At the time of Federation in 1901 the colonies of Australia used British currency. However, the changeover to an Australian series was not instant and it took some time (10 years for coins and 13 years for banknotes) to design and produce replacement Australian currency. A competition for the first series was announced in October 1910 and counted among its instructions a suggestion that notes with a coat of arms and 'Australian scenery on the back' would be given preference by the judges. The pound note here is an example of the second series. This use of banknotes to celebrate Australian events, wealth, and achievement continued through subsequent notes to the modern series which celebrate influential personalities from Australia's past.

Many insights into an issuing society can be gleaned from the decorative themes and motifs chosen as important, and deemed to reflect the values of a government and the people they represent - or wish to persuade. As betrayers of prejudices and windows to values, banknotes offer an unparalleled sifting of available choices at any one time that would have received much scrutiny and deliberation prior to production. In the case of this pound note from 1927-1933 a reproduction is featured of a 1902 oil painting by E. Phillips Fox (1865-1915) depicting Captain Cook's 1770 landing in Botany Bay - an event seen at that time in purely celebratory terms - and without thought for its disastrous impact upon the Aboriginal population.

Paul Donnelly

Ref. Michael P. Vort-Ronald, 'Australian Banknotes', South Australia, 1983

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Powerhouse Museum