Background

Diplomatic traditions in Australia long pre‑date the modern state, with First Nations peoples maintaining sophisticated systems of negotiation, exchange and inter‑community relations for thousands of years.

The Commonwealth government’s diplomatic service developed gradually in the early twentieth century. At that time Australia's overseas presence was focused on trade representation and early nation branding. Although the Commonwealth created a Department of External Affairs in 1901, Australia’s overseas representation continued to be carried out largely through British diplomatic channels for several decades.

From 1939-40, Australia began establishing its own independent overseas missions beyond the United Kingdom, marking a shift toward a distinct national foreign service. The Department of External Affairs later evolved into today’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which currently manages Australia’s diplomatic and consular network.

First Nations diplomatic practice, advocacy and trade  

First Nations Lore, ceremony, culture and connection to Country have long shaped diplomatic practice. This included trade and negotiation within and between communities, and with overseas visitors such as Makassan traders from Indonesia. For centuries, Yolŋu and other northern communities developed diplomatic and commercial relationships with Makasar seafarers centred on trepang (sea cucumber), guided by shared protocols and agreed harvesting rights. These exchanges influenced communities far inland and demonstrate longstanding First Nations international engagement.

Loui Seselja, [The Aboriginal flag with Old Parliament House in background, on 30th anniversary of Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra, 26 January 2002], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-149953473

King Billy, Wiradjuri Elder, at the Opening of Parliament House, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, May, 1927, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137183463

First Nations advocacy continues into the present. The first recorded Aboriginal protest at Parliament occurred in 1927, when Wiradjuri elders King Billy and Marvellous walked to Canberra to raise concerns about sovereignty at the opening of Parliament House.

Nearly a century later, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, established in 1972 as a land rights and sovereignty protest, remains the longest running Indigenous land rights protest in the world. Its origins can be traced back to 26 January 1972 when four Aboriginal men - Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bert Williams and Tony Coorey - travelled to Canberra and put up a beach umbrella on the lawns of Old Parliament House, demanding land rights and compensation. This was in response to Prime Minister McMahon’s announcement the day before that denied the possibility of land rights.  

Now the longest running Indigenous land rights protest in the world, it continues to serve as a platform for First Nations people to advocate for sovereignty and self-determination. 

Ken Middleton, [Demonstration with 'Aboriginal Embassy' placard at land rights demonstration, Parliament House, Canberra, 30 July 1972], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-149418064

The Library holds photographs, manuscripts, oral histories and other materials documenting these diplomatic traditions and advocacy movements. In 2023, Justin Mohamed, a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg, was appointed Australia’s first Ambassador for First Nations People, a role designed to embed First Nations cultures and expertise into Australia’s international engagement. 

His work, including contributions to policy documents such as the Australia–UAE CEPA First Nations Action Plan, highlights the continuity between longstanding First Nations trade networks and contemporary Indigenous‑led global enterprise. Materials like this are preserved through the Australian Web Archive, ensuring ongoing access to Australia’s evolving First Nations diplomacy.

Diplomats in the public imagination 

The ‘diplomats’ occupation was depicted in the Citizenship collectible project card album for children, with two besuited men striding forth from a plane in an arid country, with locals draped in saris, and minaret buildings across the landscape. Attractive project cards could be collected at petrol stations and added to the album, such as this completed example in the Library’s collection. 

A career information booklet by the Department of External Affairs (DEA) from 1957, stated that their work was ‘...stimulating and constant.’. Being an External Affairs Officer in Australia’s diplomatic service, meant you could actively take part in conducting Australian foreign policy, and help Government to form that policy. Diplomatic and consular posts were maintained in 31 centres through embassies, high commissions, legations and an Australian Mission at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

While candidates were preferred to have a high standard Honours degree course, other desirable personal qualities such as judgment, reliability and devotion to duty were viewed favorably.

