Australia Post stamps and products
This article covers year-by-year releases of postage stamps issued by Australia Post from 2002 to 2018. From 2014 onwards, background information was provided behind the reasoning of issuing the stamp to the public. To mark special occasions, Australia Post occasionally releases unique and limited-time only postal stamp designs, and less frequently, specially designed postal products.
History of Australia Post stamps
Before the formation of Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901, each state of Australia issued separate postage stamps through colonial mail systems. After the federation in 1901, the mail systems merged and formed the Postmaster-General's Department, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. Until the mid-1920s, a policy prohibited Australia Post producing stamps based on commemorative occasions. It was on 9 May 1927, the opening of the first Parliament House in Canberra that marked the creation of Australia's first commemorative stamp. From then, commemorative stamps have been produced regularly to generate public interest, and to establish an environment for collectors. Although commemorative stamps are produced in reflection of historical anniversaries or significant events at the time, the public can suggest stamp subjects to Australia Post.Stamp releases by year
Under the Copyright law of Australia, Australia Post claims copyright ownership of Australian stamps for 50 years from publication. In 2014, Australia Post released technical and historical information on their stamp issues, on their . In this article, the stamps that are inside the tables are hyperlinked to their official page, where the original images can viewed from there.2002
- Birth of Albert Namatjira
- Australian Legends: Medical Scientists
- Golden Jubilee
- Winter Olympics Gold Medallists
- Motor Racing
- Lighthouses in Australia
- Flinders - Baudin Bicentenary: joint issue with France
- International: Panoramas of Australia I
- Nature of Australia - Desert
- Waterlilies: Joint issue with Thailand
- International: Panoramas of Australia II
- International Greetings
- Bush Tucker
- The Magic Rainforest
- Champions of the Turf
- Christmas
2003
- Celebration and Nation
- Australian Legends
- Fishing Australia
- Blooms - Australian Cultivars
- Australian Paintings
- Coronation - Golden Jubilee
- Art of Papunya Tula
- Genetics
- Nature of Australia - Rainforests
- 150th Anniversary Murray River Shipping
- Peace and Goodwill
- High Court Centenary
- Bugs and Butterflies
- Rugby World Cup
- Active with Asthma
- Christmas
2004
- Australian Legends: Dame Joan Sutherland
- Tasmania 1804-2004
- Landmark Bridges
- Celebrate
- Renewable Energy
- Royal Tour Jubilee
- Nature of Australia: Rainforest Butterflies
- Australian Innovations
- Bon Voyage
- 150th Anniversary of the Eureka Stockade
- Boxing Kangaroo
- Australian Olympic Stamps 2004
- Australian Gold Medallists
- Coastlines
- Treasures from the Archives
- 150th Anniversary of Railways
- Cats and Dogs
- Australian Heroes of Grand Prix Racing
- Christmas
2005
- Australian Open 1905–2005
- Australian Legends: Fashion Designers
- Australian Parrots
- Sports Treasures
- Marking the Occasion
- World Heritage: Australia - UK joint issue
- Creatures of the Slime
- Centenary of Rotary International
- 150th Anniversary of the First Australian Coin
- Queen's Birthday
- Bush Wildlife
- Australian Wildflowers
- Australian Wine
- Australian Native Trees
- Treasures from the Archives
- Down on the Farm
- Queen's Baton Relay PNC
- Christmas Island – Christmas 2005
2006
- Australia Post Australian Legend 2006 – Barry Humphries
- Roses
- Australian Native Wildlife
- Australian Wildflowers
- Torino 2006 Winter Olympics – Dale Begg-Smith
- Australian Native Wildlife
- Queen's Birthday
- Greetings From Australia
- Lighthouses of the 20th Century
- Soccer in Australia
- Postie Kate
- Whales Down Under
- Extreme Sports
- Driving Through The Years
- Australian Rock Posters
- Dangerous Australians
- Fish of the Australian Antarctic Territory - Janet Matthews
- Cocos Islands – Coral Reefs
- Christmas Island – Heritage Buildings
- Christmas Island – Lunar New Year 2006
2007
January—March
Date | Issue | Stamp Designs | Technical details |
16 January | Australia Wins The Ashes 2006-07 | Designer: Symone Lambert, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x 50c 1 x $1.85 | FDI Withdrawal Date: 31 July 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: None National Postmark: Perth GPO, Western Australia 6000 |
24 January | Legends of Australian Horse Racing | Designer: Jonathan Chong, AP Design Studio Denominations: 12 x 50c Designs: Scobie Breasley, George Moore, Roy Higgins, Bart Cummings, Bob Ingham, John Tapp. | FDI Withdrawal Date: 31 December 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: None National Postmark: Flemington, Victoria 3031 |
