Australian road regulatory signs

Click on the thumbnails for  the full size photo.

Early (1960's / 70's) 'NO LEFT TURN' and 'DO NOT ENTER' signs. Most of these have been long replaced with similar signs supplemented with symbols. Those in turn are now being replaced with symbol-only signs. These 2 signs though, somehow survive at a freeway exit at Newborough, Vic.

Yes, 'KEEP RIGHT' signs do exist in Australia, though they are far from common. Often they are not used in situations that they were designed for. And on the other hand, I sometimes see scenes like this. A 'Keep right' sign used where it is wholly inappropriate. In Bairnsdale, Vic. there are a few Keep Right signs used on street corners where driving to the left of them would have meant going off the road. An arrow or chevron sign would've been more appropriate.
Technically, this sign makes turning into the dead end road to its left, illegal.

Close up of a Keep Right sign. If I recall correctly, this one was at a livestock sale yard at Tatura, Vic. It had a NO ENTRY sign above it. I've seen them used around Brisbane at bus stops where busses have their own lane and in Melbourne where trams run to the side of the road and there is a danger of traffic following the tram. Near Albert Park lake is one example. Footscray Rd (Docklands Hwy) had several in the 1970's. But all gone now. These of course were the earlier type with a horizontal arrow.

Older style KEEP LEFT sign.
The horizontal arrow being the main
Difference between it and current ones.
Warragul, Vic.

Older 'FORM ONE LANE' sign between Drouin and Warragul. The one on the opposite side of the road was updated to the present 'FORM 1 LANE'sign long ago. Seemed an idea to record this one before it is knocked down and replaced.

Sometimes you have to wonder. On this small traffic island there is a pair of small arrow signs. One facing each way, of the type that means you can pass either side of it. However; looking closer it is obvious that any traffic facing this sign would have to be driving the wrong way. The sign was erected when the traffic island was built and apparently nobody noticed that it was completely unnecessary.
Drouin, Vic.

I guess I have to include a standard STOP sign somewhere.
This one is a bit larger than most.
Stratford, Vic.

When one keeps one's eyes open. You tend to find all sorts of oddities.
This looks like a standard 'One Way' sign. But modified for a
Two-way service road.
Vermont South, Vic.

Remember these? Until the 1980's, Give Way signs were an all-over red. A few survived to the late 1990's. But all that I knew of are now replaced. This one survived near Heyfield, Vic. Until being replaced by a standard red, white with black letters style in about 1999.

This is the style of Give Way sign that superceded the all red signs. The common alternative to a STOP sign. Same meaning as the US 'Yield'.
Most are in much better condition than this one. But they have been around long enough that faded examples like this are becoming more commonplace.
I'll show some of the variations later. I can see I'm going to need a lot more space later.
Stratford, Vic.

Victoria's 75km/h speed limits were changed to 70 or 80km/h in the 1990's to be in line with other states.
The changeover was quite rapid. But this was one that I know of that were forgotten about.
Morwell, Vic.  Removed 2002.

Here is a 20 MPH speed limit sign on a large tree. About the only place MPH speed signs are still to be found in Australia is in public reserves, parks, schools and industrial areas. That's often because they are such low speeds that the difference in MPH and km/h is hardly enough to worry about. They are still getting harder to find though.
Stratford, Vic.

Here's a real oddity. A 25MPH sign in 2001. It would appear to be a US sign too. Australian MPH speed limit signs had a different font and it's unlikely an original Australian MPH sign would still be in such good        condition as this one.  I've seen US speed limit signs erected at a number of industrial areas, so presumably this one was put up by the sawmill along this street. But as a public street, it would have no legal standing here. Possibly why it was removed in late 2001. Bairnsdale, Vic.

Here's another of those situations where you have to wonder just what led to it happening. We all have bad days at work of course. But just how was this sign put up without those responsible noticing it?
Fernbank, Vic. April 2002

This is one of the current style
Give Way signs with a white border around the red border.

Divided Road Keep Left.  I'd been looking for an example of these old signs for a while when I realised I drove by one regularly for many years. Back when divided roads were relatively uncommon, these signs often appeared. Most are now replaced by standard 'Keep Left' signs. This one now has a Keep Left sign placed a few metres in front of it. Probably why I hadn't noticed it much.
Newborough, Vic.     Other examples are at Yarram, Vic.

Do not Enter.  Old style sign.
This one survived in Drouin, Vic. until late 2002

Freeway entrance signs.  Like most freeways, cyclists were originally not permitted. Now that they are, the word 'bicycles' has been plated over and a sign saying that cyclists are permitted has been added.
Drouin, Vic.

Latest style No Entry sign.
Bairnsdale, Vic.

One Way.  Standard larger sized One Way sign.
Traralgon, Vic.

No Standing any time today.  Presumably this means you can park anytime tomorrow.  :)

I always thought any time meant just that.
Tyabb, Vic.

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