Australia’s 2023 stamps start with a big celebratory splash. The popular Special Occasions series ushered in the year with a colourful 10 stamp set celebrating events ranging from engagements, birthdays to a general Let’s Celebrate design. A pretty good start, but right after that, Australia Post seemed to slip into high gear with their designs. Normally I look back on the previous year for highlights, but I’m breaking with that because 2 sets have already set a high artistic mark for 2023. These two issues are going to be tough to follow up.

Australia Post’s designers always offer a rich field to pick over. If you are interested in a deep dive into both Australian history and it’s rich landscape, well … stamps are the perfect vehicle. Already this year, there are 2 outstanding issues. The first, delicate Fairy Wrens by the always great Jo Muré and a fun set of vintage Travel Posters by Simone Sakinofsky

I could look at Muré’s work all day and suspect I could create an entire book devoted to this long time Australian Post artist/designer. Her little wrens are typical of the type of work I’ve come to expect from Muré – exquisitely detailed and deeply respectful of the subject. 

The second set makes this early list because I just love vintage travel posters. 

Sakinofsky pulled together a series of posters from the golden age of travel.  Interestingly, Canada Post (CP) issued a set, titled Vintage Travel Posters in 2022 from a similar time period. As much as I like Paprika Design, the Canadian firm who created the CP stamps, I think Sakinofsky did a better job. I like the way she incorporated the map beneath the stamp to give a bit of context for each one. And the use of pastel colours ties the set together nicely. They set off the bold yellows and reds in each stamp, making them look even more vibrant.

This year, I’m experimenting with bigger images in the layout. I’ve been testing how they look on smart phones and so far, everything seems to line up nicely. What the aim is, is to allow you to see the stamps in great detail, without you having you to tap to enlarge the stamps. We’ll see how it goes.  Don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive update notifications direct to your inbox.  It goes out Sunday nights (or Monday morning, depending on where you are) and includes a list of all updated stamp programs, new article links and subscriber only content. It’s free! 

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

January

Special Occasions
Topic: events

10 stamps (for different special occasions), 10 booklets, gutter strips & sheets (I opted not to show the  booklets/strips etc because of the sheer number of items), maxicards 
Offset lithography

• Teddy Bear
• Floral Heart
• Paper Bouquet
• Happy Birthday
• Let’s Celebrate
• White Tulips
• Champagne Flutes
• Waratah
• Australia
• Wedding Bands

Designers: 

• Jo Muré – Teddy bear
• Jason Watts -Champagne Flutes
• Simone Sakinofsky – Happy Birthday & Let’s Celebrate
• Sonia Young – Floral Heart, Paper Bouquet, White Tulips, Waratah, Australia & Wedding Bands
   

Release date: January 3, 2023

February

Sporting Treasures
Topic: sports 

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 5 booklets, 4 gutter strips
offset lithography

• Jack Brabham’s BT23A-1 Prototype
• Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s Racquet
• Hubert Opperman’s Tour De France model bike
• Kurt Fearnley’s Racing Wheelchair

Jack Brabham’s BT23A-1 Prototype – Jack Brabham (1926–2014) F1 champion (1959, 1960 and 1966), who designed his own car, the BT19, which he drove to his 1966 victory.  Museum acquires historic Jack Brabham car | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au)

Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s Racquet – Evonne Fay Goolagong Cawley AC MBE was one of the top tennis players from 1970s and into the mid 80s.  “Watershed moments in the history of a sport – and many other things – are often seen more clearly in retrospect. Looking back today across the development of Australian tennis, there is no greater trailblazer than Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, the Wiradjuri woman who dominated the women’s game during the 1970s.” Evonne Goolagong-Cawley: Trailblazer of Australian Tennis | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (nfsa.gov.au)

The tennis raquet is a Dunlop Maxply Fort donated by Goolagong Cawley to the National  National Museum of Australia, along with 3 of her Wimbledon trophies.

