass opened in 2009Allocation removed when Deer Park bypass opened in 2009, not replacedNational Highway 20Sturt HighwayVic/SA borderMilduraVic/NSW borderReplaced by in 1997, progressively being replaced by from 2013National Highway 31Hume FreewayVic/NSW borderSouth MelbourneProgressively reallocated along Hume Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by in 1997, progressively being replaced by from 2013Hume HighwayReplaced by in 1997 between Craigieburn and Fawkner, later by when Craigieburn bypass opened in 2005, renamed Sydney Road – southern end extended from Parkville to South Melbourne along Peel and Dudley Streets, then along Footscray Road to Montague Street when West Gate Freeway extension opened in 1988– re-aligned from Footscray Road to current alignment when Wurundjeri Way opened in 1999– replaced by when Craigieburn bypass opened in 2005, Hume Highway renamed Sydney RoadNational Highway 39Goulburn Valley FreewaySeymourVic/NSW borderProgressively reallocated along Goulburn Valley Freeway sections as they opened, replaced by in 1997, later by in 2001, progressively being replaced by from 2013Goulburn Valley HighwayReplaced by in 1997, progressively being replaced by from 2013

Metropolitan and State Routes Melbourne