Loading content...
Australia’s Banknotes
-
The $5 Banknote
- Date of First Issue
- 7 July 1992
- Date of Issue
- 24 April 1995 (recoloured)
- Size
- 65mm by 130mm
- Designer
- Bruce Stewart
-
Eucalyptus leaves
The banknote designer’s rendition of eucalyptus leaves was inspired by the species Scribbly Gum.
-
Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen’s portrait is based on photographs commissioned by the Reserve Bank in 1984. The Queen gave her approval for use of this image on an Australian banknote in 1988.
-
Microprinting
Microprint is very small but well-defined text that usually requires a magnifying glass to read. On the $5 banknote the microprint says ‘FIVE DOLLARS’ and is located on the upper left, above the image of gum leaves.
-
Background print (offset)
Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.
-
Shadow image
When the banknote is held up to the light, a shadow image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.
-
Clear window – vignette of gum flower
On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it’s an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $5 banknote there is a printed image of a stylised gum flower.
-
See-through registration device
When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.
-
Landscape plan for New Parliament House
This visual element is based on the Design Development Landscape Plan for the New Parliament House.
-
Parliament House
These depictions of Australia’s Old and New Parliament Houses are the designer’s interpretation of architectural drawings and photographs. The Old Parliament House was opened in 1927 and the New Parliament House was opened in 1988.
-
Geometric patterns
The patterns here reflect architectural features of the entrance to the ministerial wing of the New Parliament House and the skylights for the Members’ Hall and the Main Committee Room.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial number on the back of the $5 banknote glows and a square patch becomes visible.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial number on the back of the $5 banknote glows and a square patch becomes visible.
-
Intaglio print
Intaglio is raised dark printing with a distinct feel. It’s used for the portraits on banknotes and some other design elements.
-
The $10 Banknote
- Date of First Issue
- 1 November 1993
- Size
- 65mm by 137mm
- Designer
- Max Robinson
-
Horseman
This image is the banknote designer’s interpretation of an authentic horseman from the times of The Man From Snowy River.
-
Portrait of AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson
This portrait of AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson is based on a photograph taken at the time of his return from the Boer War in 1900.
-
Running horses (brumbies)
Inspired by the poem The Man From Snowy River, these images of horses are based on pictures that appeared in The Australian Newspaper in 1870 and The Illustrated Sydney News in 1875.
-
Waltzing Matilda logo
This design element is taken from the 1903 publication of Marie Cowan’s arrangement of Waltzing Matilda, which was used at the time to promote Billy Tea.
-
Microprinting
On the $10 banknote, microprinted lines from AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson’s poem The Man From Snowy River are located near his portrait. On the other side, excerpts from the poem No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest are microprinted near the image of Dame Mary Gilmore.
-
Clear window – vignette of a windmill
On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it’s an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $10 banknote there is a printed image of a stylised windmill and an embossed wave pattern.
-
Shadow Image
When the banknote is held up to the light, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.
-
Woman of the outback and outback scene
This imagery of a country woman and the surrounding landscape was inspired by the themes of many of Mary Gilmore’s writings.
-
Bullock team carrying wool
The image of a bullock team is based on an engraving entitled ‘The Wool Season’ that appeared in The Illustrated Australian News in 1881.
-
Dobell portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore
The source for this design element is a portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore by the painter Sir William Dobell. It was painted in 1957 and hangs in the Art Gallery of NSW.
-
Portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore
This portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore is based on a photograph of the poet taken when she was in her early twenties.
-
Background print (offset)
Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.
-
See-through registration device
When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $10 banknote glow.
-
Intaglio print
Intaglio is raised dark printing with a distinct feel. It’s used for the portraits on banknotes and some other design elements.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $10 banknote glow.
-
The $20 Banknote
- Date of First Issue
- 31 October 1994
- Size
- 65mm by 144mm
- Designer
- Garry Emery
-
Schooner Mercury
The schooner Mercury was completed in Sydney in 1806. It was owned for a time by Mary Reibey. This image is based on an illustration commissioned by the Reserve Bank in 1993.
-
Portrait of Mary Reibey
This image is based on a miniature watercolour painted on ivory that is held at the State Library of New South Wales. It is the only known portrait of pioneer businesswoman Mary Reibey.
Read Mary Reibey's biography.
-
Building
This building in Sydney’s George Street was once owned by Mary Reibey and comprised shops and dwellings. The image is based on an illustration in a book entitled Sydney in 1848.
-
Microprinting
Microprint is very small but well-defined text that usually requires a magnifying glass to read. The words ‘TWENTY DOLLARS’ are microprinted on the $20 banknote.
-
Clear window – vignette of a compass
On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it’s an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $20 banknote is an image of a compass, along with embossing of the number ‘20’.
-
Air ambulance Victory
The air ambulance Victory flew the first Flying Doctor mission from Cloncurry, Queensland, on 17 May 1928 after Qantas entered into a unique venture with Reverend John Flynn of the Australian Inland Mission Service.
