List of people who have appeared on Australian currency facts for kids

Have you ever looked closely at the money in your pocket? Australia has its own special money, with notes and coins that feature important people from its history. Since 1910, when Australia started making its own currency, many famous Australians and even some members of the Royal Family have appeared on these notes and coins.

This article will tell you about the people whose faces you might see on Australian money. Some of these people are still on the money we use today, and their names are shown in bold below.

• N means the person was on a note (like a banknote).
• C means the person was on a coin.
• P means their picture was the main image on the money.
• W means their picture was a watermark (a faint image you can see when you hold the note up to the light).

Faces on Australian Money

Important Australians on Notes

Australia's banknotes feature many people who made a big difference to the country.

People on Current Banknotes

• Edith Cowan (on the $50 note): Edith Cowan was the first woman elected to an Australian Parliament. She worked hard for women's and children's rights. Her image has been on the $50 note since 1995.
• Rev John Flynn (on the $20 note): John Flynn was a minister who started the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This service brings medical help to people in remote parts of Australia. He has been on the $20 note since 1994.
• Dame Mary Gilmore (on the $10 note): Mary Gilmore was a famous Australian poet and writer. She wrote about Australian life and history. Her picture has been on the $10 note since 1993.
• Dame Nellie Melba (on the $100 note): Nellie Melba was a world-famous opera singer from Australia. She was known for her amazing voice. She has been on the $100 note since 1996.
• Sir John Monash (on the $100 note): John Monash was a brilliant engineer and a respected military commander during World War I. He has been on the $100 note since 1996.
• Banjo Paterson (on the $10 note): Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was a famous Australian poet. He wrote popular poems like "Waltzing Matilda" and "The Man from Snowy River." He has been on the $10 note since 1993.
• Mary Reibey (on the $20 note): Mary Reibey was a successful businesswoman in early colonial Australia. She started many businesses and became very wealthy. She has been on the $20 note since 1994.
• David Unaipon (on the $50 note): David Unaipon was an Aboriginal inventor, preacher, and writer. He was the first Aboriginal author to be published. He has been on the $50 note since 1995.

Other Notable Australians on Past Notes

• Sir Joseph Banks (on the $5 note, 1967–1991): Joseph Banks was a botanist who sailed with Captain James Cook. He studied many plants and animals in Australia.
• Caroline Chisholm (on the $5 note, 1967–1991): Caroline Chisholm was a social reformer who helped immigrant women and families in Australia.
• Sir Ian Clunies Ross (on the $50 note, 1974–1995): Ian Clunies Ross was a scientist who worked on animal health and agricultural research.
• William Farrer (on the $2 note, 1966–1985): William Farrer was a wheat breeder who developed new types of wheat suitable for Australia.
• Captain Matthew Flinders (on the 10/- note, 1953–1966): Matthew Flinders was a navigator who mapped much of Australia's coastline.
• Howard Florey, Baron Florey (on the $50 note, 1974–1993): Howard Florey was a scientist who helped develop penicillin, a life-saving medicine.
• Sir John Franklin (on the £5 note, 1954–1966): John Franklin was an Arctic explorer and a governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).
• Francis Greenway (on the $10 note, 1966–1991): Francis Greenway was a convict architect who designed many important buildings in early Sydney. He is the only convicted forger to appear on legal tender.
• Lawrence Hargrave (on the $20 note, 1966–1993): Lawrence Hargrave was an inventor and aviation pioneer who experimented with flying machines.
• Hamilton Hume (on the £1 note, 1953–1966): Hamilton Hume was an explorer who, with William Hovell, explored inland New South Wales.
• Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (on the $20 note, 1966–1993): Charles Kingsford Smith was a famous Australian aviator who made many record-breaking flights.
• Henry Lawson (on the $10 note, 1966–1991): Henry Lawson was a well-known Australian poet and short story writer.
• John Macarthur (on the $2 note, 1966–1985): John Macarthur was a pioneer of the wool industry in Australia.
• Sir Douglas Mawson (on the $100 note, 1984–1991): Douglas Mawson was an Antarctic explorer and geologist.
• Karina Nartiss (on the £10 note, 1954–1965): Karina Nartiss was a young immigrant who modeled for the image representing "Science and Industry" on the £10 note.
• Sir Henry Parkes (on the $5 note, 2001): Henry Parkes was a politician who played a key role in the federation of Australia. He appeared on a special note for the Centenary of Federation.
• Admiral Arthur Phillip (on the £10 note, 1954–1966): Arthur Phillip was the first governor of New South Wales and led the First Fleet.
• Catherine Helen Spence (on the $5 note, 2001): Catherine Helen Spence was a writer, social reformer, and suffragist. She also appeared on the Centenary of Federation note.
• Captain Charles Sturt (on the £1 note, 1953–1966): Charles Sturt was an explorer who led expeditions into inland Australia.
• John Tebbutt (on the $100 note, 1984–1996): John Tebbutt was a famous Australian astronomer.

