The passing of the Transport Act of 1983State of Victoria, An Act to Re-enact with Amendments the Law relating to Transport including the Law with respect to Railways, Roads and Tramways... 23 June 1983 (itself an evolution from the original Highways and Vehicles Act of 1924State of Victoria, An Act to make further provision with respect to Highways and Country Roads Motor Cars and Traction Engines and for other purposes 30 December 1924) provided for the declaration of State Highways, roads two-thirds financed by the State government through the Road Construction Authority (later VicRoads). The State Highway (St Georges Road) was declared a State Highway in December 1990, from Bell Street at Preston and ending at Merri Parade in Northcote; the road was known (and signposted) as St Georges Road along its entire length. The section between Epping Road in Reservoir and Bell Street in Preston remained a declared Main Road, still known (and signposted) as their constituent parts.
