List of high commissioners of Australia to Singapore

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High Commissioner of Australia to Singapore
Incumbent
Allaster Cox
since 18 April 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHis Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
Residence9 White House Park
SeatUnion Building (1947–55)
MacDonald House (1962–67)
25 Napier Road (Since 1977)
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderBill Pritchett
Formation13 August 1965 (High Commissioner)
WebsiteAustralian High Commission, Singapore

The high commissioner of Australia to Singapore is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Singapore. The high commissioner has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Posting history[edit]

The earliest formal diplomatic representation dates from 1922, when Egbert Sheaf was appointed Trade Commissioner for the East based in Singapore, the capital of the British Straits Settlements, who served until January 1925.[1]

On 1 September 1941, the Minister for External Affairs, Sir Frederick Stewart, announced the appointment of Vivian Gordon Bowden as Australia's Official Representative at Singapore, with the aim of being the official intermediary between the Commonwealth Government and the British authorities.[2] Bowden was supported by a Commercial Secretary, Alfred Wootton, and a Third Secretary, John Quinn.[3] Bowden was captured following the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and was murdered by his Japanese captors two days later, despite his diplomatic status and being a non-combatant prisoner of war.[4] With the end of Japanese occupation, Australia posted a resident Commissioner and Trade Commissioner in post-war Singapore from 1946 representing Australia in British Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, as well as Singapore, prior to their federation with Malaysia in 1963, when the post became the Deputy High Commission to Malaysia, reporting to the new High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.[5]

Singapore and Australia have enjoyed official diplomatic relations since 10 August 1965, following Singapore's independence when it was expelled from Malaysia the day before on 9 August. Australia was the first country to recognise Singapore and the serving Prime Minister at the time of recognition, Sir Robert Menzies, announced "I have informed the Singapore Prime Minister that we will be happy to establish full diplomatic relations with Singapore at the level of high commissioner and that we wish Singapore well in its new sovereignty and look forward to a continuance of close and friendly relations with the new State and with Malaysia."[6] Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had made his first visit to Australia in March 1965.[7] Bill Pritchett, who had been serving as deputy high commissioner to Malaysia in Singapore since January 1964, was appointed as the first high commissioner three days after recognition, by Foreign Minister Paul Hasluck.[8]

In 2015, Australia and Singapore celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations alongside celebrations for 50 years of Singapore's independence.[9]

Office-holders[edit]

High commissioners[edit]

# Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
1 Bill Pritchett 13 August 1965 (1965-08-13) February 1967 (1967-02) 1 year, 5 months [8][5]
2 Alfred Parsons February 1967 (1967-02) 9 June 1970 (1970-06-09) 3 years, 4 months [10]
3 Nicholas Parkinson June 1970 (1970-06) December 1973 (1973-12) 3 years, 6 months [11]
4 Robert Birch December 1973 (1973-12) February 1977 (1977-02) 3 years, 2 months [12]
5 Laurence Corkery February 1977 (1977-02) January 1978 (1978-01) 11 months [13][14]
6 Geoffrey Price January 1978 (1978-01) April 1981 (1981-04) 3 years, 3 months [15][16]
7 Kenneth McDonald April 1981 (1981-04) December 1983 (1983-12) 2 years, 8 months [17]
8 Walter Handmer December 1983 (1983-12) March 1988 (1988-03) 4 years, 3 months [18]
9 Margaret Rosaleen McGovern March 1988 (1988-03) September 1990 (1990-09) 2 years, 6 months [19]
10 Alan Brown September 1990 (1990-09) October 1993 (1993-10) 3 years, 1 month [20]
11 Ted Delofski October 1993 (1993-10) February 1997 (1997-02) 3 years, 4 months [21]
12 Murray McLean February 1997 (1997-02) August 2001 (2001-08) 4 years, 6 months [22][23]
13 Gary Quinlan August 2001 (2001-08) July 2005 (2005-07) 3 years, 11 months [24][25]
14 Miles Kupa July 2005 (2005-07) 23 October 2008 (2008-10-23) 3 years, 3 months [26][27]
15 Doug Chester 23 October 2008 (2008-10-23) August 2012 (2012-08) 3 years, 9 months [28][29]
16 Philip Green 25 August 2012 (2012-08-25) December 2016 (2016-12) 4 years, 3 months [30][31][32]
17 Bruce Gosper January 2017 (2017-01) January 2021 (2021-01) 4 years [33][34]
18 Will Hodgman 9 February 2021 (2021-02-09) February 2023 3 years, 65 days [35][36][37][38]
19 Allaster Cox 18 April 2023 (2023-04-18) Incumbent 362 days

