10th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Monaco and Australia

This year, the Principality of Monaco and Australia are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.  To mark this occasion, the Embassy of Monaco in Australia has organised a "Monaco Week," which is currently taking place in Sydney.  Various events are also planned for the occasion to promote the Principality, in particular through the participation of the Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene Foundations, the Tourist and Convention Authority and the Société des Bains de Mer.

It was in May 2007 that the two countries first decided to establish Diplomatic Relations.  The current Ambassador of Australia to Monaco, since 4 September 2014, is H. E. Mr. Stephen Brady, who is posted in Paris.  Reciprocally, on 16 June 2011, H.E. Ms. Catherine Fautrier was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Monaco to the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Consular Relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Commonwealth of Australia opened on 27 August 1959, on which date Mr. Vincent John Flynn was appointed First Honorary Consul of Monaco in Sydney.  Today, Monaco has two Honorary Consuls in Australia:

• Mr. Andrew M. Cannon, who was appointed in 2002 and based in Melbourne, who covers the States of Victoria (VIC), Tasmania (TAS), South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA)

• Mr. Hadrien Bourely, who was appointed in 2016 and based in Sydney, who covers the States of New South Wales (NSW), the Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland (Q)

Approximately 150 Australians currently reside in the Principality of Monaco and more than 10,000 visit the Principality each year.  In 2010, Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority opened a Representative Office, based in Sydney, which covers Australia and New Zealand.

Two major cultural exhibitions have strengthened the links that exist between the two countries.  In March 2012, H.S.H. Princess Charlene officially opened the "Princess Grace" exhibition in Bendigo (VIC), which was an immediate success.  Also, from March to September 2016, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco hosted the "TABA NABA" exhibition, comprised of Australian Aboriginal Australian artworks on the theme of "Man and the Ocean."