Poland in Australia

In 2022 we celebrate 50 years since the establishment of Polish-Australian diplomatic relations. However, people-to-people links between Poland and Australia extend well beyond the last five decades.

The celebration at the Polish Embassy in Canberra took place on 5 May and commemorated the 231st anniversary of the adoption of the 3rd of May Constitution, as well as this year’s 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Australia. Various events commemorating the 3rd of May Constitution, as well as the Flag Day and the Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad on 2 May, were held in many cities across Australia, organised at the initiative of local Polish community and Polish Honorary Consuls.

50 eucalyptus trees were planted on 4 April in Geehi, near Mount Kosciuszko, with each tree symbolising a year of official diplomatic relations between Poland and Australia. The project was carried out in cooperation with NSW National Park & Wildlife Service. Together with Ambassador Michał Kołodziejski, the trees were planted by Kyle Williams, NPWS Director for Southern Ranges Branch; Ian Chaffey, mayor of Snowy Valley Council; Elders of the Monaro Ngarigo people; local community members as well as representatives of the Polish community in New South Wales.

This year’s Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day was held on 25 March at the Polish Embassy in Canberra. To show solidarity with Ukraine, the hosts of the event – Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Canberra Michał Kołodziejski and Chargé d’Affaires of Hungary Diana Haszonics – invited a special guest, Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi. Among the participants of the celebration were representatives of the Polish, Hungarian and Ukrainian communities from the ACT.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Poland, Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Mateusz Morawiecki issued a joint statement.

Minister Zbigniew Rau hosted Australia’s head of diplomacy, Marise Payne, in Warsaw.

"The Sejm of the Republic of Poland expresses its deep satisfaction with the ties linking our countries and nations despite the geographical distance" - Polish parliamentarians wrote in a resolution on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Australia adopted by acclamation on 27 January. The diplomatic relations were established on 20 February 1972.