Prior appointments[edit]

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
Egbert Sheaf Trade Commissioner 25 July 1922 (1922-07-25) 19 January 1925 (1925-01-19) 2 years, 178 days [39][40][41]
Posting abolished
Vivian Gordon Bowden Official Representative 1 September 1941 (1941-09-01) 14 February 1942 (1942-02-14) 166 days [2][42]
Posting closed (due to the Fall of Singapore)
John Charles Rookwood Proud Political Representative 2 December 1945 (1945-12-02) 21 March 1946 (1946-03-21) 109 days [43][44][45]
Claude Massey Commissioner for Malaya and South-East Asia 21 March 1946 (1946-03-21) 16 May 1950 (1950-05-16) 4 years, 56 days [46][47]
Laurence McIntyre (Acting) 16 May 1950 (1950-05-16) 10 April 1951 (1951-04-10) 329 days
Tom Critchley 11 April 1951 (1951-04-11) 8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 1 year, 211 days
Laurence McIntyre 9 November 1952 (1952-11-09) 23 March 1954 (1954-03-23) 1 year, 134 days
Alan Watt 23 March 1954 (1954-03-23) 7 April 1956 (1956-04-07) 2 years, 15 days
Ralph Harry Commissioner for Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo 7 April 1956 (1956-04-07) 20 September 1957 (1957-09-20) 1 year, 166 days [48][49][50]
Alexander Hay Borthwick (Acting) 20 September 1957 (1957-09-20) 18 December 1957 (1957-12-18) 89 days [51]
David McNicol 18 December 1957 (1957-12-18) 28 September 1960 (1960-09-28) 2 years, 285 days [52]
John Ryan (Acting) 28 September 1960 (1960-09-28) 5 November 1960 (1960-11-05) 38 days [53]
Gordon Jockel 5 November 1960 (1960-11-05) 20 January 1963 (1963-01-20) 2 years, 76 days [54][55]
W. Kevin Flanagan (Acting) 20 January 1963 (1963-01-20) 12 April 1963 (1963-04-12) 82 days [56]
Richard Woolcott (Acting) 12 April 1963 (1963-04-12) 15 September 1963 (1963-09-15) 271 days [57]
Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia,
resident in Singapore 		16 September 1963 (1963-09-16) 8 January 1964 (1964-01-08) [58]
Bill Pritchett 8 January 1964 (1964-01-08) 13 August 1965 (1965-08-13) 1 year, 217 days
High Commissioner appointed

