U.S. Embassy Canberra

The first United States ship to enter an Australian port was the Philadelphia which arrived in Sydney in 1792.

Subsequently, American trading ships, usually bound for China, and American whaling vessels appeared in Port Jackson for trade or for replenishment of supplies. In 1833 American merchants opened trading branches in Australia. This led to increased commercial exchange and resulted in the appointment of the first Consul in Sydney, Mr. James Hartwell Williams, on May 20, 1836. However, he did not arrive to take office until February 19, 1839.

There was a considerable interchange of Australians and Americans during the Gold Rush days of the last century and several thousand Americans arrived in this country during the 1850s. United States consular representation was gradually expanded but official diplomatic relations, which had previously been conducted through the Government of the United Kingdom, were not established until January 1940. At that time, the Right Honorable R.G. Casey became Australia’s Minister to Washington and Mr. Clarence E. Gauss was appointed United States Minister to Australia. In July 1946, the rank of representatives exchanged by the two countries was raised to that of Ambassador. The American Embassy was the first embassy to be established in Canberra.