The boxes were still being packed and homes dismantled as the hours ticked down to Australia's final moments on the United Nations Security Council.

Staff who had been employed to bulk up Australia's presence in New York for the past two years were leaving their jobs, and the country.

But there was no time for languid farewells.

Until the last moments the Security Council was on duty, and foreign ministers in faraway countries were being woken and consulted about the last vote of the year - this one on the Middle East peace process.

Australia's ambassador Gary Quinlan walked out of the chamber for the last time and into a new life - one that involves sleep.

As Australia ends its two-year term on the Security Council, Mr Quinlan will pack up as well, heading back to Australia after five years in New York.

His wrap-up speech to the council just before Christmas delivered an insight into what had been a turbulent term.

"It was the most revered UN secretary-general, Dag Hammarskjold, who famously said that the United Nations was not created to take humanity to heaven, but to save it from hell," he reminded the other 14 council members.

"In the past two years of Australia's term on the council, heaven was never within reach, but there were many days when it seemed we were already deep in hell."

'Big juicy win' heralded hectic two years for Australian mission

Who could have foreseen the turbulent times that Australia would face during its time on the council?

When Kevin Rudd launched the bid for one of the 10 temporary seats, there were plenty of critics.

The players Gary Quinlan UN ambassador for five years

UN ambassador for five years Popular among other diplomats

Popular among other diplomats Personal energy and commitment was important factor

Personal energy and commitment was important factor Omnipresent

Omnipresent Backed by strong team

Backed by strong team Will be replaced by Gillian Bird in January 2015 Julie Bishop Foreign Minister for 15 months

Foreign Minister for 15 months Performed well at UN

Performed well at UN Left an impression among delegates

Left an impression among delegates Considered smart tactics to enter fray when needed Kevin Rudd Launched bid in 2008

Launched bid in 2008 Considered possible candidate for UN secretary-general (election due in 2016)

In the end the campaign cost an estimated $25 million and Australia won its seat in the first round - a result that seemed to surprise even the most optimistic.

Bob Carr, who was foreign minister by the time of the 2012 vote, described it as a "big, juicy, decisive win".

The next 24 months delivered a rollercoaster ride for the inhabitants of the Australian mission in New York.

The last time Australia held a temporary seat, in the mid-1980s, the council met roughly once every two weeks and oversaw just four peacekeeping missions.

Now it sometimes meets two or three times a day on most days. If you include informal sessions, it's more than 300 times a year.

Those on the inside say the experience is unique - that there is nothing like a stint on the council during a global security crisis to make you realise the significance of the position.

Britain's ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told the ABC that Australia has had more impact than any other temporary member in the five years he has been at the UN.

"I think Australia stood up for what it believed in. It stood up for its values and its interests," he said.

"I mean we would expect all countries to do that of course, but in fact that's not the case.

"Some countries are very cautious because they're in the Security Council and they're worried about the impact, the repercussions that may come upon them from some of the bigger member states, some of the permanent members.

"I think Australia has been bold, I wouldn't say risky, but I think they've certainly been brave for standing up for what they believe and being prepared to say it straight."

Australia 'punched above its weight'

Sir Mark said the performance of Australia, and in particular that of Mr Quinlan, enhanced the country's prestige and reputation across the UN.

Richard Gowan has written for the Lowy Institute and is a UN expert at New York University.

He says Australia has definitely punched above its weight.

Julie Bishop's performances on the council won high praise. ( AFP )

"Most temporary members of the Security Council have very little impact," he said.

"Australia has surprised and impressed other diplomats at the UN by being more proactive and much more effective on their two years on the council than most other states have managed."

Australia succeeded by focusing on sensitive issues, delving into areas where other temporary members may have feared to tread.

It helped lead the way on the humanitarian front in Syria, setting a precedent by getting the Security Council to adopt a resolution overriding the sovereignty of a member state to enable humanitarian assistance to be delivered, even if that nation did not want its borders crossed.

And Australia did not back away from discussing the destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia in what were tense scenes on the council.

In the past two weeks Australia took the initiative to put North Korea's human rights situation on the record. That issue will now be a permanent part of the Security Council agenda - a first at the UN.

Although the Abbott Coalition had been initially opposed to the bid for a seat, the transition from Labor to the current government in 2013 had little effect. Julie Bishop was a strong advocate, and her performances on the council won high praise.

What role for Australia now?

Australia now leaves the Security Council and becomes just one of 193 member states of the UN.

Can it still wield power? Richard Gowan thinks it can.

What is the UN Security Council? The Security Council was set up in 1946 and is based at UN headquarters in New York City

The Security Council was set up in 1946 and is based at UN headquarters in New York City Its job is to maintain international peace and security and it has the powers to set up peacekeeping operations, implement sanctions and authorise military action

Its job is to maintain international peace and security and it has the powers to set up peacekeeping operations, implement sanctions and authorise military action The five permanent members are the victors of World War II: China; France; Russia; United Kingdom; United States

The five permanent members are the victors of World War II: China; France; Russia; United Kingdom; United States The permanent members have the power to veto resolutions

The permanent members have the power to veto resolutions There are also 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms

There are also 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms The terms of Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda finish at the end of 2014

The terms of Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda finish at the end of 2014 Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria have a place on the council until the end of 2015

Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria have a place on the council until the end of 2015 The terms of new members Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Venezuela and Spain last until the end of 2016

"We're entering an extremely uncertain period for world politics, and the question for Australia is will it sit on the margins of the Pacific and be a minor regional player, or does it want to be a global player that can deal directly with Moscow and Washington and Beijing over the big questions of the day?" he said.

"And I think with the presidency of the G20 and more importantly with the stint on the council, Australia has shown that it is able to play with the biggest powers and it is able to say serious and thoughtful things about how you deal with a crisis like that in Syria.

"We weren't sure if Australia would have that level of ambition or that level of competence, to be frank, two years ago.

"The team in New York have come through with flying colours overall and I think that is going to matter, because I think in future Australia's ability to be a global player is going to be connected to its capacity to deal with really tough international negotiations like those over Syria and Ukraine."

Mr Quinlan is not ignorant of the failures of the council.

In his wrap-up speech he talked of the massive challenges that still remain.

"We face more simultaneous conflicts with a bigger impact on a larger number of people across a wider swathe of the world than at any time since World War II. Terrorism is resurgent and in large areas rampant," he told council members.

"It will, of course, always be the case that the council will be judged by its failures; our failure to break the geopolitical stalemate on Syria will be a permanent stain.

"But faced with this catalogue of crisis and conflict, the council has sought to respond. We have not always succeeded, but the council has endeavoured to use the tools it has in innovative ways - sometimes to decisive effect."

Kevin Rudd, secretary-general?

There could be another Australian set to make waves at the United Nations.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is being talked of as a possible secretary-general.

Elections will be held to replace Ban Ki-moon in late 2016, and although it is considered Eastern Europe's time to choose a successor, some doubt those countries will find a candidate they can agree on.

Campaigning has not begun in earnest, but enough people are talking about a Rudd candidacy to warrant treating it seriously.

But there is one hurdle not even Mr Rudd will be able to overcome.

"There's a lot of talk around the UN about the need for a woman to be the next secretary-general and obviously that's a bit of a problem for someone called Kevin," Mr Gowan said.

Whoever takes over the helm, they face an increasingly difficult era with threats to security and peace raising questions about the capacity of the UN to manage crises.