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cotton, James. "Sheaf, Egbert Thomas (1869–1948)". People Australia. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Singapore Appointment". The Scone Advocate. NSW. 2 September 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ CA 2944: Official Representative, Singapore, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 16 July 2017
  4. ^ Darryl Bennet, 'Bowden, Vivian Gordon (1884–1942)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bowden-vivian-gordon-9552/text16825, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 15 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b CA 2953: Australian High Commission, Singapore, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 August 2015
  6. ^ "Australia will still help to defend Singapore". The Canberra Times. 11 August 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Singapore P.M. arrives". The Canberra Times. 16 March 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b "Our man for new State". The Canberra Times. 14 August 1965. p. 4. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ Bishop, Julie (20 May 2015). "50 years of Australia-Singapore friendship" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Envoy chosen for Singapore". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Forward defence". The Canberra Times. 5 June 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Appointments". The Canberra Times. 14 December 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Envoy". The Canberra Times. 19 February 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ Peacock, Andrew (18 February 1977). "High Commissioner to Singapore" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  15. ^ Peacock, Andrew (22 December 1977). "High Commissioner in Singapore" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  16. ^ Chad Mitcham, ’Price, Geoffrey John’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/price-geoffrey-john-32557 published online 2023
  17. ^ Street, Tony (24 March 1981). "Diplomatic appointment" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  18. ^ Hayden, Bill (15 November 1983). "Diplomatic appointment: Singapore" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  19. ^ "High Commissioner to Singapore". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 58 (8). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 445. August 1987. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  20. ^ Evans, Gareth (16 August 1990). "Diplomatic appointment- Singapore" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  21. ^ Evans, Gareth (13 September 1993). "Diplomatic appointment: Singapore" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  22. ^ Downer, Alexander (29 November 1996). "Diplomatic Appointment: Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012.
  23. ^ "Mr Murray McLean - High Commissioner to Singapore". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 10 March 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  24. ^ Downer, Alexander (6 March 2001). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  25. ^ "Mr Gary Quinlan - High Commissioner to Singapore". Australian Heads of Mission. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 13 July 2005. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  26. ^ Downer, Alexander (15 June 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  27. ^ "Mr Miles Kupa - High Commissioner to Singapore". Australian Heads of Mission. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  28. ^ Smith, Stpehen (30 July 2008). "Diplomatic Appointment – High Commissioner To Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
  29. ^ "Mr Doug Chester - High Commissioner to Singapore". Australian Heads of Mission. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  30. ^ Carr, Bob (24 August 2012). "High Commissioner to Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  31. ^ "Presentation of Credentials Ceremony". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore). 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  32. ^ "High Commissioner to Singapore - Mr Philip Green". Australian Ambassadors and other representatives. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  33. ^ Bishop, Julie (30 September 2016). "High Commissioner to Singapore" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016.
  34. ^ "High Commissioner to Singapore - Mr Bruce Gosper". Australian Ambassadors and other representatives. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  35. ^ Payne, Marise (29 November 2020). "High Commissioner to Singapore". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Former Tasmanian premier appointed Australia's next high commissioner to Singapore". www.abc.net.au. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  37. ^ "The Hon William Hodgman - Australian High Commissioner to Singapore". Australian High Commission Singapore. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  38. ^ "High Commissioner to Singapore - The Hon William Hodgman". Australian Ambassadors and other representatives. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  39. ^ "TRADE IN THE EAST". Queensland Times. Queensland, Australia. 21 March 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "MR. E. T. SHEAF". The Daily Telegraph. New South Wales, Australia. 9 December 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 18 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "EASTERN TRADE REPRESENTATIVE". The Evening News. Rockhampton, Queensland. 21 January 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 18 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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  43. ^ CA 2949: Australian Political Liaison Officer to the United Kingdom Special Commission for South-East Asia in Malaya [Singapore], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 July 2022
  44. ^ "Interesting People". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 13, no. 37. Australia, Australia. 23 February 1946. p. 18. Retrieved 18 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 17 (3): 130. March 1946. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  46. ^ CA 2950: Australian Commission, Malaya/ (from 1954) Commissioner for South-East Asia [Singapore], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 July 2022
  47. ^ "COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 4 January 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  48. ^ CA 2951: Australian Commission, Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 July 2022
  49. ^ "Australian Diplomatic Appointments". Current Notes on International Affairs. 27 (2). Department of External Affairs: 92. February 1956. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  50. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 27 (4). Department of External Affairs: 272. April 1956. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  51. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (9). Department of External Affairs: 752. September 1957. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Singapore". Current Notes on International Affairs. 28 (11). Department of External Affairs: 873. November 1957. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  53. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 31 (9). Department of External Affairs: 522. September 1960. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  54. ^ "Australian Commissioner in Singapore". Current Notes on International Affairs. 31 (8). Department of External Affairs: 415. August 1960. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 31 (11). Department of External Affairs: 673. November 1960. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  56. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 34 (1–2). Department of External Affairs: 80. January–February 1963. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 34 (4). Department of External Affairs: 33. April 1963. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  58. ^ CA 2952: Australian Deputy High Commission, Malaysia [Singapore], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 July 2022

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