-
Pedal generator
This is an interpretation of one of the first pedal-powered generators to operate the transceiver wireless sets, the sole method of communication on outback stations.
-
Portrait of Reverend John Flynn
This portrait of Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, is based on an original photograph held by the National Library of Australia.
-
Camel and rider (Flynn boundary rider)
This image is based on a photograph taken of Reverend Col Harland in 1919 and provided by the National Library of Australia. Reverend John Flynn purchased five camels in 1913 for his ‘Patrol Padres’, who undertook mission work throughout central Australia.
-
Background print (offset)
Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.
-
See-through registration device
When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $20 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
Shadow Image
When the banknote is held up to the light, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.
-
Intaglio print
Intaglio is raised dark printing with a distinct feel. It’s used for the portraits on banknotes and some other design elements.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $20 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
The $50 Banknote
- Date of First Issue
- 4 October 1995
- Size
- 65mm by 151mm
- Designer
- Brian Sadgrove
-
Mission church at Point McLeay
This image depicts the mission church at Point McLeay as it was in the late 19th century. Point McLeay (the Aboriginal name is Raukkan) is the community where David Unaipon’s people live.
-
Portrait of David Unaipon
This portrait of David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia’s first published Aboriginal author, is based on an original photograph taken in 1938.
-
Manuscript
This is an extract from David Unaipon’s handwritten preface to his story Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines. It’s based on copies of the original manuscript provided by the State Library of New South Wales.
-
Diagrams of Unaipon’s patent application
This element is based on drawings from David Unaipon’s 1909 patent application for an improved mechanical handpiece for sheep shearing.
-
Microprinting
Microprint is very small but well-defined text that usually requires a magnifying glass to read. On the $50 banknote, the words ‘FIFTY DOLLARS’ are microprinted.
-
See-through registration device
When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.
-
Clear window – vignette of the Southern Cross
On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it’s an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $50 banknote is a printed image of the Southern Cross, along with embossing of the number ‘50’.
-
Shadow Image
When the banknote is held up to the light, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.
-
WA Parliament House
This drawing shows the original front of the West Australian Parliament House, as it was in the 1920s when Edith Cowan was an MP.
-
Portrait of Edith Cowan
This portrait of Edith Cowan, who is best remembered as the first female member of an Australian parliament, was based on a 1929 photograph from the biographical register of West Australian Parliament.
Read Edith Cowan's biography.
-
Foster mother and state children
This composite illustration represents a foster mother and children who were wards of the state circa 1920.
-
Cowan at lectern
This image of Edith Cowan at a lectern represents her frequent public speaking on matters such as women’s rights and children’s welfare issues.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $50 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
Intaglio print
Intaglio is raised dark printing with a distinct feel. It’s used for the portraits on banknotes and some other design elements.
-
Background print (offset)
Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $50 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
The $100 Banknote
- Date of First Issue
- 15 May 1996
- Size
- 65mm by 158mm
- Designer
- Bruce Stewart
-
Her Majesty’s Theatre
This image is based on a 1903 photograph of the interior of Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney. A performance at this theatre in September 1911 was a highlight of Dame Nellie Melba’s career.
-
‘Melba’ signature
This design element is based on Dame Nellie Melba’s signature, which appeared on the program used for her farewell performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London in June 1926.
-
Melba Australian Concert Tour program (1902)
The 1902 Australian Concert Tour is of special significance as it was Dame Nellie Melba’s first return to Australia from her successful overseas performances. The monogram on the program was designed by Dame Nellie Melba.
-
Portrait of Dame Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba achieved international recognition as a soprano and enjoyed star status within Australia. This portrait is based on a photograph that appeared in a 1909 biography by Agnes G. Murphy.
-
Microprinting
Microprint is very small but well-defined text that usually requires a magnifying glass to read. On the $100 banknote the words ‘ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS’ and the number ‘100’ are microprinted.
-
Clear window – vignette of a lyrebird
On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it’s an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $100 banknote is an image of a lyrebird, along with embossing of the number ‘100’.
-
Shadow Image
When the banknote is held up to the light, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.
-
Rising Sun badge
This Rising Sun badge was adopted as the Australian Imperial Force badge and worn in World War I. Permission to use the badge on the $100 banknote was provided by the Australian Army.
-
Cavalry
This is the designer’s interpretation of mounted soldiers in World War I.
-
Portrait of Sir John Monash
This portrait is based on a photograph of Sir John Monash taken in 1912. Monash was one of Australia’s greatest military commanders.
-
Gunners and 18-pounder field gun
Based primarily on a photograph taken in 1917 entitled Artillery in Noreuil Valley, this image shows batteries of the 2nd Australian Division attacking the Hindenburg Line.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $100 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
Intaglio print
Intaglio is raised dark printing with a distinct feel. It’s used for the portraits on banknotes and some other design elements.
-
Fluorescent ink properties
Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $100 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.
-
See-through registration device
When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.
-
Background print (offset)
Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.