Sussex Drive, also known as Ottawa Regional Road 93, is an arterial road in Ottawa, Ontario, the capital of Canada. It is one of the city's main ceremonial and institutional routes. Travelling roughly parallel to the Ottawa River, Sussex Drive begins as a continuation of Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway at Rideau Gate, at the entrance to Rideau Hall. It travels south to Rideau Street, with the portion south of St. Patrick Street forming the northbound half of a one-way pair with Mackenzie Avenue. Both Mackenzie Avenue and Sussex Drive connect with Colonel By Drive at their southern end, which continues south alongside the Rideau Canal.
Aerial view of Sussex Street and the Royal Canadian Mint, circa 1920
Sussex Drive crossing the Rideau River
Looking north on Sussex Drive from the Connaught Building
Image: Canada and the World
Rideau Hall is the official residence in Ottawa of both the governor general of Canada and the Canadian monarch. It stands in Canada's capital on a 36-hectare (88-acre) estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of approximately 175 rooms across 9,500 square metres (102,000 sq ft), and 27 outbuildings around the grounds. Rideau Hall's site lies outside the centre of Ottawa. It is one of two official vice-regal residences maintained by the federal Crown, the other being the Citadelle of Quebec.
Main façade of Government House
Floor plan of the original McKay villa superimposed over the present day footprint of Rideau Hall. The building was significantly expanded after its acquisition by the Crown.
Costume ball at Rideau Hall, hosted by Governor General Lord Dufferin at Rideau Hall, 1876
A May Day garden party at Rideau Hall, 1898