Timeline of Australian Money

  • Period: to

    Timeline of Australian Money

  • Paper Currency

    In the first decade after Federation, private bank notes continued to circulate as a paper currency.
  • Australian Notes Act

    The Australian Notes Act 1910 is passed vesting authority to issue Australian notes in the Treasury.
    As an interim measure the Government overprints private bank notes with the words 'Australian Note'.
  • Australian currency

    The first Australian currency note (10 shillings) is issued. Other denominations follow. The notes reflect the dependence of the Australian economy on rural and mining industries.
  • Australia's Curreny Change

    Australia experiences volatile economic and social conditions due to the Great Depression and Second World War. Australia’s currency notes are changed a number of times, in response to changes in the British Monarchy.
  • Currency Notes Issued

    The 'Harrison series' of currency notes is issued (named after Thomas S Harrison, the Australian Note Printer).
  • Commonwealth Bank

    The Commonwealth Bank is given control of the note issue. Note printing operations are moved to a factory in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
  • John Ash

    The 'Ash series' of notes is issued, named after John Ash, the note printer. Manufacturing is represented on our notes (10 shilling) for the first time.
  • Low Unemployment

    Australia enters a prosperous period characterised by low unemployment, low inflation, and solid economic growth. The Reserve Bank of Australia is established in 1960 as the nation's central bank . Distinctive decimal currency notes are issued, featuring for the first time a woman other than the monarch.
  • More Currency Notes Issued

    The 1953/54 series of currency notes is issued. It features portraits of key people in Australian history rather than the Monarchy or the economy.