Hubert Opperman’s Tour De France model bike  – “Hubert Opperman was the first Australian cyclist to make an impression in Europe. In 1928, he captured international attention as captain of the first English-speaking team to contest the Tour de France. Two decades of racing and record-setting later, Oppy was an icon of the sport and his country.” An inside look at Hubert ‘Oppy’ Opperman, Australia’s first cycling star – VeloNews.com

Hubert Opperman collection | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au)

Kurt Fearnley’s Racing Wheelchair – Fearnley was a gold medal winning long and middle-distance wheel chair racer. He competed in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympic Games, as well as the 2 IPC Athletics World Championships, and 3 Commonwealth Games and inducted into the Paralympics Australia Hall of Fame in 2022. Home (kurtfearnley.com). The stamp shows the 3 wheel chair Fearnley used to win gold in the  2008 Beijing marathon race and is currently held by the Australian Sports Museum.

Designer: Tim Hancock, Backpack Creative
Hancock designed the 2018 Convict Past stamps for Australia

Release date: February 7, 2023

Fairy Wrens
Topic: birds | wildlife

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, numismatic cover, booket of 20 stamps, 4 maxi covers, stamp pack, gutter strips
offset lithography

• Lovely Fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis) Lovely Fairywren – Malurus amabilis – Birds of the World. The illustration is based on a © Clinton Nash & Maria Nicolaou photograph
• Superb Fairy-wren  (Malurus cyaneus)  Superb Fairywren – Malurus cyaneus – Birds of the World  Illustration used a photo by Greg Wyncoll/Shutterstock.com
• Red-backed Fairy-wren  (Malurus melanocephalus) Red-backed Fairywren – Malurus melanocephalus – Birds of the World    Illustration used a photo by Trent Townsend/Shutterstock.com
• Purple-crowned Fairy-wren  (Malurus coronatus) Purple-crowned Fairywren – Malurus coronatus – Birds of the World Illustration used a photo by Alwyn Simple

Designer: Jo Muré

Release date: February 21, 2023

March

The Golden Age of Travel Posters
Topic: tourism 

3 stamps, FDC, cancel, booklet of10, 3 maxi cards, gutter strips
offset lithography

• Western Australia
• South Queensland Surfing Resorts
• Mildura

Designer: Simone Sakinofsky
Sakinofsky’s first stamp for Australia Post was the 2004 Rainforest Butterflies set. She has since gone on to create over 100s of stamps for Australia, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Island and Australian Antarctic Territory. 

Release date: March 7, 2023

Centenary of Legacy
Topic: history

1 stamp, sheet of 10, souvenir pack, maxi card (more items to come) 
Offset lithography

Legacy is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 1923 to aid the families of military vets. 

In the trenches of the Western Front during World War I, a soldier said to his dying mate “I’ll look after the missus and kids”. This became known as The Promise – and it is still kept today. Our History – Legacy

At the end of WW1, over 60,000 Australian service personal were killed, and 150,000 wounded, many so badly they could never work again or died after the war ended. This left behind families devastated both emotionally and financially. The Legacy was formed to provide aid to the families, and help them through difficult times. And 100 years later, continues to provide help, to families who lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Designer: Janet Boschen, Boschen Design

Release date: March 21, 2023

April

Solar Eclipses
Topic: space | science

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, numismatic cover, cancel, 3 maxi cards, prepaid postcard, presentation pack, gutter strips
offset lithography

• Annular Solar Eclipse
• Total Solar Eclipse
• Partial Solar Eclipse

This issue is being released in the lead-up to a hybrid eclipse (a rare annular–total eclipse), which is due to arrive on 20 April 2023, viewable at 11.29am over a small part of the west coast of Western Australia, the Exmouth peninsula. Australia Post Collectables, Solar Eclipses

Designer: Gary Domoney, VISUA ® | BRAND | DIGITAL | DESIGN
VISUA also designed the 2020 Tokyo Olympic stamps, 2022 Sheepdog Trials and  2007 The Landmarks: Australian Modernist Architecture. 