13 February | Australian Wildflowers | Designer: Lynette Traynor, AP Design Studio Denominations: 4 x 50c Designs: Tasmanian Christmas Bell Phebalium wkitei Green Spider Flower Stuart's Desert Rose | FDI Withdrawal Date: 13 March 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: None National Postmark: GPO Hobart, Tasmania 7000 |
20 February | 12th FINA World Championships | Designer: Lisa Christensen, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x 50c Designs: Melbourne 2007 Logo | FDI Withdrawal Date: 13 March 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: None National Postmark: Melbourne GPO Victoria 3000 |
5 March | Island Jewels - International Stamps | Designer: Adam Crapp, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x 10c, 30c, $1.30, $1.95, $2.60, $3.85 Designs: Maria Island, Tasmania - 10c Rottnest Island, Western Australia - 30c Green Island, Queensland - $1.30 Fraser Island, Queensland - $1.95 Kangaroo Island, South Australia - $2.60 Lord Howe Island, NSW - $3.85 | FDI Withdrawal Date: 30 April 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: None National Postmark: Beauty Point, Tasmania 7270 |
6 March | Year of the Surf Lifesaver | Designer: Andrew Hogg Design Denominations: 2 x 50c, 1 x $1.00, $2.00, $2.45 Designs: Lifesaving Australia Pictures | FDI Withdrawal Date: 30 September 2007 Printing Process: Lithography Special Feature: Lenticular frames National Postmark: Bondi Beach, New South Wales 2026 |
2007: April–June
Date | Issue | Stamp Designs | Technical details |
3 April | Signs of the Zodiac | Designer: Beth McKinlay & Sally Piskuric, AP Design Studio Denominations: 12 x 50c Designs: Each stamp available as gummed, self-adhesive and in 10 x 50c self-adhesive booklets. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper and B/C 100 paper Special Feature: None |
10 April | Nostalgic Tourism Posters | Designer: Phil Ellett, Creative Ethos, Melbourne Denominations: 1 x 50c, 1 x $1, 1 x $2, 1 x $2.45 Designs: At the Beach, Fishing, Horse Riding, Winter Sport | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper Special Feature: None |
18 April | Queen's Birthday | Designer: Ern-Mei Lee, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x 50c Designs: Portrait | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint Special Feature: None |
1 May | Historic Shipwrecks | Designer: Sally Piskuric, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x 50c, 1 x $1, 1 x $2 Designs: Admella, Loch Ard, Dunbar | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper Special Feature: None |
8 May | Country to Coast International | Designer: Adam Crapp, AP Design Studio Denominations: 1 x $1.30, 1 x $1.95 Designs: Each design available as gummed, self-adhesive and self-adhesive with personalised tab. Rock Wallaby, Sydney Harbour Bridge | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper Special Feature: None |
15 May | Circus: Under the Big Top | Designer: Sharon Rodziewicz, AP Design Studio Denominations: 5 x 50c Designs: Each design available as gummed and in a $5 self-adhesive booklet. Burning Bicycle, Inside-out Man, Dental Trapeze, Banana Lady, Human Cannonball | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper and B100 paper Special Feature: None |
5 June | Big Things | Designer: Reg Mombasa Denominations: 5 x 50c Designs: Each design available as gummed and in a $5 self-adhesive booklet. Big Golden Guitar, Tamworth, NSW Big Lobster, Kingston, SA Big Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW Big Merino, Goulburn, NSW Big Pineapple, Nambour, QLD | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper and B100 paper Special Feature: None |
26 June | Threatened Wildlife | Designer: Ego Guiotto ; Simone Sakinofsky Denominations: 2 x 50c, 1 x $1.25, 1 x $1.30 Designs: Grey-headed Flying Fox, Mountain Pygmy Possum, Flatback Turtle, Wandering Albatross | Printing Process: Lithography by SEP Sprint on Tullis Russell paper Special Feature: None |
;Topics used for 2007 stamp designs
2008
- Love Blooms
- Australian Legends of Philanthropy
- Organ and Tissue Donation
- Centenary of Scouting in Australia
- Gorgeous Australia
- Gorgeous Australia
- World Youth Day 2008
- Centenary of Rugby League
- Heavy Haulers
- Anzac Day – Lest We Forget
- Queen's Birthday
- Centenary of Rugby League
- Queen's Birthday
- Up, Up and Away
- Working Dogs
- Beijing 2008
- Living Green
- 100 Years of Quarantine
- 150 Years of Australian Football
- Aviation
- Waterfalls Australia
- Tourist Precincts
- For Every Occasion
- Mega Fauna
- Christmas
- Favourite Australian Films
2009
- Christmas Island Lunar New Year - Year of the Ox
- Australian Antarctic Territory: South Magnetic Pole 1909-2009
- 2009 Australian Legends
- With Love
- Inventive Australia
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Poles and Glaciers
- Earth Hour
- Australia Post - 200 Years
- Indigenous Culture
- Queens Birthday
- Cocos Islands - 400 Years
- Not Just Desserts
- World Wildlife Fund: Dolphins of the Australian Coastline
- Queensland 150 Years
- Australia's Favourite Stamps
- Australian Bush Babies - International Stamps
- Australian Parks and Gardens
- Micro Monsters
- Species at Risk - Joint Territories
