Australia's High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith: Amount top diplomat charged taxpayers to renovate Stoke Lodge - despite cancelling Australia Day tradition because 'of the cost'

Australia's High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, used $670,000 of taxpayers' money to renovate his official residence, despite cancelling an Australia Day event at the mansion because of the cost.

Stoke Lodge, Mr Smith's lavish home in London, is worth about $100million, and previous High Commissioners have used it to host up 150 events per year to promote Australia. 

But Mr Smith, a former Labor minister who was a captain's pick by Anthony Albanese for the plum job, has held just 30 functions there this year. 

Earlier this week the High Commissioner chose to scrap the date for an annual Australia Day event in London citing 'sensitivities' around January 26.

He later changed his story, however, saying high costs, not the commemoration of the date the First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove in 1788, was the reason for his decision. 

Mr Smith said the $55,000 cost to run the black-tie gala event, previously attended by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem and Tim Minchin, was the reason for the cancellation. 

His backtracking was compounded when acting Prime Minister Richard Marles intervened to say there will be an Australia Day function in London, though not necessarily the gala event. 

George Brandis, who preceded Mr Smith as the High Commissioner, hosted an average of three events a week when he was in the job.

The Coalition's Foreign Affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said there was 'little point refurbishing (residences such as Stoke Lodge) if they aren't being effectively used to get outcomes for Australia'.

'Australian taxpayers fund embassies, commissions and residences so that they can be used in our national interest, including hosting events that secure jobs and investments for Australia,' he told News Corp.

'Hot on the heels of his cancelling a traditional Australia Day event, these further reports will have many wondering whether Anthony Albanese's personal pick for London is actually doing the job he's paid to do.'

Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the decision to move the date of the charity gala 'crazy' and 'utterly unacceptable' and called for Mr Smith to resign.

'How can we have a High Commissioner who is ashamed of Australia Day? Australia Day is a celebration of our history and our heritage,' Mr Dutton said.

'I think the vast majority of Australians will be celebrating Australia Day and I think the High Commissioner in London, if he's not prepared to celebrate Australia Day, if he's ashamed of Australia Day, then frankly I think he should be looking for a new job.'

Earlier this year, Mr Smith said he wanted to end a culture of 'parties without purpose' at the High Commissioner's residence.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said: 'The High Commissioner has hosted over 30 events at the official residence Stoke Lodge in 2023, corresponding to the High Commission's security and economic priorities.

'A wide range of guests – from Australia, the UK and other nations – attended those events.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Smith, Mr Birmingham and DFAT for further comment.