Detail of diplomat project card, Project card album : citizenship, 1964 https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6573549  

Communications and diplomatic practice 

Communication is one of the core businesses of DFAT. Initially, this took the form of daily bundles of telegrams from overseas, cables, intelligence reports, Committee and Cabinet papers, and other correspondence. Examples of such communication formats and technology can be seen in the Dominion Office war cables and in the manuscript collection, Papers of William Douglass Forsyth, 1875-1993.   

A variety of TELEX publications from the Library’s collection. 

The adoption of the TELEX system in the mid 1950s dramatically changed the speed of secure communication. The TELEX system could send printed messages across vast distances through teleprinter machines which looked like typewriters. It was promoted as a typed version of a phone call, with the receiving teleprinter receiving the sender’s words in real time. The Telex overseas service operated through long-distance radio circuits. 

Modernisation in air travel, personal computers, emails, mobile phones were transformative in the speed of communication within the practice of diplomacy. As part of modern international communications technology with Indo-Pacific undersea cable networks, DFAT launched the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre which supports international communication and connectivity.

Spousal responsibilities 

The impact of a diplomat’s spouse has long been significant, even if often overlooked. Traditionally, spouses were expected to shoulder extensive informal duties: organising and attending official receptions, maintaining the social life of the mission, supporting community relations, and managing the household in ways that upheld the embassy’s reputation. These responsibilities were unpaid yet essential, and many spouses placed their own careers on hold to advance the broader aims of the diplomatic posting. 

The Library holds many autobiographies written by officers and their families, offering personal insights into the experience of representing a country, whether through a single multi-year posting or a lifetime of postings. We also hold significant archival material, including Papers relating to wives and female staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs [1940-2012]. 

If you’d like to explore further, you can browse the catalogue using these subject headings: 

Diplomats' spouses -- Australia 

Diplomats' spouses -- Australia -- Biography 

Diplomats' spouses -- Australia -- Social life and customs 

Diplomats' spouses -- Australia -- Archives 

Diplomats' spouses -- Australia -- Interviews 

This resource features a range of primary source collections related to international relations between Asian countries and the West during the 19th century. These include government reports, diplomatic correspondence, periodicals, newspapers, treaties, trade agreements, NGO papers, and more.

How to search and find items 

Use these tips to help you search for and access items in our collection.

Search the catalogue 

Use our catalogue to start looking at physical and digitised resources in our collection. 

Get started with the catalogue

Keyword search 

Use a quick keyword search in the catalogue to find titles, authors or subjects. 

• General searching with keywords can give many results, but you can find more targeted resources by narrowing the search fields. For example, a basic keyword search for ‘diplomats’ can be focused with the menu options in Limit your search (at the right of the search results page). By choosing the type (Format) of items, such as Manuscript, your refined results will only apply to those specific materials.  
• Out of copyright items may have been digitised. To find digitised items, within Limit your search, choose National Library (digitised item) from the Access field. 

Subject search 

(1940). R.G. Casey seated playing with pet dog Mizr, Washington, United States ca. 1941 [picture]. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147915514 

Another way to group your search results is by searching with subject headings. Search the catalogue by subject directly, selecting subject in the drop-down menu of the search field. As you begin typing your subject, suggested subject headings will appear for your selection. Or, if you have already found a catalogue record for a relevant resource, you can click on its included subject headings to see related materials. 
 
Some subject examples for diplomacy include topics or individuals: 

• Ambassadors – Australia  
• Ambassadors -- Australia – portraits  
• Diplomatic relations  
• “Dobson, Ruth, 1918-1990"

Where else to look 

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, History of Australian diplomacy 
  Regular publications on foreign and trade policy historical material (some online), including the Documents on Australian Foreign Policy series. 
• National Archives of Australia  
  The NAA hold the records of the Department of External Affairs and its successor the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 
• Australian National University Archives  
  Anu Archives hold a select number of diplomatic archives. 
• National Museum of Australia 
  Australia’s diplomatic history as represented in the Australian diplomatic collection at the National Museum of Australia, partnered with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 
  https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/blog/australian-diplomacy-world https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/australian-diplomatic-collection  

Get help with your research 

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf. 

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.