Ruqayyah Snyder
The Australian $50 note was first introduced in 1973 in response to inflation requiring larger denominations for transactions. The original paper $50 note was designed by Gordon Andrews and featured a scientific theme. On the front was a portrait of pathologist Howard Walter Florey, and on the back was a portrait of veterinary scientist Sir Ian Clunies Ross, along with scenes from the Australian environment. In 1995, the $50 note was changed to a polymer banknote, featuring portraits of Edith Cowan, the first female member of an Australian parliament, and David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author. The most recent $50 note was released in 2018 and includes updated security features, such as microprinting and a patch with the number 50 that can be seen under ultraviolet light.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of introduction | 1973 |
| Year of introduction of the polymer version | 1995 |
| Year of introduction of the new $50 note | 2018 |
| Colour | Yellow |
| People featured | Edith Cowan, David Unaipon |
| Other features | Acacia humifusa, Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), shields from Unaipon's Ngarrindjeri nation, gumnut brooch, King Edward Memorial Hospital, excerpts from Unaipon's book, pictures of Western Australia's original Parliament House, illustration of a foster mother and children |
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What You'll Learn
The $50 banknote was introduced in 1973
The $50 note was one of the last denominations to be introduced following the change to decimal currency in 1966. The $1, $2, $10, and $20 notes were introduced in 1966, with their designs bearing the title "Commonwealth of Australia". The $5 note was introduced a year later in May 1967, once the public had become more familiar with decimal currency.
The $50 banknote has undergone several changes since its introduction. In 1995, it became a polymer banknote, featuring portraits of Edith Cowan, the first female member of an Australian parliament, and David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author. The note also included a clear window with the Southern Cross star formation printed on it. This version of the $50 note is also known as a ""pineapple" due to its bright yellow colour.
The most recent update to the $50 banknote was released into circulation on 18 October 2018. This version features enhanced security features, including microprint excerpts from Unaipon's book "Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines" and Cowan's maiden speech to the Western Australian Parliament. It also includes images celebrating the work of both Unaipon and Cowan, such as shields from Unaipon's Ngarrindjeri nation and a picture of the gumnut brooch Cowan had made.
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It features David Unaipon and Edith Cowan
The Australian $50 note was first issued in October 1973 and featured a portrait of Herbert Johnson, a prominent Australian businessman and politician. However, the current design of the $50 note, which entered circulation in October 1995, features two influential Australians: David Unaipon and Edith Cowan. This was the first time that a non-monarch individual had been featured on one side of an Australian banknote, and a woman other than the Queen had been featured.
David Unaipon (1872–1967) was an Aboriginal Australian writer, inventor, and scientist. Often referred to as "Australia's Leonardo," Unaipon was a polymath who made significant contributions across various fields. He is known for his inventions and innovations in mechanics and acoustics and his literary works that celebrated and preserved Aboriginal culture and stories. Unaipon was also the first Aboriginal author to be published in English. His image on the $50 note is accompanied by illustrations of his mechanical drawings and a sentence in his native Ngarrindjeri language, which translates to "Honouring the past, embracing the future."
Edith Cowan (1861–1932) was an Australian social reformer and politician. She was the first woman elected to an Australian parliament, serving as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1921 to 1924. Cowan advocated for various social causes, particularly those related to women's and children's rights and welfare. She played a crucial role in establishing the Children's Court in Western Australia and was a founding member of the National Council of Women in Australia. Cowan's portrait on the $50 note is accompanied by a background pattern of her handwritten notes and a depiction of Western Australian wildflowers, reflecting her love of nature.
The inclusion of Unaipon and Cowan on the $50 note is significant as it recognizes and celebrates the contributions of two influential Australians who have made a lasting impact in their respective fields. It also symbolizes Australia's diversity and acknowledges the importance of Indigenous knowledge, culture, and political representation. The design of the note, with its intricate security features and depictions of Australian flora and fauna, is a testament to the country's rich history and innovation.
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The note's design and security features
The Australian $50 bill, also called a "pineapple" due to its bright yellow colour, was first introduced in 1973. The current version of the note, which was released in 2018, features several design elements and security features that honour the work of David Unaipon and Edith Cowan.
The Note's Design
The note celebrates David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author, and Edith Cowan, the first female member of an Australian parliament. Their work is recognised in several design elements on the banknote, including shields from Unaipon's Ngarrindjeri nation and images portraying the practices of miwi and navel cord exchange, about which Unaipon wrote. The banknote also includes pictures of the gumnut brooch Cowan had made to symbolise that entry into Parliament was a ‘tough nut to crack’ for women, and the King Edward Memorial Hospital, a women’s and maternity hospital that she helped establish.
The note also features a different species of Australian wattle and a native bird—the Acacia humifusa and the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).
Security Features
The $50 banknote has a range of innovative security features to help keep it secure from counterfeiting. These security features are similar to those in the $5 and $10 banknotes issued in 2016 and 2017. The note features two serial numbers, one in black and blue, using different fonts, and the serial numbers glow under UV light. There is also micro-printing, including excerpts of Unaipon's book Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines and Cowan's maiden speech to Western Australian Parliament, and a shadow image of the Australian coat of arms when light is shown through it. A patch with the number "50" on the back of the banknote can also be seen when held up to an ultraviolet (UV) light.
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The note is nicknamed a pineapple
The Australian $50 note was introduced in 1973, in response to inflation requiring larger denominations for transactions. The note was originally made of paper and designed by Gordon Andrews, with a scientific theme. On the front of the note was a portrait of Australian pathologist Howard Walter Florey, while the back featured Sir Ian Clunies Ross, a veterinary scientist, along with scenes from the Australian environment.
Since 1995, the $50 note has been a polymer banknote, featuring portraits of two influential Australians: Edith Cowan and David Unaipon. Edith Cowan was the first female member of an Australian parliament and a social worker. David Unaipon was an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author. Their work is recognised in several design elements on the banknote.
The note was most recently upgraded in 2018, with updated security features and a new design. The new $50 banknote was released into circulation on 18 October 2018.
The note is nicknamed a 'pineapple'
The Australian $50 note is nicknamed a 'pineapple' due to its bright yellow colour. This nickname is a slang term for the note and is commonly used and discussed by Australians on Reddit. The $50 note is not the only denomination to have a nickname, with the $20 note referred to as a 'lobster' and the $100 note called a 'Bradman' due to his batting average.
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The first $50 note was paper
The first $50 note in Australia was made of paper and was issued in 1973. It was designed by Gordon Andrews and had a scientific theme. On the front of the note was a portrait of Australian pathologist Howard Walter Florey, with scenes of laboratory research. On the back was a portrait of Sir Ian Clunies Ross, a veterinary scientist, and the first chairman of the CSIRO, along with scenes from the Australian environment.
The original paper $50 note was issued from 1973 until 1995, when it was replaced by a polymer banknote. The polymer note features portraits of Edith Cowan, the first female member of an Australian parliament, and David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author. The new note was issued on 4 October 1995.
The $50 note was introduced in response to inflation, which required larger denominations for transactions. There was no $50 note released as part of the initial rollout of decimal currency in 1966, but inflation necessitated its introduction seven years later. The original paper note was released on Tuesday 9 October 1973.
The $50 note is also known as a "pineapple" due to its bright yellow colour. In June 2017, there were 686 million $50 banknotes in circulation, worth $34,309 million, which was 47% of the total value for all denominations. The $50 note has undergone several upgrades and design changes over the years, with the most recent version being released into circulation on 18 October 2018.
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Frequently asked questions
The first $50 bill was released in Australia on 9 October 1973.
The Australian $50 bill features portraits of David Unaipon and Edith Cowan on the front and Western Australia's original Parliament House on the back. It also features a number of security features, including a patch with the number "50" that can be seen under ultraviolet (UV) light.
David Unaipon was an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author. Edith Cowan was a social worker and the first female member of an Australian parliament.
The most recent version of the $50 bill was released on 18 October 2018.
