Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Commonwealth Avenue
Length 2.26 km
General direction North-South
From Vernon Circle
via Parkes, Yarralumla, Acton
To Capital Circle
Established 1930s
Allocation Part of National Route 23
Major Junctions Parkes Way, State Circle, Parliament Drive


Commonwealth Avenue is a major road in Canberra, Australia. It connects Civic with South Canberra. Specifically, it runs between City Hill and Capital Hill.

Commonwealth Avenue Bridge at night
Commonwealth Avenue Bridge at night
Commonwealth Avenue crossing Lake Burley Griffin at Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
Commonwealth Avenue crossing Lake Burley Griffin at Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.

The first Commonwealth Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1928. It replaced a ford across the Molonglo River.

The road is six lanes wide with a wide median down the middle. It crosses Lake Burley Griffin over the Commonwealth Bridge. It is connected with Parkes Way by freeway style on-ramps. Along its length on the northern side are the Anglican Archbishop's residence and Commonwealth Park. On the south side of the lake the road is lined with large trees and is bounded by the suburb of Parkes on the east and Yarralumla on the west. Significant sites along this stretch include the Albert Hall, the Hotel Canberra and the High Commissions of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada.

Upon reaching Capital Hill, the road turns into Capital Circle which circles around Parliament House before connecting with Adelaide Avenue which connects it with Woden Valley. There is a ramp at the end of Commonwealth Avenue which allows access to Parliament House.


One of two granite stones from the 1817 Waterloo Bridge, London.
One of two granite stones from the 1817 Waterloo Bridge, London.

Between the spans on the southern side are two granite stones from the 1817 Waterloo Bridge across the River Thames in London. These were presented to Australia after the 1817 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."


Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Road Infrastructure in Canberra
Freeways Tuggeranong Parkway | Gungahlin Drive | Parkes Way
Bridges & Tunnels Commwealth Ave Bridge | Kings Ave Bridge | Parkes Way Tunnel
Major Roads Commonwealth Avenue | Kings Avenue | Northbourne Avenue | ANZAC Parade | London Circuit | Kingsford Smith Drive | Southern Cross Drive |

Ginninderra Drive | Belconnen Way | Barry Drive | William Hovell Drive | Drakeford Drive | Limestone Avenue | Fairbain Avenue | Cotter Road | Hindmarsh Drive | State Circle | Adelaide Avenue | Canberra Avenue

Important Streets Garema Place | Bunda Street | Mort Street | City Walk
Highways Barton Highway | Monaro Highway | Federal Highway | Kings Highway
Under Construction Gungahlin Drive Extension | Glenloch Interchange Re-design
Interchanges Glenloch Interchange
Operators ACT Department of Urban Services | Roads ACT
Transport in Canberra ACTION | Canberra International Airport | Canberra railway station