Release date: April 11, 2023

Lest We Forget: The Vietnam War
Topic: history

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 4 FDCs, numismatic cover, cancel, booklet, presentation pack,  
offset lithography

The Vietnam Medal 
“Instituted in 1968, the Vietnam Medal was the primary Australian campaign medal of the Vietnam War, until the creation of the Australian Active Service Medal 1945–75, some 30 years later. The Vietnam Medal recognises members of the Australian Defence Forces and members of accredited philanthropic organisations serving in South Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973.” Lest We Forget: The Vietnam War – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
“The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was established on 24 February 1993. It was created to provide recognition to the men and women who played a vital support role during the Vietnam War but did not qualify for the Vietnam Medal. This includes certain defence personnel in support roles, as well as entertainers, journalists, civilian surgical and medical teams, Qantas aircrew and embassy couriers.” Lest We Forget: The Vietnam War – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Australia’s participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973. The only combat troops remaining in Vietnam were a platoon guarding the Australian embassy in Saigon, which was withdrawn in June 1973. 
Vietnam War 1962–75 | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au) 

Designer: Sally Piskuric
Melbourne based Sally Piskuric created her first stamps for Australia in 2020, Mid-Century Fashion Focus. 

Release date: April 18, 2023

Australian Legends of Supercars
Topic: history | sports

4 stamps, stamp pack. 4 postcards, 4 booklets of 10, FDC, cancel 
offset lithography

• Allan Moffat OBE  Allan Moffat, OBE | Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame
• Dick Johnson AM Dick Johnson, AM | Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame
• Mark Skaife OAM Mark Skaife, OAM | Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame
• Craig Lowndes OAM Craig Lowndes, OAM – Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame

Designer: SE Products

Release date: April 27, 2023

May

Peacock Spiders
Topics: insects 

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, stamp pack, 3 maxi cards, 2 FDCs, cancel, booklet of 10
offset lithography

• Maratus Elephans – so called elephans because of the “elephant on it’s butt”.  Documented in 2015 in Tamworth, New South Wales
• Maratus purcellae – first fully described in 2013 when they were discovered in 1st in a garden in Canberra and and then in Grafton
• Maratus Speciosus (Coastal Peacock Spider) – this little peacock was first described in 1874. It likes to party along the south-west coast of Western Australia and enjoys the sand dunes as well. 

There are 96 varieties of peacock (Maratus) spiders, and a further 20 as yet unnamed.

Peacocks are tiny, only 2–5 millimetres in size. To capture their colours, photographers need a lot of patience, an eagle eye and either a microscope or macro lens. Their colours are prominent during courting rituals, in which the males display their dances and colours to attract a mate.  Females are either a dull brown or grey colour.  Each species has a distinct colour pattern and dance. 

Although first documented in 1874, they have remained largely unstudied until 2011 when arachnologists began investigating them in depth:

Sydney-based arachnologist Jürgen Otto and his US colleague David Hill have described a great number of species since Jürgen first happened upon M. volans in Sydney in 2005 and became intrigued by the tiny spiders. Little was known of their elaborate courtship behaviour until Jürgen observed, documented and filmed their display in 2008, which became a social media hit.

Designer: Simone Sakinofsky
Photographer: Jürgen Otto 
All the photos used in this series were taken by Jürgen Otto. Biologist Otto first discovered the colourful little spiders on a bush walk in 2005. 

Otto says he almost stepped on the creature. Luckily – for him and the spider – he didn’t. Instead, he snapped a photo of it, and so began his fascination with the little critters.

His enthusiasm moved into the academic realm when David Hill, a founder of a journal on jumping spiders Peckhamia, encouraged Otto to branch out into peacock spider research. The colourful world of Jürgen Otto (cosmosmagazine.com)

The above quote is from an excellent Cosmos interview with Otto. It’s a fun read so I encourage you to check it out, even if you are a spiderphobe like me. It’s hard not to love little peacocks after you read about them. If you are interested in a deep dive into Maratus, you can read Jürgen Otto and David Hill’s 2017 paper Five new peacock spiders from Western Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch 1878). It’s a lengthy document (97 page pdf), that includes highly detailed photos of each spider. 

