Governor-General Quentin Bryce spent more than $280,000 over the past year on consultants and lawyers.
The 2012/13 annual report of the Office of the Governor-General showed seven new consultancies were approved over the year, adding to an existing seven.
The total bill came to just under $160,000, which is $50,000 less than the previous year.
However, hiring solicitors to stop the release of documents under a Freedom of Information request took the legal bill for the year to just under $121,000.
The case related to a request from a member of the public to release documents relating to nominations for the Order of Australia.
Among the consultants were two architectural firms who provided work valued at $97,000 on the marine barracks, which are in the grounds of the official residence Admiralty House.
The report noted consultants were hired when the office did not have the required skills or needed independent research.
Ms Bryce is also set to be the subject of a portrait by Sydney-born artist Ralph Heimans.
Heimans was granted the $33,000 Department of Parliamentary Services commission earlier in October.
His diamond jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and portrait of Princess Mary of Denmark have received wide acclaim.
