In a short speech to assembled media, Mr Rudd said he was proud of his achievements in the almost three years his family had spent living in the official prime ministerial residence.
"It was here that Therese did so much work with indigenous Australia, indigenous literacy and also supported the disabled," he said.
"At a more practical level we have done a few things here too.
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The vegie garden has started down the back there and there is more work to be done."
"This has been our home for the better part of the last three years," he said.
"It is the people's house and we return it gratefully to the people.
"For our family this has been a good place. We've also believe we've done some good things here. It was here I think we had our first welcome to country from Aboriginal Australia."
On a lighter note, Mr Rudd said the recently acquired chickens at The Lodge would be taken by a close friend and Jasper the cat and Abbey the dog would be looked after by friends for a while.
"I'm the gardener-in-chief. There was half a dozen chooks, but they are going to a friendly home, in fact a friend of ours called Gordon is looking forward to having our chooks.
"For those who have written to us extensively about Jasper and Abbey they also temporarily are going to be with friends here in Canberra.
"I suppose we are also leaving Kirribilli in Sydney as well. To those people who have joined us there over the years we thank them as well."
