Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners, rather than Ambassadors. Though there are a few technical and historical differences, they are now in practice one and the same office. The following persons have served as British High Commissioner to Australia. Despite Britain's close relationship with Australia, there was only a High Commissioner from London appointed in 1936.
Prior to 1936, the Governor-General of Australia was the official representative of the British government, as well as the crown. This was changed after the 1926 Imperial Conference and the subsequent Balfour Declaration and the Statute of Westminster. Although Australia didn't ratify the Statute of Westminster until 1942 (retroactive to 1939), the United Kingdom appointed a High Commissioner to regularise the role of the Governor-General in Australia.
| High Commissioner | Start of Term | End of Term |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Geoffrey Whiskard GCMG | 1936 | 1941 |
| The Rt Hon. Sir Ronald Cross KCMG KCVO | 1941 | 1945 |
| The Hon. Edward Williams | 1946 | 1952 |
| Sir Stephen Holmes | 1952 | 1953 |
| ("Unknown") | 1953 | 1956 |
| The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC DL | 1956 | 1959 |
| Sir William Oliver,KCB,OBE,DL,KCMG,GBE | 1959 | 1965 |
| Sir Charles Johnston GCMG KStJ | 1965 | 1971 |
| The Rt Hon. Sir Morrice James GCMG CVO MBE | 1971 | 1976 |
| Sir Donald Tebbit GCMG | 1976 | 1980 |
| Sir John Mason | 1980 | 1984 |
| Sir John Leahy KCMG | 1984 | 1988 |
| Sir John Coles | 1988 | 1991 |
| Sir Brian Barder | 1991 | 1994 |
| Sir Roger Carrick | 1994 | 1997 |
| The Hon. Alex Allan | 1997 | 1999 |
| The Rt Hon. Lord Goodlad KCMG PC | 1999 | 2005 |
| The Rt Hon. Helen Liddell | 2005 | 2009 |
| The Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos | 2009 | Present |
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