Green parties and conservation groups had been represented in state and local politics since the 1980s, but this was the first time they'd come together to contest federal seats.
Now, they hold nine seats in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives, as well as 22 in state and territory governments and several more in local councils.
One of the Greens' longest serving federal MPs, Bob Brown, resigned earlier this year after nearly 16 years of representing Tasmania in the Senate.
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The party evolved from a single-issue, protest party to one that has policies in a wide range of social and economic matters.
Despite gaining about 10-20 per cent of the vote in many federal electorates, the Greens have been labelled 'extreme' and 'loony' by both the Labor Party and the Coalition.
Members and Senators have been criticised for failing to negotiate on border protection, but its leader Christine Milne says the party will never compromise on its core principles.
