Explorer's of Australia 26.9.1983

Thank you Merja.

Australian Birds 31.3.1980

(22c) The Nuff-breasted Paradise-kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) is a bird in the tree kingfisher family, Halcyonidae. It is native to Australia, New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago and migrates in November from New Guinea to its breeding grounds in the rainforest of North Queensland, Australia. Like all paradise-kingfishers, this bird has colourful plumage with a red bill, buff breast and distinctive long tail streamers.

(28c) The Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is the only species of Meropidae found in Australia.

(60c) The Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) is endemic to eastern Australia found in humid and heavily forested upland regions of the eastern portion of the continent, including eucalyptus wooded areas in and directly adjacent to subtropical and temperate rainforest. They feed on fruits and seeds gathered from trees or on the ground.

Australian Birds 1.7.1980

The Green Catbird 17.11.1980

The green catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris) is a species of bowerbird found in subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. It is named for its distinctive call which sounds like a cat meowing, although it has also been mistaken for a crying child. The green catbird is extremely similar to the spotted catbird, which is only found in an isolated population in Far North Queensland. They are considered the same species by some commentators.

Sovereign Hill 2.9.1977

The discovery of gold in the 1850s and 60s is the most significant event in the evolution of the state of Victoria. Fuelled by extravagant stories of wealth gained at the 1849 Californian gold rush, gold fever hit Victoria following the early gold discoveries in and around Clunes, Warrandyte and Ballarat. 

But the real rush began with the discovery of the Mount Alexander goldfield 60 kilometres north-east of Ballarat.

This First Day Cover and the postmark on the stamp depict Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851. It was officially opened on 29 November 1970 and has become a nationally acclaimed tourist attraction. It is one of Victoria's most popular attractions and Ballarat's most famous.

Second largest gold nugget in the world—was also found in Ballarat in the Red Hill mine which is recreated in Sovereign Hill. The Welcome Nugget weighed 69 kg,(2,200 ounces) and contained 99% pure gold, valued at about 10,500 pounds when found, and worth over US$3 million in gold now, or far more as a specimen.

150th Anniversary of Western Australia 6.6.1979

This stamp commemorates the 150th year since Captain James Sterling arrived at mouth of the Swan River aboard the "Parmelia" with a party of settlers, the design on the stamp shows the states "Official" anniversary symbol, the symbol was designed by Norman Wilson of Perth, Western Australia.

The cover depicts The Old Mill (Shenton’s Mill) which is a restored tower mill located on Mill Point in South Perth, Western Australia. Today, restored to its original 1830s condition, it is one of Perth's best known historic landmarks and serves as a sightseeing attraction.

Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state with a total land area of 2,529,875 square kilometres (976,790 sq mi), and the second-largest country subdivision in the world – however, a significant part of it is sparsely populated. The state has about 2.5 million inhabitants (around 11% of the national total), and 92% of the state's population lives in the south-west corner of the state.

The first European visitor to Western Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog, who visited the Western Australian coast in 1616. The first European inhabitants were the crew of the British East Indiaman Tryall, who were wrecked on Tryal Rocks in May 1622. They spent a week camped on the Montebello Islands before sailing on to Batavia. The New South Wales colonial government established a convict-supported military garrison at King George III Sound, at present-day Albany, in 1826, which was followed by the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, including the site of the present-day capital, Perth. York was the first inland settlement in Western Australia. Situated 97 kilometres east of Perth, it was settled on 16 September 1831.

Western Australia achieved responsible government in 1890, and later federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901. Today Western Australia's economy mainly relies on mining, agriculture and tourism. The state produces 46% of Australia's exports. Western Australia is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world.

Thank you Dear Maria for this nice FDC.

Opening of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne 15.11.1978

Souvenir postal cover issued by Australia Post on 15 Nov 1978, to commemorate the official opening of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne. Includes 20c "Little Grebe" stamp, a postal stamp incorporating official West Gate Bridge Authority logo and a stamp of an Australia Post mail van with the words the "First Official Mail Across West Gate".

The West Gate Bridge is a steel box girder cable-stayed bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It spans the Yarra River, just north of its mouth into Port Phillip, and is a vital link between the inner city (CBD) and Melbourne's western suburbs; with the industrial suburbs in the west and with the city of Geelong, 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the south-west. It is one of the busiest road corridors in Australia.

The main river span is 336 metres (1,102 ft) in length, and the height above the water is 58 metres. The total length of the bridge is 2,582.6 metres (8,473.1 ft). It is the second longest in Australia behind the Houghton Highway and its twin the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge, and is twice as long as theSydney Harbour Bridge. It is one of the highest bridges in Australia, most notably trailing that of the more iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The bridge passes over Westgate Park, a large environmental and recreational reserve created during the bridge's construction. The bridge carries up to 200,000 vehicles per day.

Thank you Maria.

Solar Eclipse over Australia 23.10.1978

The special postmark  by Australian post was used to mark the Solar Eclipse in Australia on 23rd October 1978 when the zone of totality passed over SE Australia. Many scientific experiments were conducted during this period.

