Russell is one of the smallest suburbs in Canberra, comprising a number of government offices but no private residences.

It is probably best known for the headquarters of the Australian Defence Force, which is housed in the Russell Offices complex.

Mount Pleasant lies just to the east, between Russell and Duntroon (which is part of the suburb of Campbell).

[3] Most of Russell is dominated by the lowest layer of the Ainslie Volcanics, a grey dacite and other erupted particles such as agglomerate and tuff.

Tertiary age pebbly gravels are around Parkes Way left from when the Molonglo river was at a higher level.