The Royal Family on Australian Currency

Members of the British Royal Family have often appeared on Australian money, especially on coins, as Australia is part of the Commonwealth.

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II was on many Australian coins and notes during her long reign.

• She appeared on various coins from 1953 to 2023, including the 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c (since 1966) and the $2 coin (since 1988).
• She was also on the $5 note from 1992 onwards.
• Before decimal currency, she was on shillings and pence coins (1953–1963) and pound notes (1953–1966).

King Charles III

• King Charles III (on the $1 coin): Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III's portrait began appearing on the $1 coin from 2023.

Other Royals

• King Edward VII (on coins, 1910): He was on early Australian coins when Australia first started issuing its own currency.
• King Edward VIII (as a watermark on notes, 1933–1939): His image was used as a watermark on notes even though his father, King George V, was the primary image. These notes continued to be used during his short time as king.
• King George V (on notes and coins, 1911–1939): He was on many Australian coins and notes, including pounds, shillings, and pence.
• King George VI (on notes and coins, 1937–1953): He was also featured on various Australian coins and notes before Queen Elizabeth II.
• Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (on 20c and 50c coins, 2011): These coins were special issues to celebrate their wedding.
• Charles, Prince of Wales (on a 50c coin, 1981): This coin was a special issue to celebrate his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.
• Diana, Princess of Wales (on a 50c coin, 1981, and a $25 coin, 1992): She appeared on a coin for her engagement and later on a special $25 coin in a set called 'The Royal Ladies' for Queen Elizabeth II's Ruby Jubilee.
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Anne, Princess Royal, and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (on $25 coins, 1992): These three royal women were also part of 'The Royal Ladies' coin set.

Commemorative Figures on Coins

Sometimes, special coins are made to celebrate important events or people.

• Gwoya Jungarai (Tjungurrayi) (on the $2 coin, 1988+): The portrait on the $2 coin shows an Aboriginal elder. It is based on a drawing of Gwoya Tjungurrayi, a Warlpiri-Anmatyerre man from the Northern Territory.
• George Bass (on a 50c coin, 1998): A special coin was made to celebrate his voyages with Matthew Flinders.
• Sir Donald Bradman (on a 20c coin, 2001): A commemorative coin was issued after the death of this legendary Australian cricketer.
• Captain James Cook (on a 50c coin, 1970): A special coin celebrated 200 years since Cook explored the east coast of Australia. He also appeared as a primary image or watermark on many historical notes.
• Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop (on a 50c coin, 1995): This coin celebrated 50 years since the end of World War II, honoring a famous surgeon and prisoner of war.
• Norman Lindsay (on a $1 coin, 2007): A commemorative coin was issued for this famous Australian artist and writer.
• Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop (on a $1 coin, 2008): A special coin honored Australia's first saint.
• Sir Henry Parkes (on a $1 coin, 1996): A coin was issued to mark 100 years since his death.
• Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (on a $1 coin, 1997): A coin celebrated 100 years since the birth of this aviation pioneer.