On May 9, 1927 Australia’s first commemorative stamp was introduced to mark the opening of the first Parliament House in Canberra. Since then issues have appeared regularly commemorating landmarks in Australian history and Australian achievements.

For most, Australian philately (the study of stamps) proper begins on 2 January 1913 with the issue of a red 1d (one penny) Kangaroo and Map. This was the first definitive stamp with the sole nomenclature ‘Australia’, the design adopted in part from an entry that won a Stamp Design competition.

In 1913 on of the first acts by the Cook Government was to issue a series of postage stamps designed with the profile of King George V. On 8 December 1913, the first of these appeared as an engraved 1d carmine-red stamp. 

Since 1997 Australia Post has issued stamps commemorating living Australians – in particular the Australian Legends series, which celebrates Australians who have made a significant contribution during their lives. This one is of Walter Parker, one of the last Anzacs.

This stamp of Russell Crowe is part of the Australian Legend series, which began in 1997. 

The first multi-colour stamps were printed in Australia in 1897. The first of these was a stamp series for the New South Wales Consumptive Homes. These stamps were also the world’s first stamps that raised money for charity.

Australia was the first country to issue regular Christmas stamps each year beginning in November 1957. In recent years Christmas stamps have alternated between the religious and secular.

This stamp a commemorative nod to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

This stamp commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup in 1960.

Issued in 1956 as part of a commemorative collection celebrating the Melbourne Olympics.

Commemorative stamp of the first successful Australian party to reach the South Magnetic Pole in 1909-10.

Since the introduction of the iconic ‘Roo’ stamp in 1913, Australian stamps have featured many iconic native flora, fauna and landmarks. Special editions have also included illustrated dinosaurs, cartoons and iconic book characters.

Printed circa 1937, this stamp shows one of our most recognisable icons, and was a popular choice when sending mail overseas.

In 1988, to celebrate the Bicentenary, Australia issued joint stamps with New Zealand, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

A joint-issue stamp, released with the UK, to celebrate the 1988 Australian Bicentenary.