M1 | Monash Freeway

M1 - Monash Freeway

Toorak - Narre Warren

Home | Highway 1 - Victoria | M1 Princes Fwy/Hwy East | M1

Monash Fwy eastbound approaching Belgrave - Hallam Rd exit. June 2005

Designated Names Complete Name List - Column 1 & 2 Road Classification Column 3	Monash Freeway	Toorak Road - Princes Freeway / Princes Highway	Freeway #1000
Distance in Kilometres	33.8
Northern Terminus	Toorak Rd (Metropolitan Route 26), Toorak
Southern Terminus	Princes Freeway / Princes Highway (Alternative National Route 1/C101), Narre Warren
Route Numbering	MR80 - 1965 (South Eastern Fwy (northern) section) F80 - 1970's (South Eastern Fwy (northern) section) F81 - 1972 (Mulgrave Fwy section) National Route 1 - 1988 (all) M1 - 1997
Continuation Route Numbering	M1 Citylink Southern Link north of Toorak Rd M1 Princes Fwy East south of Princes Hwy East

Monash Freeway Sections:

The Monash Freeway (M1) is the major route to and from Melbourne’s southeast suburbs, paralleling the Princes Highway. The freeway extends from Toorak Rd at Malvern to the Princes Freeway at Narre Warren, a total of 33.8 km. Dual carriageways carry 3 lanes of traffic in either direction between Toorak Rd and the South Gippsland Freeway, while 2 lanes in either direction are provided further east to the Princes Fwy.

The Monash Freeway is one continuous freeway, however, it was made from the amalgamation of three different projects: the South Eastern Freeway (Batman Ave to Warrigal Rd); the Mulgrave Freeway (Warrigal Rd to South Gippsland Fwy); and the Hallam Bypass (Sth Gippsland Fwy to Princes Fwy). West of Toorak Rd the freeway has been incorporated into the Citylink tollway and no longer carries the Monash Freeway name.

Events

1962 - Punt Road to Burnley St section opens.

1965 - East to to Toorak Rd opens.

1965 - South Eastern Fwy given MR80, and later F80.

1969 - Mulgrave 'Bypass' between Laurel Av and Stud Rd constructed.

1972 - Mulgrave Fwy between Laurel Av and Stud Rd opens.

1973 - Mulgrave Fwy between Stud Rd and Springvale Rd opens. Mulgrave Fwy given F81.

1976 - Mulgrave Fwy between Springvale Rd - Blackburn Rd opens.

1977 - Mulgrave Fwy between Blackburn Rd - Forster Rd opens.

1979 - Mulgrave Fwy between Forster Rd - Huntingdale Rd opens.

1981 - Mulgrave Fwy between Huntingdale Rd - Warrigal Rd opens.

1988 - South Eastern Fwy to Mulgrave Fwy Link opens (Toorak Rd to Warrigal Rd).
1988 - National Route 1 replaces F80 and F81.
1988 - Given 'local name' of 'South Eastern Arterial'.

1994 - Warrigal Rd overpass.

1996 - Tooronga Rd overpass, Burke Rd overpass, and Toorak Rd overpass.
1997 - M1 replaced National Route 1.
1997 - (March) Whole section renamed South Eastern Freeway.
1999 - (July) Whole section renamed to Monash Fwy

1999 - Transurban (Citylink) assumes private control from Batman Av to Toorak, allowing improvements and converting into a tolled freeway as a result.

2003 - Hallam Bypass opens.
2007 - Twin bridges over Eastlink opens.

Snapshot: The Names of the Monash

The Monash Freeway has had quite a few names in its history - a total of 3 previous 'declared names' (administrative Vicroads names) and 1 'local name' (alternate name). Its northern portion, between Punt Rd and Toorak Rd, was first christened with the name of South Eastern Fwy, while the southern portion between Warrigal Rd and the South Gippsland Fwy was named Mulgrave Fwy.

In 1988, when the north and south sections were connected, the entire route was renamed the South Eastern Arterial as its local name; but officially it remained with the declared names of South Eastern Fwy (Batman Ave - Toorak Rd), South Eastern Arterial (Toorak Rd - Warrigal Rd) and Mulgrave Freeway (Warrigal Rd - South Gippsland Fwy).

When the intersections along the South Eastern Arterial were grade-seperated, the entire freeway was declared and redesignated as the South Eastern Fwy on the 20th of March 1997. Three years later on June 16th 1999, the freeway had it last change to what it is known today - the Monash Freeway - named in honour of John Monash, a surveyor and engineer who had helped pioneer the technology of reinforced concrete. Confused yet? :p

Snapshot - Route Numbering

The route of the Monash Fwy has had a handful of route numbers over the years:

	Metropolitan Route 80 1965 - early 1970's Batman Ave to Toorak Rd Metropolitan Route 80 was the first route number to be introduced onto the northern section of the freeway. It did not last too long, as by 1973 it was replaced by F80, though remnant MR80 signage still existed into the 1970's¹.

	F80 1970's - 1988 Batman Ave to Toorak Rd F80 was one of the first Freeway Routes to be introduced in Melbourne. The South Eastern Fwy received this number around 1973. It was decommissioned in 1988 when the freeway was linked to the Mulgrave Fwy.

	F81 1972 - 1988 Warrigal Rd to Princes Hwy In 1973, the Mulgrave Fwy was given F81 - the same number as the Tullamarine Fwy. The most logical reason behind this move was that both Mulgrave and Tullamarine Freeways were part of huge proposed freeway, the F9, which incorporated both freeways and the 'missing section' that ran close to today's West Gate Fwy and Citylink Western Link alignment.

	National Route 1 1988 - 1997 Batman Ave - Princes Hwy (entire route) With the opening of the link between the South Eastern and Mulgrave Freeways in 1988, National Route 1 was shifted from the parallel Princes Hwy replacing both F80 and F81.

	M1 1997 -> Toorak Rd - Princes Hwy (entire route, including Citylink Southern Link section and Hallam Bypass) The introduction of the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme in Victoria saw National Route 1 decommissioned and replaced with M1.

[1] Bricks J Winzer informed that MR80 shields were still present when F80 was introduced, including trailblazers at Boulton Pde.