For a country with a small population, Australia certainly punches above its weight in the Beijing embassy stakes, with one of the largest in the city. Only a small portion of the building seems to be open to the public, however, so you wonder what they're doing with the other rooms. Storing coal perhaps?
Anyone who's been to Canberra (I wouldn't recommend it) will instantly recognize the standard-issue late-80s-to-early-90s Australian government post-modern architectural style - serious without being overbearing, stern without the "cower before me mere individual" grandeur of, say, the Great Hall of the People.
The main problem here is the door policy. What kind of venue demands to see your passport before letting you in? I went here once with a Chinese girlfriend and she was refused entry, which seemed a tad discriminatory. Mind you, I hear they don't let Canadians in either.
If you can get past the "cooler than thou" doormen, they offer decent visa services inside and a wide range of Australian beers if you know the manager.
I've never eaten here so I can't comment on the food.
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