Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory: Northbourne Avenue, Vernon Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, State Circle, Capital Circle, Canberra Avenue, Hume Place and Monaro Highway (National Route 23)

Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory

Northbourne Avenue, Vernon Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, State Circle, Capital Circle, Canberra Avenue, Hume Place and Monaro Highway (National Route 23) - Acton to Fyshwick

Statistics:

Length: 45 km (Full length (ACT, NSW and Vic): 320 km) (Downer to Capital Hill: 8 km)
Northern Terminus: Corner of Barton Highway (NH25) and Federal Highway (NH23) at Downer and Lyneham
Southern Terminus: NSW Border at Williamsdale
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Parkes, Capital Hill, Forrest, Kingston and Fyshwick

Route Numbering:

Current:
Multiplexed with:

General Information:

In the ACT, NR23 serves as the main connector route from Canberra to the snowfields in southern NSW and northern Victoria. Large numbers of motorists travel the 2.5 hour trip from Sydney to Canberra, and then continue through Cooma and beyond.

The route varies from multi laned dual carriageway in the urban areas of North and South Canberra to rural highway further south of the city. It passes directly past Australia's Parliament House and other significant areas containing offices for the administration of the country. It also passes through suburban areas, industrial areas at Fyshwick and Hume, plus farming zones and bushland.

National Route 23 shares its path with several Tourist Drives, which are 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Between the spans on the southern side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge over Lake Burley Griffin, there's two granite stones from the 1817 Waterloo Bridge across the River Thames in London. These were presented to Australia after the 1817 Waterloo Bridge was demolished in the 1940s and replaced by a modern structure. A plaque reads, in part, "Stones such as these from the bridge were presented to Australia and other parts of the British world to further historic links in the British Commonwealth of Nations".

History:

1911: Planning of Commonwealth Avenue, Vernon Circle and Northbourne Avenue by Walter Burley Griffin. 1
1916: The first Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, completed 1916. 2
1922: The first Commonwealth Avenue Bridge was damaged by flood. 2
1923-1924: The second Commonwealth Avenue Bridge built, using three NSW 'Leychester' type trusses. 2 The second bridge was built using materials that had been intended for a bridge near Kings Avenue but not on the current Kings Avenue alignment. 3
1925: The second Commonwealth Avenue Bridge damaged by flood. 2
1927: The completion of the third Commonwealth Avenue Bridge was a modification of the previous bridge. It was by a metre and had an added fourth truss. 2
May 1927: The third Commonwealth Avenue Bridge opened to traffic. 3
20 September 1928: Northbourne Avenue name gazetted, 4 State Circle name gazetted, 5 Canberra Avenue name gazetted, 6 Hume Place name gazetted (named after Australian Explorer, Hamilton Hume). 7
21 July 1960: Vernon Circle name gazetted, named after Walter Liberty Vernon, former New South Wales Government architect, Member of Advisory Board on Federal Capital site in 1909. 8
1963: The fourth and current high-level concrete Commonwealth Avenue Bridge completed. 2
November 1963: The fourth Commonwealth Avenue Bridge opened to traffic. 9
4 June 1982: Commonwealth Avenue name gazetted, 10 Capital Circle name gazetted. 11

Click here for photos of the old NR23 alignment along Sturt Avenue and Jerrabomberra Avenue.

Acton to Fyshwick (Southbound)		Fyshwick to Acton (Northbound)
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Commonwealth Avenue Bridge: Commonwealth Av approaching Lake Burley Griffin at Parkes, October 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Entering South Canberra: Canberra Avenue at Narrabundah as it enters the region of South Canberra, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	King Edward Terrace Junction: Corner of Commonwealth Av and King Edward Tce (TD7) at Parkes, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Nyrang Street Intersection: Corner of Canberra Avenue and Nyrang Street in Narrabundah, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Parkes, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Dalby Street Junction: Advance directional sign acting as an intersection directional sign at the junction with Dalby Street in Narrabundah, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Queen Victoria Terrace and Coronation Drive: Inside the "Parliamentary Triangle" southbound, approaching the intersection with Queen Victoria Terrace and Coronation Drive, which is used for access to Yarralumla and parklands, which was once the workers town area of Westlake during the early days of construction of the capital. This area has restrictions on all forms of construction because of its important nature to the Nation. February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Hume Place: AD sign approaching Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching State Circle: Southbound at Parkes, approaching State Circle, Capital Hill and Parliament House, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Trailblazer: TD5 trailblazdr approaching Hume Place at Griffith. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Road Tunnel: Southeastbound as you pass under Federation Mall on State Circle, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Hume Place: Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Road Tunnel: Southeastbound as you pass under Federation Mall on State Circle, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Hume Place: Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound Approaching Canberra Avenue: Heading south near Barton & Capital Hill as you approach the turn for NR23 / Canberra Avenue, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Cunningham & Barrallier Streets: Looking southeast on Canberra Av in Grffith at the junction with Cunningham and Barrallier Street, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	National Circuit Intersection: Intersection directional sign at the corner of Canberra Avenue and National Terrace at Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Lefroy and Eyre Street Junction: Canberra Avenue in Griffith at the junction with Eyre Street and Lefroy Street, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign on Canberra Avenue at Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Old Black Intersection Directional Signs: Approaching the junction with, Manuka Circle, Captain Cook Crescent in Griffith, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Furneaux Street Intersection: Manuka Circle approaching Furneaux Street at Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Captain Cook Crescent & Manuka Circle Junction: Manuka Circle at the junction with Captain Cook Crescent in Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Captain Cook Crescent & Manuka Circle Junction: Manuka Circle at the junction with Captain Cook Crescent in Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Flinders Way Junction: Corner of Manuka Circle and Flinders Way in Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Captain Cook Crescent & Manuka Circle Junction: Manuka Circle at the junction with Captain Cook Crescent in Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		National Circuit Intersection: Canberra Avenue in Forrest at National Circuit. December 2009. Note Parliament House and St Andrews Church in the distance. Image © Paul Rands
	Captain Cook Crescent & Manuka Circle Junction: Manuka Circle at the junction with Captain Cook Crescent in Barton, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Canberra Av in Forrest, approaching State Circle and Capital Circle, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Black Intersection Directional Sign: Old black ID sign at the Dawes Street junction in Griffith, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		State Circle Intersection: Corner of Canberra Avenue, State Circle and Capital Circle in Forrest. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Cunningham & Barrallier Streets: Looking southeast on Canberra Av in Grffith at the junction with Cunningham and Barrallier Street, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		State Circle Intersection: Corner of Canberra Avenue, State Circle and Capital Circle in Forrest. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Cunningham & Barrallier Streets: Looking southeast on Canberra Av in Grffith at the junction with Cunningham and Barrallier Street, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Old Black Directional Sign: AD sign as you approach Canberra Avenue on State Circle (ACT TD5 section) at Forrest. One of Canberra's oldest buildings is located in the distance: St Andrews Presbyterian Chuch. July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Place: Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Brisbane Avenue: Heading north near the junction with Brisbane Avenue. Capital Hill is on the left of the road and the suburb of Barton is on the right, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Place: Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Tourist Drive 6 Trailblazer: TD6 trailblazer on Capital Hill near the junction with Brisbane Avenue, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Place: Hume Place - the corner of Canberra Av (NR23 / TD5), Wentworth Av and Sturt Av at Griffith, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kings Avenue (TD1 / TD5) at Capital Hill. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign on Canberra Avenue, near McMillan Cr at Fyshwick, February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		End Tourist Drive 6: End TD6 trailblazer on Capital Hill near the junction with Brisbane Avenue, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Dalby Street at Fyshwick, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Federation Mall Overpass: State Circle approaching the Federation Mall overpass on Capital Hill. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Nyrang Street Junction: Corner of Canberra Av and Nyrang St in Fyshwick, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Commonwealth Avenue Overpass: Advance directional sign near the Commonwealth Av overpass at Capital Hill, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Hand Painted Speed Limit Sign: Old hand painted 80 km/h speed limit sign on Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Commonwealth Avenue On Ramp: Intersection directional sign on the ramp from State Circle to Commonwealth Avenue, on Capital Hill, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick, approaching Monaro Highway (ALT-NR23, NR23 / TD5) and Ipswich Street. February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the Flynn Drive intersection on State Circle, as viewed from the Commonwealth Avenue on ramp. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick, at the junction with Monaro Highway (ALT-NR23, NR23 / TD5) and Ipswich Street. February 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Queen Victoria Terrace and Coronation Drive in Yarralumla. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Monaro Highway Interchange: The interchange with Monaro Hwy (ALT-NR23, NR23 / TD5) at Fyshwick, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with the Hyatt Hotel, near Kaye Street in Yarralumla, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kaye Street in Yarralumla, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
			Kaye Street Junction: Corner of Commonwealth Av and Kaye St in Yarralumla, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
			Commonwealth Avenue Bridge: Approaching Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Yarralumla, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of NR23 between Fyshwick and Gilmore Click here for the continuation of NR23 between Downer & Acton

1 Canberra - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, John Overall, p. 12, ISBN 0-9593910-6-1
2 ACT Heritage Library, ImagesACT, Second Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
3 Canberra’s Engineering Heritage, 2nd edition, 1990
4 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Northbourne Avenue
5 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, State Circle
6 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Canberra Avenue
7 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Hume Place
8 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Vernon Circle
9 ACT Heritage Library, ImagesACT, Commonwealth Avenue bridge, with Scotts Crossing in the foreground, the Albert Hall at left and the Canadian flagpole at Regatta Point at right
10 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Commonwealth Avenue
11 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Capital Circle

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