Jürgen Otto also has a YouTube channel celebrating these curious little spiders.  It’s called Peacock Spiderman. He manages to capture some of the peacocks in full courtship … and then he has a few just Staying Alive:

Release date: May 9, 2023

Jellyfish: Underwater Wonders

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 4 maxi cards, 5 booklets of 8, gutterstrips also available
offset

• Lion’s Mane Photographer: David Paul
•  Blue Blubber Photographer: Paul Starosta/Getty Images
• Moon Jellyfish Photographer: Alexander Semenov/Science Photo Library
• Bazinga Photographer: Denis Riek

Designer: Jason Watts

Release date: May 16, 2023

June

Extinct Mammals

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 3 maxicards, stamp pack, booklets of 10, 3 gutter sheets of 10
Offset lithography

• Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger, Thylacinus cynocephalus) – last known TT died in captivity at the Beaumaris Zoo, Hobart, in 1936 
• Toolache Wallaby (Notamacropus greyi) – last known Toolache died in captivity in 1939
•  Long-tailed Hopping-mouse (Notomys longicaudatus) – thought to be extinct since 1901 when the last one was seen

Designer: Sonia Young

Release date: June 1, 2023

Still-life Paintings – Margaret Olley and John Perceval

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 2 maxicards, stamp pack, booklets of 10, 2 gutter sheets of 10
Offset lithography

Margaret Olley (1923-2011), Winter Flowers 1964 –  oil on board, 74.8 × 59 cm, private collection, courtesy of Smith & Singer Fine Art. © Philip Bacon Gallery
Margaret Olley | Art Gallery of NSW

John Perceval (1923-2000), Sunflowers undated – oil on canvas, 46 × 35.5 cm, Jreissati Family Collection. © Celia Perceval. Photo: Don Gathercole
John Perceval, National Portrait Gallery 

Designer: Jo Muré 

Release date: June 6, 2023

Sustainable Future

3 stamps (gummed and self adhesive), souvenir sheet, cancel, 2 FDCs, 3 maxicards, 3 booklets, stamp pack
offset

• Biodiversity “his issue presents a stylised scene, inspired by Lake Connewarre, Victoria. That location is the site of a trial to release the Orange-bellied Parrot (while on migration from breeding sites in Tasmania). The planting of gum trees in a corridor next to the lake and wetlands has been implemented to support local Koala populations. Local saltmarsh plants preferred by the Orange-bellied Parrot and the vulnerable  Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) have also been included in the scene.” Sustainable Future – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)
• Indigenous Land Management “Indigenous land management comprises a diverse range of activities, including weed and feral animal control, fire management (such as cool burning), revegetation, management of water supplies, surveying plant and animal species, and the Indigenous Rangers program. The program, first funded in 2007, has created thousands of jobs for Indigenous people in land and sea management. As of April 2021, there were 129 Indigenous ranger groups, and the 2022 federal budget included funding for more than 80 additional ranger groups over six years.” Sustainable Future – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)
• Renewable Energy “In 2021, some 29 per cent of Australia’s total electricity generation was from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydro – the highest percentage on record in Australia. Australia has some of the highest uptake of solar in the world, around 32 per cent of households,” Sustainable Future – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

Designer: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Illustrator: Andrew Hopgood

Release date: June 27, 2023

July

Concession Post 2023

1 stamp
offset

Concession stamps are special issues that allow certain people reduced postage for a year. 

Designer: Simone Sakinofsky, Australia Post Design Studio

Release date: July 4, 2023

FIFA Women’s World Cup

1 stamp, stamp pack, FDC, cancel, 3 covers (pin, coin and medallion covers), maxicard, sheets of 10, prestige pack, 12 stamps featuring team members
offset

The stamp features the official FIFA mascot Tazuni™. 

Tazuni™ is an energetic, football-loving penguin based on the species endemic to the region, Eudyptula minor, or Little Penguin. The colourful branding elements of the stamp and cover are based on works by Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand artists.  FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

Designer: Australia Post Design Studio/FIFA

Release date: July 11, 2023

August

Native Title Act 1993: 30 Years

1 prepaid cover, cancel

The landmark Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) was a long time coming for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Their lands had been systematically colonised by Europeans since 1788 through the legal fiction of terra nullius (“no-one’s land”).

