Embassy of Finland in Australia

The Embassy of the Republic of Finland to the Australian Commonwealth is Finland's diplomatic mission to Australia. The mission is also accredited to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. [cite web | url=http://www.finland.org.au/en/ | title=Introduction | work=Embassy of Finland, Canberra (Official Site) | accessdate=2007-01-28]

History

Finland first established a consulate in Sydney in 1918. In these early years, the consulate, apart from providing consular services, also played the role of a social club for the Australian Finnish community. After relations become tense between Finland and Great Britain in 1941, as a result of the Continuation War between the Soviet Union and Finland, representatives of the Finnish government returned to their home country.

In 1949, Finland and Australia began diplomatic relations. The relationship between the two countries was quickly established after the war and ties between Australia and Finland became stronger and deeper. In the 1950s, Finnish exports doubled from the previous decade. The Consulate of Finland remained in Sydney until 1966 when it was moved to the capital city of Canberra, and in 1968 the first Finnish ambassador was appointed. The Finnish embassy was built in Yarralumla in 1978, adjacent to the Singaporean and Indonesian missions.

"Ilmarinen"

In 2002 a distinctively built annex was built, designed by Finnish architect Vesa Huttunen of Hirvonen and Huttunen who won the commission in a 1997 competition. The annex houses the chancery, a residence for the Counsellor and a Finnish sauna. The 1978 building now serves as the Ambassadorial residence.

The building appears as a long, sleek box of stainless steel and glass, neatly complemented by the overhang of indigenous eucalyptus trees. Named "Ilmarinen" after the Finnish armoured naval vessel (in turn named after the blacksmith hero in the Finnish national epic "Kalevala", the building has the spatial feel of a ship. Offices sit like cabins lined up along the side of the building, connected by walkways overlooking an atrium. The facade of the chancery building is made entirely of glass. Interior steel I-beams and stainless steel padding is used alongside recycled jarrah timber external decks and stair treads which look as if they came from a disused wharf (actually they originate from Australian sheep stations). "Ilmarinen" was granted a special prize in the annual architectural competition held in the Australian Capital Territory in the summer of 2003. [ [http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/downloads/education_and_understanding/tours/Diplomatic_Estate_Drive.pdf "Yarralumla Diplomatic Estate Tour", National Capital Authority] ] [http://www.archmedia.com.au/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200201&article=10&typeon=2 Frith, John, "Canberra's New Finnish Embassy", Architecture Australia, January/February 2002]

Finnish Ambassadors to Australia

Location

The embassy is located at 12 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT Australia, 2600. In addition to the Embassy, there is also a Finnish Consulate in Sydney, NSW and 7 other honorary consols in various cities around Australia.

References

ee also

*List of embassies in Canberra
*Other Embassies in Yallumla

External links

* [http://www.finland.org.au/en/ Embassy of Finland Canberra (Official Site)]
* [http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/List_of_Ambassadors_from_Finland International List of Ambassadors from Finland]