Australian  road signs and signals

Click on the pictures for a larger  image.

Sometimes you can find old signs still standing along abandoned or bypassed roads. This one was on an old alignment with a sharp curve that had been straightened out.
Near Moondarra, Vic.

This is the one the overseas visitors seem to like. I guess it is the most recognisably Australian road sign there is. Despite the many other unique Australian animal signs we have.
The
Kangaroo sign takes on several different forms, with "NEXT XXkms" on a separate sign or sometimes on the same sign.
The one pictured, is a kangaroo sign in its most basic form.
Near Longford, Vic.

Remember these? The once ubiquitous BICENTENNIAL ROAD PROJECT sign.  This faded example was found still standing at Iguana Creek, Vic. in March 2003.

This one is absolutely brilliant. An information sign warning of an advisory sign up ahead.
As superfluous as this may seem at first, it is actually warning of a sign ahead that advises the condition of a mountain road through snow country. Which is rather important to read in the colder seasons.
Near Dargo, Vic.   
   

Temporary roadworks traffic light. Down a narrow gravel road was the last place I expected to find a traffic light. It was flashing amber so I proceeded slowly. Not really sure what to expect. At the bottom of the hill near a creek, was a grader and rubber wheeled road roller going back and forth. There were no flagpeople or anyone else to tell me when it was safe to pass. With limited visibility due to curves and piles of dirt left by the grader I eventually found a safe area to pass. Back up the other side of the creek side hill was a road works truck with the flagmen standing around having a cuppa.  Drouin, Vic.

SLOW VEHICLES USE LEFT LANE. These used to be a common sight at every overtaking lane. But of course all the "boy racers" didn't think they had slow cars and refused to drive in the left lane. So now we have the Keep left unless overtaking law. But some of the older signs remain. Note also the fact that line marking allows overtaking in both directions. Something also gone from some roads now. This is done for safety of course, to protect us from those who cannot determine when it isn't safe to overtake (and protect them of course). Still, it can be rather frustrating being behind a much slower vehicle and seeing there are no oncoming vehicles for 2kms and not being able to legally overtake.  Rosedale, Vic.

This is one of those cases when you think you've seen every kind of road sign there is, along comes something out of the ordinary. Fortunately the kink in the road is not as severe as shown on the sign. In the opposite direction is an ordinary reverse curve sign.  Near Glengarry, Vic.

A close up of a National route number 1 shield. Although this route (Princes Hwy) is now the A1, a number of the older signs are still to be found along the way. Especially on lesser roads approaching the A1.
This one is near Stratford, Vic.

Current style of route marker in Victoria.
Stratford, Vic.

Road Closed.
Nowhere to go here, despite what the chevron sign indicates.
Richmond, Vic.

Sign central. This untidy overuse of signs appears at Valencia Creek, Vic. The single lane bridge at the bottom of the hill has no sides - and no reflectors. Dangerous at night or in fog.
NO PICTURE YET - problems

This floodway is actually 2 lanes wide, despite what the sign says. But the small bridge above the floodwaters (aren't they always?)  has only one lane.
Stratford, Vic.

Oh no! I knew I shouldn't have driven the Toyota today.  Well, obviously there is no vehicle brand discrimination here. The creek that flows across the road being the kind of ford referred to here. I do drive a Ford as it happens. But its lack of 4 wheel drive capabilities saw me turn back.
Briagolong, Vic.

This vintage GRAVEL SURFACE sign is from the 1950's. I know this because the CRB (Country Roads Board) information panel on the back says so. It is heavy steel (about 5mm thick) and was actually still standing here on its yellow painted wooden post in December 2002. I had to own sign. And would you believe a few weeks later, before I'd asked the shire, it was replaced with a new GRAVEL ROAD sign. Hmph!  I asked anyway, and a few weeks later it was presented to me for safekeeping - minus the post.  Glad I took photos.
The reflective lettering is still highly reflective. Unusual for such an old sign. The black paint has faded to almost nothing however. The Heart, Vic. 

Yellow Children Crossing sign with a PEDESTRIANS sign placed close by.  Just in case people forget pedestrians as well as children tend to cross roads. 
Sale, Vic.
PICTURE NOT LOADED YET - problems

Superfluous signs. Here we have 'Left Lane Ends - Merge Right' and 'form 2 Lanes' signs at the end of an freeway entry ramp. Quite apart from the fact that there are not 3 lanes to begin with, the Form 2 lanes sign is placed after traffic merges anyway.
Morwell, Vic.

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