The Act provides for establishing “native title” over customary lands and waters through traditional owners substantiating their claims of ongoing cultural connection to country – a connection that stretches back some 65,000 years.Native Title: 30 Years Postage Paid Envelope – Postal Stationery (auspost.com.au)

Designer: Jo Mure
Photographers:
Eddie Koiki Mabo on Mer,
© Trevor Graham
Yarra Bank Films

Release date: August 8, 2023

Aussie Bird Count 2024

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 3 maxi cards, stamp pack, gutter strips (not shown)
offset

• Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) – 
• Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
• Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

This series celebrates the 10th Aussie Bird Count.  For the past 10 years, Australians download go count birds for the BirdLife Australia.  The aim is to track bird numbers to follow their health and progress. In 2022 124,430 checklists were submitted, accounting for nearly 4 million birds. Birdlife has a news release on this set of stamps and the birds Stamp of approval – BirdLife Australia

Designer: Andrew Hogg Design
Artist: Rachel Gyan

Release date: August 15, 2023

September

Aussie Big Things

5 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 5 maxicards
numismatic coin covers and gutter strips also available
offset

Second in a celebration of “Big Things” found in Australia. Reg Mombassa supplied artwork for the first set in 2007

• The Big Tasmanian Devil, Mole Creek, Tas
• Giant Koala, Dadswells Bridge, Vic.
• Big Swoop, Canberra, ACT
• Giant Murray Cod, Swan Hill, Vic.
• The Big Jumping Crocodile, Wak Wak, NT

Designer: Sonia Young
Artist: Nigel Buchanan
NIGEL BUCHANAN 
Buchanan’s name may not be familiar, his artwork will be to many. He his artwork has illustrated the covers of Times Magazine, Billboard, Newsweek, Der Spiegel and Fortune, to name a few. 

Release date: September 4, 2023

Queen Elizabeth II: In Memoriam

6 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, souvenir sheet, concertina pack (includes sheetlets of all 6 stamps)
gutter strips, medallion covers available
offset

• Princess Elizabeth, 1945
• Queen Elizabeth II, 1952 
• Queen Elizabeth II, 1954
• Queen Elizabeth II, 1997
• Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, 2007
• Queen Elizabeth II, 2022

Designer: Sonia Young

Release date: September 26, 2023

Australia’s First Olympian: Edwin Flack

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheetlet pack, sheet of 10, maxicard
offset

Winner of 800 metres and 1500 metres races and 3rd in doubles tennis at the 1886 Olympics.

Australia’s first Olympian | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au)

Designer: Sonia Young

Release date: September 26, 2023

October

Disney 100

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel 4 maxi cards, stamp pack, souvenir collection, 6 special souvenir sets (Marvel, Mickey and Friends, Pixar, Princess, Star Wars, Disney Celebration)
12 medallion covers, 2 numismatic covers also available

• Nemo in Sydney Harbour, NSW
• Ariel at the Great Barrier Reef, Qld.
• Ariel at the Great Barrier Reef, Qld.
• Kanga and Roo in the Red Centre, N.T.
   

Designer: Simone Sakinofsky

Release date: October 3, 2023

October

Centenary of Public Broadcast Radio

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheetlets of 10, booklets, maxi card
offset

Australia’s first radio station, 2SB Sydney, took to the air on 23 November 1923

Typography: Jo Muré
Artist: Harry Slaghekke

Release date: October 17, 2023

Poppies of Remembrance

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 3 booklets of 10, 3 maxi cards, FDC, cancel, 3 prestige covers
offset

Designer: Matt Remphrey, Parallax Design

Release date: October 24, 2023

November

King Charles III

3 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets, 2 maxi cards, 1 sheet of 10, concertina pack

• HRH Prince Charles, 1966
• HRH Prince Charles, 2018
• HRH Prince Charles Coronation 2023

Designer: Jo Muré

Release date: November 1, 2023

Christmas 2023

Secular

Religious

5 stamps, 1 souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, 5 maxi cards, 5 booklets, stamp packs, 3 sheets, numismatic cover, embellished sheets
Offset lithography

Artist: Dani Poon
Designer: Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio (secular stamps and products)
Dani Poon (religious stamps)

Release date: November 1, 2023