Details of a sumptuous dinner hosted by Australia's High Commissioner to the UK for then prime minister Tony Abbott and his chief of staff Peta Credlin have emerged.

They show Mr Downer spared no expense when hosting high-ranking visitors at his London residence, Stoke Lodge.

Dinner for Mr Abbott, Ms Credlin and their national security adviser Andrew Shearer cost more than $350 a head, according to documents released under freedom of information by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Along with Mr Downer and his wife, the former prime minister's party, which included two other unnamed guests, feasted on scallops "3 ways" followed by mains of pan-roasted lamb loin, according to a menu for the August 2014 soiree.

The total bill for the dinner came to £1261 ($2558 at current exchange rates).

On Sunday, it emerged that the dinner party's guest of honour was Conservative politician William Hague, the then leader of the House of Commons. His name was redacted on the FOI documents.

A lunch for Justice Minister Michael Keenan three months later cost a more modest £640 and featured "veal scaloppine marsala with honey-glazed salsifis and cavalo nero".

Unfortunately, Mr Keenan's flight into London was delayed due to bad weather and he never attended the lunch, according to the documents.

The minister's travelling companions – secretary of the Attorney-General's department Chris Moraitis, and Mr Keenan's chief of staff, Peter Soros – also missed the lunch.

At a dinner for Mr Hockey and Mr Parkinson two months later, the menu was just as impressive, with guests enjoying entrees of "caramelised diver-caught scallops with Jerusalem artichokes and hazelnuts".

The main course was roast guinea fowl with braised peal barley, lemon and thyme sauce before a dessert of "rhubarb and duck egg custard tart with clotted cream".

The catering bill for a total of 14 people was £452 ($916, or $65 a head).

It was reported in October that Mr Downer had spent $150,000 in a year on 65 official dinners and lunches as High Commissioner, with about a third being official receptions at Australia House.

Mr Downer put on a $2500 dinner for BHP boss Andrew McKenzie and his entourage.

DFAT declined to comment but it is understood hospitality budgets are set in Canberra and Mr Downer did not breach his annual budget.

Labor MP Pat Conroy said Mr Abbott and Mr Downer were close personal friends and there should be no reason that a dinner between  them should cost more than $350 a head.

"They certainly like the finer things in life, don't they," he said.