Thank you Maria.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) 9.5.1977

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.

The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions". It was one of the earliest attempts by trade unions to apply the principles of One Big Union earlier explored by more radical syndicalist unions like the CNT or revolutionary industrial unions like the IWW.

In the Australian case, agitation for One Big Union occurred from 1911 from two different sectors: from the revolutionary Australian section of the IWW and from the pro-arbitration Australian Workers Union (AWU). At that time the AWU was the largest single Australian union. In 1918 after the collapse of the Australian IWW, a group of militant trade unions (which were opposed to the AWU) attempted to form One Big Union under the name Workers Industrial Union of Australia (WIUA). The hostility between the WIUA and the AWU prevented the formation of One Big Union in Australia. It was the attempts of Stanley Bruce's federal government in 1927 to dismantle the Australian Industrial Relations Commission which impelled the Australian trade unions to form a national council.

Melbourne Trades Hall in Victoria is the "birthplace" of the ACTU.

The ACTU's Australian trade union "peak body" precursors include state labour councils like the Victorian Trades Hall Council (originating in 1856 as the 'Melbourne Trades Hall Committee'), the Labour Council of New South Wales (originally formed in 1870 as the 'Sydney Trades and Labour Council') and the Inter-Colonial Trade Union Congress (formed in 1879).

The ACTU has not achieved the ideals expressed for One Big Union: it remains a council organisation, but it does however represent the majority of Australian trade unions. At its formation in 1927 the ACTU was only seen as representing blue collar trades unions, and only managed to achieve the support of trades unions. From 1948 peak bodies of white collar associations existed, and from 1969 peak bodies of government employees. The white collar bodies were: the Council of Professional and Commercial Employees Association (1948), which became the Council of White Collar Associations (1954), which amalgamated with the Salaried Employees Consultative Council of New South Wales (1954) to become the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations(ACSPA) in 1956. The government employee bodies were: the Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations (1969) which became the Council of Australian Government Employee Organisations (CAGEO) in 1975. The ACTU successfully integrated these bodies in 1981. After 1981 the ACTU was generally viewed by the Australian media and public as the organisation representing all workers' organisations.

50th Anniversary of Opening of Parliament House 13.4.1977

This stamp and the first day cover were issued on 13.4.1977 commemorating the 50th annniversary of Parliament House, Canberra, in 1977. Now know as Old Parliament House, it is situated between Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin. Although initially built as a temporary parliament house, government stayed there from 1927 right until 1988, when a new Parliament House opened.

Thank you Maria.

Scenic Australia

These are three of the set of six pretty stamps issued in 1976 highlighting important scenes in Australia.

(85c) Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 450 km (280 mi) by road.

Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(25c) Broken Bay, a semi–mature tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large inlet of the Tasman Sea located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) north ofSydney central business district on the coast of New South Wales, Australia; being one of the bodies of water that separate greater Metropolitan Sydney from the Central Coast. Broken Bay is the first major bay north of Sydney Harbour.

Broken Bay has its origin at the confluence of the Hawkesbury River, Pittwater, and Brisbane Water and flows openly into the Tasman Sea.

The total catchment area of the bay is approximately 17.1 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi).

(5c) The Richmond Bridge is a heritage listed arch bridge located on the B31 ("Convict Trail") in Richmond, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) north of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. It is the oldest bridge still in use in Australia.

The foundation stone for the Richmond Bridge was laid on 11 December 1823 and construction continued using convict labour until completion in 1825. The bridge was originally named Bigge's Bridge after Royal Commissioner, John Thomas Bigge, who recognised the need for the bridge in 1820. In 2005, the bridge was recognised as an outstanding historic place and added to the Australian National Heritage List.

Murder of George Grover.In 1832 an employee of the Richmond Gaol was murdered at Richmond bridge. George Grover was employed as a gaoler whose duties including flogging the prisoners. He was unpopular due to his ferocity and was pushed off the edge of Richmond Bridge after drunkenly falling asleep. No one was convicted of his murder.

Thank you Maria.

National Stamp Week 27.9.1976

An 18c stamp and a miniature sheet of four 18c stamps were issued at all Australian post offices and philatelic sales centres on the opening day of National Stamp Week, 27th September, 1976.

This was only the third miniature sheet in Australian philatelic history. The previous two miniature sheets were issued in 1928 during an international philatelic exhibition in Melbourne and in 1970 to mark the Cook Bicentenary celebrations.

Mr. Ray Honisett's National Stamp Week designs feature a portrait of Blamire Young (1862-1935) an English-born water colourist who played a leading part in the design of the 1913 Kangaroo and Map stamp series, Australia's first uniform stamp issue.

The miniature sheet is intended to illustrate progressive colour steps in photogravure stamp printing. The first stamp is printed in yellow, the second has red added to the yellow base and a further colour effect is achieved in the third stamp by the addition of blue

The Kangaroo stamps of Australia, commonly known as Roos, were the Kangaroo and Map series of definitive stamps of the Australian Commonwealth first issued in 1913. They were issued in 1913, over 12 years after Federation. Although the delay had several causes, one of the major reasons was political wrangling regarding the design. There was a considerable amount of opposition to any inclusion of British royal symbols or profiles.

