Although the United Kingdom (representing Australia) would not recognise the new country of Finland until 6 May 1919, John Oscar Boijer, the head of the Finnish Seamen's Mission in Sydney, effectively acted as an unofficial consul.

[5] On his appointment, the Daily Commercial News and Shipping List positively noted: "Finland will find that in Australia, she will acquire friends who will only be too pleased to trade with her, and by sending her representative here she has shown her earnestness.

[7] On 24 October 1919, Naukler was officially appointed as Consul for Finland in Australia, with responsibility for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, which formerly received recognition from King George V on 15 December 1919.

[14][15][16] In his memory, the K. J. Naukler Cup was established by the NSW Amateur Athletics Association, presented to the winner of the most overall points in the annual competition.

[30][31][32] On 20 February 1935, Tanner departed Australia, leaving Sydney for Finland on board the SS Nieuw Holland, and was replaced as Finnish consul from 1 March by Paavo Simelius.

[40] On 30 July 1941, the Australian Minister for External Affairs, Sir Frederick Stewart, notified Consul Simelius that all Finnish diplomatic staff in Australia were considered persona non grata and were to leave the country at the next available opportunity.

[41][42] On his departure, Simelius noted: "I will be sorry to leave, for I have met with extreme kindness and courtesy from everyone in this country, Government officials and private citizens alike.

[44] On 8 December 1941, following the United Kingdom, the Australian Government declared war on Finland, with Finnish citizens now considered to be enemy aliens.

[45][46] The state of war ended without shots being fired with the signing of the Moscow Armistice between Finland, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union on 19 September 1944, and eventually the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty in 1947 of which Australia was a signatory.

[60] On 1 March 1967, the decision was made to move the Finnish Legation to Canberra, and upgrade it to an embassy to coincide with the Australian appointment of an ambassador to Finland, which was completed on 2 June 1968.

[62][63] When Olavi Wanne returned to Finland early due to ill health, on 1 October 1968 he was succeeded as chargé by his deputy Peter Graf von der Pahlen.

[72][73] In 1978 a new Finnish Embassy building on Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla, incorporating a chancery and ambassador's residence designed by Rommel Moorcroft & Partners, was opened.

A number of Finnish multinationals including Nokia, Stora Enso, Huhtamaki, Outokumpu, Wärtsilä and Konecranes, have a presence in Australia.