Australia and Territories

Here you will find a selection of Commonwealth stamps from Australia

Australia is a continent between Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean.

The six self-governing Australian colonies that formed the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901 operated their own postal service and issued their own stamps,New South Wales being the first part of Australia to operate a postal service, which in 1803 was carrying letters between Sydney and Parramatta for a 2d charge.

Australian philately proper begins on 2 January 1913 with the issue of a red 1d (one penny) Kangaroo and Map, the design of which was adopted in part from the entry that won the Stamp Design Competition. This was the first definitive stamp with the sole nomenclature “Australia”. The first definitive issue had fifteen stamps ranging in value from ½d (halfpenny) to £2 (two pounds).

Australia's first commemorative stamp was issued on 9 May 1927 to mark the opening of the first Parliament House in Canberra. Subsequently, issues have appeared regularly commemorating Australian achievements and landmarks in Australian history.