The high commissioner of the United Kingdom to Australia is an officer of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative to the Commonwealth of Australia. Despite Britain's close relationship with Australia, the first high commissioner from London was not appointed until 1936, owing to the clarification of Britain's relations with the imperial dominions after the Statute of Westminster 1931.

Office history

From the beginning of the British colonisation in 1788 and after Australia's federation in 1901, the governor-general and the various state governors had been the official representatives of the British government, as well as the Crown. Following the 1926 Imperial Conference and the subsequent Balfour Declaration an Australian, Sir Isaac Isaacs, became Governor-General in January 1931. Being an Australian, it was felt in London he couldn't properly represent the British Government. They thus appointed their representative for migration in Melbourne Ernest Tristram Crutchley as their first representative of His Majesty's Government in Australia, pending the nomination of a high commissioner, on the Canadian model.

That same year, the Statute of Westminster made easier the creation of such high commissions in the dominions but as the Australian Government delayed its ratification, the United Kingdom had to wait until 1936 to appoint a high commissioner to regularise the role of the Governor-General in Australia, six years before Australia's actual ratification of the Statute.

Office-holders

High commissionerStart of termEnd of termSir Geoffrey Whiskard, 19361941Sir Ronald Cross, 1st Baronet, 19411945Sir Ted Williams, 19461952Sir Stephen Holmes, 19521956The Lord Carrington, 19561959Lieutenant General Sir William Oliver, 19591965Sir Charles Johnston, 19651971Sir Morrice James, 19711976Sir Donald Tebbit, 19761980Sir John Mason, 19801984Sir John Leahy, 19841988Sir John Coles, 19881991Sir Brian Barder, 19911994Sir Roger Carrick, 19941997Sir Alex Allan, 19971999The Lord Goodlad, 19992005The Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke, 20052009The Baroness Amos, 20092010Paul Madden, 20112015Menna Rawlings, 20152019Victoria Treadell, 20192025Dame Sarah MacIntosh, 20252026

References

External links British High Commission Canberra - GOV.UK