Australian Ambassador’s Residence
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
3120 Cleveland Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
White Oaks became Australia’s wartime legation and minister’s home in 1940. The red-brick Colonial house remains the ambassador’s residence, with a garden, swimming pool and grass tennis court used for diplomatic hospitality.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1923 | verified; Construction began in 1923; extended in 1926. |
| Acquired by Australia | 1941 | verified; Leased from 1940, purchased in 1941 with five adjacent separately titled lots. |
| Neighborhood | Woodland Normanstone | verified |
| Architect | David J. Dunigan | verified; Heritage record names the original owner as builder and architect. |
| Rooms | 20–40 est. | estimated; Planning estimate: rooms = building area × room-area fraction ÷ average room size. For this residential reception property, assume 55%–70% of the recorded 16,729 sq ft is enclosed usable room area, with an average 300–450 sq ft per room. The range combines the low fraction with the larger room size and the high fraction with the smaller size, rounded outward to five rooms. Room allocation and average size are assumptions. Covers the recorded building area; the interior has not been independently measured. Estimated room range. The heritage account records 25 rooms in 1940; it does not establish a current inventory. |
| Floor area | 16,729 sq ft | verified; Secondary exact-address building record; excludes an assumed sum of staff houses. |
| Site area | 65,340 sq ft | verified; The 1.5 acre main lot converts to square feet at 43,560 sq ft per acre. Additional historical estate land is excluded. |
| 2026 Value | $41,518,580 | verified; DC Office of Tax and Revenue, tax year 2026: land $32,193,370 plus improvements $9,325,210; square/lot 2127 0009, PDF page 279. Tax assessment. Adjacent separately assessed parcels are not added. |
| First diplomatic use | 1940 | verified; Rented as legation offices and residence in 1940. |
Scope and Evidence
White Oaks is modeled from the supplied arrival, garden, court-side and overhead views. Relative terrace levels, dimensions and obscured details are estimated.
Four staff residences on adjoining lots are documented, but their individual identities, boundaries and current use were not established. They are not duplicated as counted properties.
The heritage account records 25 rooms in 1940. A current room inventory could not be verified from the additional public sources checked on 26 October 2026.
Research Questions
Where Is Australian Ambassador’s Residence?
3120 Cleveland Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008.
When Was Australian Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1923. Record status: verified. Construction began in 1923; extended in 1926.
Who Designed Australian Ambassador’s Residence?
Architect: David J. Dunigan. Record status: verified. Heritage record names the original owner as builder and architect.
What Is the Floor Area of Australian Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: 16,729 sq ft. Record status: verified. Secondary exact-address building record; excludes an assumed sum of staff houses.
What Is the Site Area of Australian Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 65,340 sq ft. Record status: verified. The 1.5 acre main lot converts to square feet at 43,560 sq ft per acre. Additional historical estate land is excluded.
What Is the 2026 Value of Australian Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $41,518,580. Record status: verified. DC Office of Tax and Revenue, tax year 2026: land $32,193,370 plus improvements $9,325,210; square/lot 2127 0009, PDF page 279. Tax assessment. Adjacent separately assessed parcels are not added. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation.