List of high commissioners of Australia to Malaysia

Last updated

High Commissioner of Australia to Malaysia
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Justin Lee (2).jpg
Incumbent
Dr Justin Lee
since 1 July 2021 (2021-07-01)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style His Excellency
Reports to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Residence 33 Jalan Langgak Golf
Seat Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur
Nominator Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer Governor General of Australia
Inaugural holder Tom Critchley (Commissioner)
Formation22 December 1955
Website Australian High Commission, Malaysia

The high commissioner of Australia to Malaysia is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia to Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Dr Justin Lee since 1 July 2021.

Contents

Posting history

On 11 November 1955, the Minister for External Affairs, Richard Casey, announced that Tom Critchley had been appointed to the newly created position of Australian Commissioner to Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, noting that while "relations with the authorities in the Federation of Malaya had been conducted through the Australian Commissioner in South-East Asia, Sir Alan Watt, ... the Australian Government believed that it was appropriate for Australia to have a full-time representative in Kuala Lumpur in the Federation of Malaya as important constitutional developments were carrying the Federation of Malaya to self-government." [1]

Australia was one of 15 countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Federation of Malaya in 1957 soon after independence, with the Australian commissioner to Malaya appointed high commissioner from 31 August 1957. [2] [3] [4] With the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the Australian high commissioner to Malaya in Kuala Lumpur became a high commissioner, with the Australian Commissioner for Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak, and North Borneo resident in Singapore becoming a subordinate Deputy High Commission until it was replaced by a high commissioner to an independent Singapore from 9 August 1965. [5]

In 1973, as part of an effort to showcase Australian design in overseas diplomatic missions, the Commonwealth Government of Gough Whitlam commissioned Joyce Nankivell Associates, architects of Melbourne, to design the new High Commission chancery at 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. [6] Designed in a bold Brutalist style with an L-shape plan by Bernard Joyce and William Nankivell in association with local architects Leong Thian & Rakan-rakan, on 29 January 1974 Prime Minister Whitlam turned the first sod at the construction site during an official visit to Malaysia, and the completed building was officially opened on 12 June 1978. [7] [8] [9]

On 30 July 1979, the Australian high commissioner to Malaysia was appointed as the non-resident Commissioner to Brunei, with a stated purpose to "facilitate contacts and closer cooperation with the Government of Brunei during the period leading up to Brunei's full independence in 1983". [10] A resident Australian Commission in Brunei was established in March 1983 in anticipation of Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984. [11] [12]

Heads of mission

No. 33 Jalan Langgak Golf, Kuala Lumpur, official residence of the Australian High Commissioner. Jalan Langgak Golf Kuala Lumpur Dec 2006 009.jpg
No. 33 Jalan Langgak Golf, Kuala Lumpur, official residence of the Australian High Commissioner.
#OfficeholderTitleOther officesResidencyTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1 Claude Massey Commissioner for Malaya and South-East Asian/a Singapore 21 March 194616 May 19504 years, 56 days [13] [14]
2 Laurence McIntyre (Acting)16 May 195010 April 1951329 days [13]
3 Tom Critchley 11 April 19518 November 19521 year, 211 days [13]
4 Laurence McIntyre 9 November 195223 March 19541 year, 134 days [13]
5 Alan Watt 23 March 195422 December 19551 year, 274 days [13]
(3) Tom Critchley High Commissioner A Kuala Lumpur 22 December 19552 November 19659 years, 315 days [1] [2] [15] [5] [16]
6 Nick Parkinson (Acting)n/a2 November 1965December 19650 months [17]
7 Allan Eastman December 19656 June 19693 years, 6 months [18] [19] [20] [21]
8 John Rowland July 1969December 19723 years, 5 months [22] [23]
9 Alfred Parsons January 1973April 19763 years, 3 months [24] [25] [26]
10 Graham Feakes B April 1976April 19804 years [27] [28] [29] [10]
11 Garry Woodard B April 1980January 19843 years, 9 months [30] [31]
12David Evansn/aJanuary 1984March 19873 years, 2 months [32]
13Cavan HogueMarch 1987May 19903 years, 2 months [33]
14Frank MurrayMay 1990March 19932 years, 10 months [34] [35]
15 John Dauth March 1993March 19963 years [36] [37]
16 Bill Farmer March 1996March 19971 year [38]
17Bob CottonMarch 1997February 20002 years, 11 months [39]
18 Peter Varghese February 2000January 20032 years, 11 months [40]
19James WiseJanuary 2003March 20074 years, 2 months [41]
20 Penny Williams March 20075 May 20103 years, 2 months [42]
21Miles Kupa5 May 201026 November 20133 years, 205 days [43]
22Rod Smith26 November 201320 November 20173 years, 359 days [44]
23Andrew Goledzinowski20 November 2017June 20213 years, 6 months [45]
24 Dr Justin Lee 1 July 2021Incumbent3 years, 58 days [46] [47]

