It begins at State Circle around Capital Hill and forms the border between the suburbs of Parkes and Barton.

It passes the National Archives of Australia, Robert Garran offices, Edmund Barton Building, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Bowen Place and Kings Park.

The road was originally named Federal Avenue by the architect of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin It was ultimately named after the Sovereign at the time of the founding of Canberra, King George V, who also, as Duke of York opened the first Parliament of Australia in 1901.

One of the predominant features forming this geometry is Capital Hill with major roads (Avenues) emanating radially from it.

Two of these roads form the Parliamentary Triangle incorporating bridges crossing Lake Burley Griffin.