A design completion was announced in 1911, and several designs, including royal profiles were chosen. The government decided on having only one design, and Charles Frazer, then postmaster-general, inspired the basic outline of the new design.

Blamire Young, a local watercolour artist, was commissioned to produce the final design. There was some criticism and minor changes made, and the first issues were released in January 1913. The stamps were issued in 16 values ranging from a halfpenny to a two pound value.

When Joseph Cook took over as Prime Minister in mid-1913, he promptly had issued a series of stamps featuring the profile King George V. However, the Kangaroo and Map series continued to be issued, and was not removed from sale for over thirty years.

Thank you Maria.

50th Anniversary of Regular Radio Broadcasting 21.11.1973

The stamp on this cover and the cover itself were issued to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of Regular Radio Broadcasting in Australia.

Radio is a way of transmitting signals without wires. It uses electromagnetic radiation to transmit sounds made in one place to listeners in many places. Radio is also known as 'wireless telegraphy', or 'wireless', as earlier methods for sending signals (such as the telegraph and telephone) used wires. Australia adopted radio for communications at sea and in lighthouses, and wireless telegraphy gradually replaced the Overland telegraph which had been completed in 1872.

From the first public radio broadcast in 1923, public and domestic radio sets encouraged communities of listeners. Families and groups gathered around a wireless box or radiogram. Then as radios became cheaper and more portable – particularly with the introduction of transistor radios from the 1950s – personal radios became common, and individuals could listen according to their own preferences.

In December 1922, the Australian Government issued “The Regulations: radio laws for the amateur”. The first licensed broadcast station in Australia, under these new regulations, was 2CM, owned by Charles MacLurcan. The licence (number one) was signed by the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Billy Hughes. Callsign 2CM is listed by the Federal Government as “Never to be Reissued”, in recognition of the pioneering achievements of Charles MacLurcan. 2CM was the first radio station in Australia to publish a regular program guide.

Thank you Maria.

Sydney Opera House 17.10.1973

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the facility is adjacent to the Sydney central business district and the Royal Botanic Gardens, between Sydney and Farm Coves.

Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The NSW Government, led by Premier Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958, with Utzon directing construction. The government's decision to build Utzon's design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect's ultimate resignation.

The Opera House was formally opened by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on 20 October 1973. A large crowd attended. Utzon was not invited to the ceremony, nor was his name mentioned. The opening was televised and included fireworks and a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Thank you Maria.

50th Anniversary of the Australian Legacy Welfare Organisation 5.9.1973

This stamp was issued to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Australian Legacy Welfare Organisation on 5^th September, 1973. 

Legacy is an independent organisation founded in 1923 by a small group of World War 1 veterans. They believed they had to accept a legacy of responsibility for the welfare of the wives and children of their comrades who were killed in war or died subsequently. Legacy also supports the dependants of today's Australia Defence Force who lose their lives as a result of service.

Each year ADCU is a Gold Sponsor for the annual Big Band Sound Concert fundraiser held in Canberra at the Royal Military College Duntroon.

This event aims to maintain and raise awareness of Legacy and helps to raise much needed funds so that they might continue their vital work.

Legacy is a charity providing services to Australian families suffering financially and socially after the incapacitation or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service. It currently cares for around 100,000 widows and 1,900 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia.  

Thank you Maria.

Australia 16.10.1972 - Tenth International Congress of Accountants

A 7c stamp was issued on 16th October, 1972, to mark the Tenth International Congress of Accountants which was opened in Sydney on that date.

The stamp design shows a grouping of numerals and portions of an abacus and a computer circuit representing the advances made in accountancy techniques. Main background colours in the stamp are blue and green-blue. Other colours used in the stamp are orange and black.

The 7c Tenth International Congress of Accountants stamp was designed by Mr. Gordon Andrews of Sydney and was printed by multicolour photogravure in sheets of 100 stamps on paper incorporating luminescence at the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne.  

Mr. Andrews also designed two official first day covers for this stamp issue using themes from his stamp design. One cover showed the abacus with a background of computer circuitry and the other first day cover design presents a pattern of numerals.

A special postmarker was provided from 16th to 21st October, 1972, at a temporary post office at the venue of the Tenth International Congress of Accountants.

Thank you Maria.

Centenary of Overland Telegraph line in Australia. 22.8.1972

This First Day Cover and the stamp on it commemorate the Centenary of Overland Telegraph line in Australia.

The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 km telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta in South Australia. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the completion of the Western Australian section of the line. It was one of the great engineering feats of 19th century Australia and probably the most significant milestone in Australia's telegraphic history.

Thank you Maria.

54th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 21.4.1980

This 22c stamp issue was released by Australia on 21.4.1980 to mark the 54^th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The cover depicts the gate to the Windsor Castle.

Since then, Australia Post has celebrated the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a stamp issue release every year since 1980.

Thank you Maria.

Australia

A few Australian Covers just for Old Time's sake