Australia's first diplomatic representative in China was
Vivian Gordon Bowden, who in 1935 was appointed as a trade commissioner based in Shanghai.[2] The establishment of trade commissions in several Asian countries was an initiative of the
Lyons government first announced in 1933, where previously Australian interests had been represented by the United Kingdom.[3] Bowden's office was based in the
HSBC Building within the
Shanghai International Settlement.[4] Bowden served until 1941 when he was transferred to Singapore, with the trade commission taken over by the new formal legation in Chongqing.[5]
Australia's legation was first accredited to the
Republic of China and was located in
Chongqing from 1941 to 1946, with the first Minister, Sir
Frederic Eggleston, presenting his credentials to President
Lin Sen on 30 October 1941. The legation later moved to
Nanjing from June 1946 to 1949, initially located at 34 Peiping Road and then 26 Yihe Road.[6] Following the
Proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Australian Government recalled its Ambassador from China to discuss recognition of the Communist Government.[7] The Government of the Republic of China, having retreated to
Taipei,
Taiwan, maintained its embassy in Australia until December 1972. In 1966 Australia opened an Embassy in Taipei.[8] In 1972, diplomatic relations ceased following the decision of the government of Prime Minister
Gough Whitlam to recognise the People's Republic of China, and the Taipei Embassy closed in 1973.[9] As a result of Australia's recognition of the PRC in 1973, Australia has no diplomatic representation in
Taiwan and continues economic, trade and cultural relations through the
Australian Office in Taipei.
After diplomatic recognition of the PRC in 1972, Australia established an Embassy in
Beijing in 1973,[10] followed by Consulates-General in
Shanghai (1984),
Guangzhou (1992),[11] and
Chengdu (2013). The latter was opened following release of the Asian Century White Paper by the
Gillard government, and calls for an expanded diplomatic footprint in China.[12] On 9 November 2014 the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Julie Bishop, formally opened the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu.[13] In March 2017, an agreement was signed to establish a fifth Australian Consulate-General in 2018, to be located in the northern city of
Shenyang.[14] From 1991 to 2008, the ambassador to China was also
accredited toMongolia.
^"TRADE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 399. New South Wales, Australia. 8 June 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Taiwan awaits ambassador". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 491. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 September 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Envoy's term finished". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12, 375. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 July 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Envoy to China named". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12, 390. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 August 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^
ab"Not to be replaced". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 300. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 December 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^Bishop, Julie (7 November 2016).
"Consul-General in Chengdu". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from
the original(Media release) on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
^Payne, Marise (4 May 2021).
"Consul-General in Chengdu". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from
the original(Media release) on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
^Evans, Gareth (25 November 1992).
"Diplomatic appointment: Guangzhou"(Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
^Carr, Bob (25 June 2012).
"Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from
the original(Media release) on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
^Bishop, Julie (11 February 2014).
"Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from
the original(Media release) on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
^Wong, Penny (20 November 2022).
"Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from
the original(Media Release) on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.