Malcolm Turnbull stayed mainly positive in his final speech as prime minister but lashed out at the "insurgents" who brought his government down.
He's expected to quit parliament before the next federal election but he avoided tears even after being brutally kicked out of the top job.
"It may surprise you on a day like this but I remain very optimistic and positive about our nation's future," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
Still, he was scathing of the men he blamed for his demise and seemed to take some comfort that Scott Morrison beat Peter Dutton in the party vote to replace him.
"Australians will be just dumbstruck and so appalled by the conduct of the last week," Mr Turnbull said after surviving one leadership spill on Tuesday and stepping down before a second.
"Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott and others who chose to deliberately attack the government from within, they did so because they wanted to bring the government down."
He said he had been toppled by a "determined insurgency" backed by powerful voices in the media but his colleagues had voted for "loyalty above disloyalty".
"In so far as there has been chaos this week, it has been created by the wreckers," Mr Turnbull said.
The insurgents and their "deliberate destructive action" had not been rewarded by electing former home affairs minister Mr Dutton, Mr Turnbull said.
While Mr Turnbull remained upbeat, his staffers and some of his ministers cried as he spoke at his final press conference in the prime minister's courtyard, rolling through his list of achievements in government.
They included the best year of job growth in Australia's history, same-sex marriage legalised, personal and small-business tax cuts, funding for Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Melbourne airport rail, a redress scheme for child sexual abuse victims and new drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The Wentworth MP, first elected in 2004, won't be around in Canberra for much longer.
"I'll be leaving the parliament in, not, not before too long as I have always said," he said.
"I've been very clear about that. It's not a secret."
His farewell media conference included a visit from his wife Lucy and their daughter and grandchildren.
"The Australians we should be focused on above all else are these little ones," he said.
Mr Morrison said he had been proud to serve under Mr Turnbull.
"He is a great Australian who has contributed a great deal to this country and our party and our nation will be very grateful for his contribution," he said.
