List of Australian Ambassadors to Hungary

Australian Ambassador to Hungary
Incumbent Brendon Hammer since 2016
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Vienna, Austria
Inaugural holder	John Rowland (resident in Vienna)

The Australian Ambassador to Hungary is the Australian Government's foremost diplomatic representative in Hungary. The Australian Government established an Embassy in Budapest in 1985 and appointed its first resident Ambassador, Oliver Cordell.^[1] Previously, responsibility for Australian diplomatic representation in Hungary was held in Austria (1971–1985).^[2] At the time, Bill Hayden, then Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that closer ties with Hungary could help Australia to encourage dialogue between the United States and the Soviet Union on matters such as disarmament.^[3]

The Australian Embassy in Budapest closed in July 2013.^[4] The Government at the time said the closure was because of budget constraints.^[5] Currently, the Australian Ambassador to Hungary is accredited from Vienna. The current ambassador is Brendon Hammer.

List of heads of mission

Ambassadors resident in Vienna, Austria

• John Rowland (1972–1974)^[6]
• Robert Furlonger (1974–1977)
• James Cumes (1977–1980)^[7][8]
• Duncan Campbell (1980–1984)
• John Kelso (1984–1985)^[9]

Resident Ambassadors

• Oliver Cordell (1985–1988)^[1]
• Doug Townsend (1988–1991)^[10]
• Donald Kingsmill (1992–1995)
• Patrick Robertson (1995–1998)^[11]
• Mark Higgie (1998–2001)^[12]
• Leo Cruise (2001–2004)^[13]
• Clare Birgin (2004–2007)^[14]
• Alex Brooking (2007–2011)^[15]
• John Griffin (2011–2013)^[16][17]

Ambassadors resident in Vienna, Austria

• David Stuart (2013–)^[18][4]
• Brendon Hammer^[19]

References

1. "Embassy in Hungary". The Canberra Times. ACT. 4 April 1985. p. 3.
2. CA 7182: Australian Embassy, Hungary [Budapest], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 January 2016
3. "Budapest embassy". The Canberra Times. ACT. 28 August 1984. p. 2.
4. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary country brief, Australian Government, archived from the original on 22 September 2015
5. Frydenberg, Josh (24 June 2013), Closure of Australia's Embassy in Hungary, archived from the original on 21 March 2015
6. "Links with Hungary, Bulgaria". The Canberra Times. ACT. 6 April 1972. p. 1.
7. "Diplomatic posts". The Canberra Times. ACT. 26 January 1980. p. 3.
8. "Ambassadors appointed". The Canberra Times. ACT. 27 August 1977. p. 7.
9. "Ambassadors announced". The Canberra Times. ACT. 12 March 1984. p. 3.
10. "Diplomats chosen". The Canberra Times. ACT. 4 July 1988. p. 10.
11. Evans, Gareth (26 June 1995). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
12. Downer, Alexander (16 December 1997). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
13. Downer, Alexander (10 January 2001). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
14. Downer, Alexander (25 February 2004). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
15. Downer, Alexander (5 March 2007). "Diplomatic Appointment: Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015.
16. Rudd, Kevin (12 May 2011). "Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Hungary" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
17. Mckean, Bruce (13 June 2011). "Diplomat's link to NQ". Mackay Daily Mercury. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016.
18. Carr, Bob (5 July 2012). "Ambassador to Austria" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014.
19. Bishop, Julie (28 September 2016). "Ambassador to Austria" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016.