- Corrugated Landscapes
- Stargazing: The Southern Skies
- Australian Songbirds
- Classic Toys
- Lets Get Active! Stamp Collecting Month 2009
- Australia Post - 200 Years - Everyday People
- Christmas Island Christmas
- Merry Christmas
- Christmas 2009
2010
- Christmas Island Lunar New Year - Year of the Tiger
- Australian Legends
- 2010 Winter Olympic Games Vancouver
- A Bicentenary: Governor Lachlan Macquarie
- Australian Commonwealth Coinage 1910-2010
- Centenary of Powered Flight
- Come to the Show
- Queens Birthday
- Kokoda
- Colonial Heritage: Empire
- Great Australian Railway Journeys
- Shanghai World Expo 2010
- Australian World Heritage Sites
- Emergency Services
- Flowers of Cocos Islands
- Australian Antarctic Territory - Macquarie Island
- Adopted and Adored
- Emergency Services
- For Special Occasions
- The Australian Tax Office Centenary
- Burke & Wills expedition
- Christmas Island Frigatebird
- Centenary of Girl Guides
- National Service Memorial
- Flowers of Cocos Islands
- Long Weekend
- Wildlife Caring: Rescue to Release
- Canonisation of Mary MacKillop
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Macquarie Island
- Australian Kingfishers
- Christmas Island Christmas 2010
- 150th Melbourne Cup
- Dear Santa
- Christmas 2010
2011
- Christmas Island Lunar New Year - Rabbit
- Cocos Islands Boats
- Special Occasions: Love
- Australian Legends - Advancing Equality
- Premier's Flood Relief Appeal
- 100 Years of Postal Stationery in Australia
- Centenary of International Women's Day
- Air Force Aviation
- Floral Festivals Australia
- Gallery Series NGV Flowers
- Lake Eyre
- Queen's 85th Birthday
- The Royal Wedding
- "Capturing the Moment" Royal Wedding instant stamp
- Nellie Melba:
- Farming Australia: Native Plants
- Christmas Island Crabs
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Icebergs
- Royal Australian Navy 1911-2011
- Centenary of Duntroon
- Australian Bush Babies
- Anniversary of Amnesty International
- Living Australia
- Skiing Australia
- Colonial Heritage Part II - Emerging Identity
- Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition
- World Wide Fund for Nature: 50 Years
- Colours of Cocos Islands
- Golf
- SCM 2011 - Mythical Creatures
- CHOGM 2011
- Joint Issue Australia-Korea
- Christmas Island Christmas
- Christmas 2011
- Remembrance Day: 11.11.11
- ANZUS
2012
- Lunar New Year 2012 - Year of the Dragon
- Precious Moments
- 2012 Australian Legends of Football
- Technology - Then and Now
- Capital City Transport
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Phillip Law 1912-2010
- Australian Waterbirds
- Farming Australia
- Centenary of Compulsory Enrolment to Vote
- Queen's Birthday Diamond Jubilee
- Medical Doctors
- Rising Sun Badge
- Christmas Island Ferns
- Underwater World
- Skies of Cocos
- Olympic Games - The Road to London
- Colonial Heritage - Visualising Australia
- ONJ Cancer & Wellness Centre Appeal
- Farming Australia - Part II
- Inland Explorers
- London 2012 Olympic Games
- Living Australian
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay
- Cocos Islands - Butterflies
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Tom Slingsby - Sailing Men's Laser
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Anna Meares - Cycling: Women's Sprint
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page - Sailing: Men's 470 Class
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Men's K4 1000m - Canoe-Kayak team
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Nathan Outerridge and Iaine Jensen - Sailing: Men's 49er
- 2012 Australian Gold Medallist - Sally Pearson - Women's 100m Hurdles
- Australian Nobel Prize Winners
- Centenary of the Australian Antarctic Expedition
- Road Trip Australia
- Wilderness Australia
- SCM 2012: Australian Zoos
- 50 Years of Racing at Bathurst
- Sporting Legends: Susie O'Neill
- 50th Anniversary of the Australian Ballet
- Lawn Bowls in Australia
- Christmas Island Christmas
- Christmas
2013
- Lunar New Year 2013 - Year of the Snake
- Australian Legends of Music
- Special Occasions: Greetings
- Surfing Australia
- Top Dogs
- Centenary of Canberra
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Mountains
- National Gallery of Australia: Landscapes
- Australia Bush Babies II
- Diamond Jubilee Coronations
- Australian Botanic Gardens II
- Joint Issue: Australia and Israel
- Kangaroo and Map 1913-2013
- Black Caviar
- Australian Birds Pardalotes
- Centenary of the First Commonwealth Bank Notes
- Fishes of Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands 50th Anniversary of stamps
- Government House Historical Architecture
- Christmas Island Flowering Shrubs
- Road Trip Australia II
- Indigenous Leaders
- Headline news
- Cocos Islands Barrel Mail
- Carnivorous Plants
- Australia's Coral Reefs
- Australian Poultry Breeds
- Australian Antarctic Territory: Centenary of AAE III
- SCM: Australia's Age of Dinosaurs
- Historic Railway Stations
- Joint Issue with Germany
- Holey Dollar and Dump
- Christmas Island Christmas
- Christmas 2013
2014