Consulates were operating in Australian cities long before the Commonwealth of Australia was founded in 1901. The United States opened a consulate in Sydney in 1836, with other countries later following including Switzerland (1855), Germany (1879) and Japan (1896, in Townsville).
The diplomatic corps was first established in Canberra in 1936 when the United Kingdom appointed its first High Commissioner to Australia. [1] Canada appointed a representative in 1939 [2] and the United States of America established a legation in 1940. [3] This was followed in early 1941 by Japan [4] [5] only for the legation to be closed in December 1941 with the entry of Japan into World War II. The period 1941-1945 saw additional legations opened by wartime allies China, [6] [7] the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, [8] France [9] and the Netherlands [10] and the appointment of High Commissioners by New Zealand [11] and India. [12] In 1946, Australia and the United States upgraded their diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level and exchanged ambassadors in September of that year. [13] This was followed for the other non-Commonwealth permanent members of the UN Security Council, France, China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1948 [14] and by the late 1960s all existing legations in Canberra had been upgraded to embassies.
Initially residences and chanceries were in the Canberra suburbs of Red Hill and Forrest. The majority of missions are today in the lakeside suburb of Yarralumla or the suburb of O'Malley in the Woden Valley. Many countries have built their chanceries in distinctive architectural styles reflecting national traditions or aspirations.
Some countries have chosen not to establish an embassy in Canberra but instead operate a consulate in a major city, such as Melbourne.
As of 2024, Canberra hosts 112 embassies/high commissions.
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
China | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Greece | Consulate-General | [31] [23] | ||
Italy | Consulate | [32] [33] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Indonesia | Consulate | [34] | ||
Timor-Leste | Consulate-General | Also serves WA | [35] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
China | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
India | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Italy | Consulate | [36] | ||
Japan | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Nauru | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Papua New Guinea | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Solomon Islands | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
South Korea | Consular Office | [31] [37] | ||
Republic of China (Taiwan) | Economic & Cultural Office | [38] | ||
United Kingdom | Consulate-General | [39] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | Consular Office | [40] | ||
Papua New Guinea | Consulate | [31] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chile | Consulate-General | Also serves SA, TAS, and WA | [31] | |
China | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [31] | |
Croatia | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [31] [20] | |
Egypt | Consulate-General | Also serves SA, TAS, and WA | [31] | |
El Salvador | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Eritrea | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Greece | Consulate-General | [31] [23] | ||
Hungary | Consulate-General | Also serves SA and TAS | [41] | |
India | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [31] | |
Indonesia | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [42] | |
Iraq | Consulate-General | [31] [24] | ||
Italy | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [43] | |
Japan | Consulate-General | Also serves SA and TAS | [31] | |
Lebanon | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Malaysia | Consulate-General | [44] | ||
Malta | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
New Zealand | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
North Macedonia | Consulate-General | Also serves NT, SA, and TAS | [31] | |
Pakistan | Consulate-General | Also serves SA and TAS | [31] | |
Peru | Consulate-General | Also serves TAS | [45] | |
Philippines | Consulate-General | [26] | ||
Romania | Consulate | Also serves SA, TAS, and WA | [46] | |
South Korea | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Spain | Consulate-General | Also serves SA, TAS, and WA | [31] | |
Sri Lanka | Consulate-General | [47] | ||
Republic of China (Taiwan) | Economic & Cultural Office | [48] | ||
Turkey | Consulate-General | Also serves SA, TAS, and WA | [31] | |
United Kingdom | Consulate-General | Also serves SA & TAS | [49] | |
United States | Consulate-General | Also serves NT, SA, and TAS | [31] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
China | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Croatia | Consulate | [31] [20] | ||
Greece | Consulate | [31] [23] | ||
India | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Indonesia | Consulate-General | [50] | ||
Italy | Consulate | [51] | ||
Japan | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Malaysia | Consulate-General | [52] | ||
United Kingdom | Consulate-General | Also serves NT (commercial matters only) | [53] | |
United States | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Vietnam | Consulate-General | [31] |
Sending Country | Mission | Notes | Image | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Consulate-General | Also serves Fiji | [18] | |
Austria | Consulate-General | [31] [19] | ||
Bangladesh | Consulate-General | Also serves QLD | [54] | |
Brazil | Consulate-General | [55] | ||
Canada | Consulate-General | Also serves NT, QLD | [56] | |
Chile | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
China | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Colombia | Consulate-General | [57] | ||
Croatia | Consulate-General | [31] [20] | ||
Czechia | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Denmark | Consulate-General | [31] [21] | ||
East Timor | Consulate-General | [58] | ||
Egypt | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Fiji | Consulate-General | [31] [59] | ||
France | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Germany | Consulate-General | [31] [22] | ||
Greece | Consulate-General | [31] [23] | ||
Hungary | Consulate-General | [60] | ||
India | Consulate-General | Also serves SA | [31] | |
Indonesia | Consulate-General | Also serves QLD and SA | [61] | |
Iraq | Consulate-General | [31] [24] | ||
Ireland | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Italy | Consulate-General | [62] | ||
Japan | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Kazakhstan | Consulate-General | [63] | ||
Lebanon | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Malaysia | Consulate-General | [64] | ||
Malta | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Netherlands | Consulate-General | [65] | ||
New Zealand | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Pakistan | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Papua New Guinea | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Peru | Consulate-General | [66] | ||
Philippines | Consulate-General | [26] | ||
Poland | Consulate-General | [67] | ||
Portugal | Consulate-General | [68] | ||
Romania | Consulate-General | [69] | ||
Russia | Consulate-General | [70] | ||
Samoa | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Saudi Arabia | Consulate-General | [71] | ||
Serbia | Consulate-General | [72] | ||
South Korea | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Spain | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Switzerland | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Republic of China (Taiwan) | Economic & Cultural Office | [73] | ||
Thailand | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Turkey | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
United Kingdom | Consulate-General | [74] | ||
United States | Consulate-General | Also serves NFI, QLD | [31] | |
Uruguay | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Vanuatu | Consulate-General | [31] | ||
Vietnam | Consulate-General | [31] |
Host city | Sending country | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canberra | Belarus | Embassy | 2018 | [78] |
Ivory Coast | Embassy | 2020 | [79] | |
Eritrea | Embassy | 2013 | ||
North Korea | Embassy | 2008 | [80] | |
Paraguay | Embassy | 2024 | [81] | |
South Vietnam | Embassy | 1975 | [82] [83] | |
Syria | Embassy | 2012 | [84] | |
Adelaide | New Zealand | Consulate-General | 1990 | [85] |
United Kingdom | Consulate | 2006 | [86] [87] | |
Brisbane | New Zealand | Consulate-General | 2010 | [85] |
United States | Consulate | 1980s | ||
Melbourne | Oman | Consulate-General | 2023 | [88] |
Perth | New Zealand | Consulate-General | 1990 | [85] |
Sydney | Costa Rica | Consulate-General | 2020 | [89] |
Finland | Consulate-General | 2012 | [90] | |
Mexico | Consulate-General | 2001 | [91] | |
Sweden | Consulate-General | 1995 | [92] | |
Townsville | Japan | Consulate | 1908 | [93] |
Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to build strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation with Asia and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the department of the Australian federal government responsible for foreign policy and relations, international aid, consular services and trade and investment. Australia's total official development assistance (ODA) decreased in 2022 due to differences in Australia's financial year reporting and the timing of its COVID-19-related expenditure, representing 0.19% of gross national income (GNI).
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Greece. Relations between the two states are close: the countries were allies during both World Wars and the Korean War. During World War II, Australian forces took part in the Battle of Greece and the Battle of Crete. There is a large Greek community in Australia. Each country has an embassy in the other's capital. Greece also has consulates general in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as a consulate in Perth, honorary consulates general in Brisbane and Darwin, and honorary consulates in Newcastle and Hobart. Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Australia and Italy established formal diplomatic relations in 1949. Francesca Tardioli was appointed Italian ambassador to Australia in September 2019, the first woman to represent Italy in Australia until her death in February 2022. The headquarters of the Italian embassy, designed by the Italian-Australian architect Enrico Taglietti, is located in the Canberra district of Deakin. Margaret Twomey was appointed Australian ambassador in Rome in July 2020.
Australia and Uruguay have had consular relations since 1923 and diplomatic relations since 1948. Australia is represented in Uruguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Uruguay has an embassy in Canberra a consulate general in Sydney.
Frances Jennifer Adamson is an Australian public servant and diplomat who is the 36th Governor of South Australia, in office since 7 October 2021. She previously served as Australian Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2015 and as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2016 to 2021.
Bilateral relations exist between Australia and Paraguay. Diplomatic relations were established in 1974. Paraguay has an embassy in Canberra whilst Australia has a non resident ambassador in Buenos Aires. Both countries are members of the Cairns Group.
The Australian Consulate General Hong Kong represents the Commonwealth of Australia in Hong Kong, and is also accredited to Macau. As Hong Kong was linked to the Commonwealth during British administration, Australia's diplomatic presence was exercised by an Australian Commission, until 1 January 1986, when it was renamed the Australian Consulate-General. From 1946 to 1972, Australia was represented by the Australian Trade Commission.
The Australian Consul-General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in Houston represents the Australian Government in Houston, Texas. Although it is run and managed by Austrade, the Consulate-General carries out visiting and reporting responsibilities on behalf of the Australian Ambassador in Washington for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.