Australia 2000 Towards Federation
- Issue Date : 22 May 2000
- Designed by : Asprey DiDonato Design
- Printed by : McPherson's Printing
- Print Process : Lithography
- Perforations : 14½ x 14 (45c), 14 x 14½ ($1.50)
- Stamp Size: 26 mm x 37.5 mm (45c), 30 mm x 50 mm ($1.50)
- Format: sheets of 50
- Withdrawal date: 31 May 2001
Contents
Description
The design of this issue takes a contemporary approach to the decorative style of key documents of the period and images from significant events to commemorate the lead up to the Federation of Australia. Although the idea of federation had been aired as early as the 1840s, serious attempts to introduce it only emerged in the 1880s and 1890s.
On 5 July 1900 The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed in the British parliament and on 17 September 1900 the sovereign of the day, Queen Victoria proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia would come into existence on 1 January 1901. On 1 January 1901 the six separate colonies of New South Wales, Victoria|, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia. The Australian Commonwealth will mark its 100th anniversary on 1 January 2001.
Stamps
45c Taking the Vote Stamp
Taking the Vote shows the act of voting in June 1898 in the referendum determining whether the colonies would federate. The background image reveals the results of the federal poll shown outside the Sydney Morning Herald office.
45c Waiting for the Results Stamp
Waiting for the Results shows voters outside the SunFire Office, Geraldton, Western Australia, with a federation leaflet shown in the background.
$1.50 The Fair New Nation Stamp
The Fair New Nation is an allegorical illustration titled Birth of the Commonwealth by George Dancey and featured in the Melbourne Punch annual of 1901. The states and the nation are lively young women dancing around a chariot which is drawing a beautiful Australia. The illustration was accompanied by a poem which begins ‘The Birth of the Commonwealth, The fair new nation cometh...’
$1.50 Queen Victoria Stamp
The sovereign is seated beside the Royal Commission of Assent (held in the National Archives of Australia) to the Act, (1900) which created the Commonwealth of Australia.
Se-tenant Pairs
Miniature Sheet
The banner "One People, One Destiny, One Flag" is from a pamphlet advertising a demonstration for federation. The crowd – pictured outside The Argus office, Melbourne – is watching the results of the federal poll.
First Day Covers
The first day of issue postmark was Perth, WA 6000.
Maximum Cards