Notes

^A Commissioner to Malaya until 31 August 1957; High Commissioner to Malaya until 16 September 1963.
^B Also non-resident Commissioner to Brunei, 1979–1983.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Australian Commissioner in Malaya". Current Notes on International Affairs. 26 (11). Department of External Affairs: 777–778. November 1955. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  2. 1 2 "Diplomatic Relations with Malaya". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (8). Department of External Affairs: 645. August 1957. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  3. ↑ CA 2984: Australian High Commission, Malaya [Kuala Lumpur], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 11 November 2022
  4. ↑ CA 2985:Australian High Commission, Malaysia [Kuala Lumpur], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 16 April 2015
  5. 1 2 "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 34 (10). Department of External Affairs: 68. October 1963. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Architects for new Embassy Buildings". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 44 (9): 619–620. September 1973. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Edquist, Harriett (2011). "William H Nankivell Collection" (PDF). RMIT Design Archives Journal. 1 (2). RMIT Design Archives, RMIT University: 8–13. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Australia now: Lights Up - Kuala Lumpur". Australia now - Malaysia. Australian Government. 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Trade News". Overseas Trading. 30 (21). Australian Trade Commission: 683. 27 October 1978. Retrieved 12 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  10. 1 2 "Appointment of Commissioner to Brunei". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 50 (7). Department of Foreign Affairs: 446–447. July 1979. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "X - Diplomatic and Consular Relations" (PDF), Australian Year Book of International Law: 456, 1987, archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2012, retrieved 4 February 2017
  12. ↑ "Opening of Australian Commission in Brunei". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 54 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 81. February 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 CA 2950: Australian Commission, Malaya/ (from 1954) Commissioner for South-East Asia [Singapore], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 July 2022
  14. ↑ "COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE". The Advertiser . Adelaide. 4 January 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "Critchley honoured". The Canberra Times. ACT. 22 November 1965. p. 1.
  16. ↑ "Replacing Mr Critchley: Transfer leaves diplomatic void". The Canberra Times. ACT. 17 November 1965. p. 15.
  17. ↑ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (11). Department of External Affairs: 796. November 1965. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  18. ↑ "Diplomatic Appointments in Malaysia and to London". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (10). Department of External Affairs: 650. October 1965. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  19. ↑ "New posting for envoys". The Canberra Times. 1 November 1965. p. 3.
  20. ↑ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (12). Department of External Affairs: 866. December 1965. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  21. ↑ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 40 (6). Department of External Affairs: 340. June 1969. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  22. ↑ "Envoy to Malaysia named". The Canberra Times. 15 March 1969. p. 3.
  23. ↑ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 40 (7). Department of External Affairs: 110. July 1969. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  24. ↑ "Diplomatic postings listed". The Canberra Times. 18 November 1972. p. 8.
  25. ↑ "Head of Mission Appointments". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 43 (11). Department of Foreign Affairs: 584. November 1972. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  26. ↑ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 44 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 144. February 1973. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  27. ↑ "New envoy to Malaysia". The Canberra Times. 29 March 1976. p. 3.
  28. ↑ "Appointment of High Commissioner to Malaysia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 47 (3). Department of Foreign Affairs: 170. March 1976. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  29. ↑ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 47 (5). Department of Foreign Affairs: 276. May 1976. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  30. ↑ "Diplomatic appointments". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (1). Department of Foreign Affairs: 679. December 1979 – January 1980. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  31. ↑ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (5). Department of Foreign Affairs: 176. May 1980. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  32. ↑ "High Commissioner to Malaysia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 55 (1). Department of Foreign Affairs: 46. January 1984. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  33. ↑ "High Commissioner to Malaysia". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 58 (3). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 167. March 1987. Retrieved 11 November 2022– via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  34. ↑ "Envoy appointed". The Canberra Times. 23 April 1990. p. 4.
  35. ↑ Duffy, Michael (22 April 1990). "Diplomatic appointment - Malaysia" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  36. ↑ "Dauth posted to Malaysia". The Canberra Times. 27 March 1993. p. 4.
  37. ↑ Evans, Gareth (26 March 1993). "Diplomatic appointment: Malaysia" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  38. ↑ McMullan, Bob (12 January 1996). "Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia [Mr William Farmer]" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  39. ↑ Downer, Alexander (25 March 1997). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  40. ↑ Downer, Alexander (4 November 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  41. ↑ Downer, Alexander (23 October 2002). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  42. ↑ Downer, Alexander (30 January 2007). "Diplomatic Appointment – High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  43. ↑ Smith, Stephen (5 May 2010). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014.
  44. ↑ Bishop, Julie (26 November 2013). "High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014.
  45. ↑ Bishop, Julie (20 November 2017). "High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018.
  46. ↑ Payne, Marise (25 June 2021). "High Commissioner to Malaysia". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  47. ↑ Gopinath, Anandhi (8 November 2021). "Newly minted Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr Justin Lee to strengthen trade relationship between two countries through agriculture". The Edge . Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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