Portraits on decimal banknotes
By CAA | Sunday, 25 April 2021
Andrew Barton Paterson
Banjo (pseudonym) Paterson (1864 to 1941) was a bush poet, journalist and author. His works focused on Australian rural and outback life.
He appears on:
- 10 dollars 1993 to 2016
- 10 dollars 2017 +
Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm (1808 to 1877) was a 19th-century humanitarian known for her support of immigrant female and family welfare in the country. She appears on 2 dollars 1966 to 1988 banknotes.
Catherine Helen Spence
Author, teacher, journalist, politician, leading suffragist and Georgist, Catherine Helen Spence (1825 to 1910), first political candidate was a minister of religion and social worker. She appears on 5 dollars 2001 banknotes.
Charles Edward Kingsford Smith
Pilot for the first flight between Australia and New Zealand, he also was there for the first transpacific flight between United States and Australia. Smith (1897 to 1935) appears on 20 dollars 1966 to 1993 banknotes.
Dame Mary Gilmore
Writer, poet and journalist, Dame Mary Gilmore (1865 to 1962) was born in New South Wales was also doyenne of the Sydney literary world and made frequent appearances on television and radio.
She appears on:
- 10 dollars 1993 to 2016
- 10 dollars 2017 +
Dame Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba (1861 to 1931) was a world famous soprano and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician.
She appears on:
- 100 dollars 1996 to 2019
- 100 dollars 2020 +
David Unaipon
Aboriginal Australian, Unaipon (1872 to 1967) of the Ngarrindjeri people was a preacher, inventor and author. He helped break many stereotypes.
He appears on:
- 50 dollars 1995 to 2017
- 50 dollars 2018 +
Edith Cowan
Social reformer for the rights and welfare of women and children, Edith Cowan (1861 to 1932) was to first woman to serve as a member of parliament.
She appears on:
- 50 dollars 1995 to 2017
- 50 dollars 2018 +
Francis Howard Greenway
This architect was transported to Australia as a convict. He became known and admired for his work on St. Matthew's Church in New South Wales, St. James Church and Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney. Greenway (1777 - 1837) appears on 10 dollars 1966 to 1993 banknotes.
Henry Lawson
Lawson (1867 to 1922), nationalist and republican, was also a poet and a writer. He appears on 10 dollars 1966 to 1993 banknotes.
John MacArthur
Farmer MacArthur (1767 to 1834) is mostly known to be a pioneer of settlement in Australia. He arrived in Sydney in 1790. He appears on 2 dollars 1966 to 1988 banknotes.
John Tebbutt
John Tebbutt (1834 to 1916) of Windsor was the first astronomer who discovered the Great Comet of 1861, a comet that was visible to the naked eye for a period of about 3 months. He appears on 100 dollars 1984 to 1996 banknotes.
Lawrence Hargrave
Hargrave (1850 to 1915) was an engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer. He appears on 20 dollars 1966 to 1993 banknotes.
Lord Howard Walter Florey
Florey (1898 to 1968) shared the Noble Prize in medicine for his role in the development of penicillin. This pharmacologist and pathologist appears on 50 dollars 1973 to 1975 banknotes.
Mary Reibey
Ex-convict, Reibey (1777 to 1855) became a merchant, shipowner and trader, known to be a legendary successful businesswoman in the colony.
She appears on:
- 20 dollars 1994 to 2018
- 20 dollars 2019 +
Queen Elizabeth II
When Elizabeth's father died in February 1952, she became head of the Commonwealth and Queen. She is the longest-reigning British monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II appears on:
- 1 dollar 1966 to 1984
- 5 dollars 1992 and 1993
- 5 dollars 1995 and 2015
- 5 dollars 2016 +
Rev. John Flynn
John Flynn (1880 to 1951), Presbyterian minister also founded the Inlan Mission (AIM) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, first world air ambulance.
He appears on:
- 20 dollars 1994 to 2018
- 20 dollars 2019 +
Sir Douglas Mawson
Later professor at the University of Adelaide, Mawson (1882 to 1958) was a geologist, Antarctic explorer and academic. He was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, which began at the end of the 19th century and ended after the First World War. He appears on 100 dollars 1984 to 1996 banknotes.
Sir Henry Parkes
Father of Confederation, colonial politician, most commanding figure in Australian politics and internationally known, Parkes (1815 to 1896) was also featured a modern coins. He appears on 5 dollars 2001 banknotes.
Sir Ian Clunies Ross
Ian Clunies Ross (1899 to 1959), born in Bathurst, was a veterinary scientist. He appears on 50 dollars 1973 to 1995 banknotes.
Sir John Monash
Military commander and later civil engineer, Sir John Monash (1865 to 1931) is considered one of the best allied generals of the First World War and the most famous commander in Australian history. He appears on 100 dollars 1996 to 2019 banknotes.
Sir Joseph Banks
English naturalist and botanist, he Advocated British settlement in New South Wales and colonization of Australia. Banks (1743 to 1820) also advised the British government on several Australian matters. Banks appears on 2 dollars 1966 to 1988 banknotes.
William James Farrer
Agronomist and planter breeder, Farrer (1845 to 1906) appears on 2 dollars 1966 to 1988 banknotes.
