State Circle

State Circle

Australian Capital Territory
State Circle is the outer of two circular concentric roads that orbit Parliament House, Canberra.
State Circle is the outer of two circular concentric roads that orbit Parliament House.
General information
TypeRoad
LocationCanberra
Length3 km (1.9 mi)
Route number(s) A23[1] (2013–present)
(Canberra Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue, anti-clockwise, northbound only)
Former
route number
  • National Route 23 (1955–2013)
  • ACT Tourist Drive 1
    (through Parkes)
  • ACT Tourist Drive 5
    (Yarralumla–Forrest)
  • ACT Tourist Drive 6
    (Parkes–Barton)
Ring road aroundCapital Hill
Major junctions
From Commonwealth Avenue
Capital Hill, Australian Capital Territory
 
To Commonwealth Avenue
Capital Hill, Australian Capital Territory
Location(s)
Major suburbsParkes, Barton, Forrest, Deakin, Yarralumla
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State Circle is a circular road surrounding Capital Hill in the centre of Canberra, Australia's capital city. It is the outermost of the three concentric roads on the hill, with Capital Circle and Parliament Drive located within State Circle. Capital Circle is a bi-directional four-lane road with most intersections being signalised and at-grade. The speed limit is 70 km/h.[2]

It is named for the states of Australia. Roads named for each of Australia's state capitals are also among those that intersect or terminate at State Circle. The main roads leading from the circle are Commonwealth Avenue, Kings Avenue, Adelaide Avenue, and Canberra Avenue.[3][4]

State Circle featured prominently on Walter Burley Griffin's plans for Canberra. It was originally envisaged there would be a number of circular concentric roads around Capital Hill. Only Capital Circle and State Circle were ever fully completed.[5] It is considered a main avenue, and a road of national significance, by the National Capital Authority.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Guide Signs MIS 12" (PDF). ACT Government. April 2019. p. 13. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. ^ Google Maps/Google Street View, Google, accessed 20 April 2013
  3. ^ ACT Planning and Land Authority - Place name search, ACT Government
  4. ^ OpenStreetMap, OpenStreetMap contributors
  5. ^ Striking the Right Balance: Draft Amendment 39, National Capital Plan, Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, Chapter 3, Page 29, October 2002
    Referring to a submission to the committee by the Royal Australian Planning Institute – ACT Division.
  6. ^ Main Avenues and Approach Routes, National Capital Authority, 5 January 2010
  7. ^ Designated Area 'Main Avenues and Approach Routes', National Capital Authority, 25 January 2010