Australia Post will release its latest Concession stamp on 2 October 2017.
Concession stamps are special non-denominational stamps that enable eligible concession card holders to receive a reduced rate on domestic postage, up to certain value each year.
The 2017 Australia Concession stamp design positions well-known cultural emblems together to spell the word “Australia”. These include our national sporting passions of cricket and surfing; native fauna, specifically a cockatoo, kangaroo and Emu; Indigenous culture, represented by the ingenious boomerang; symbols from our national flag, specifically the Southern Cross Installation and the Commonwealth Star; and important landmarks – Parliament House in Canberra and the most iconic landmark from our built environment, the Sydney Opera House.
The Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, and in 2007, this awe-inspiring structure was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO’s evaluation report called it “… one of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity, not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind”.
Danish architect, Jørn Utzon (1918–2008) won an international competition to design an Australian national opera house. The design was later lauded and described as ahead of its time, but the initial process was fraught and controversial, due to government interference and criticism of Utzon. This led to Utzon’s resignation and mass protests in support of him and his creative vision. Later in his life, Utzon renewed his association with the opera house, developing a set of design principles to govern any future work undertaken on his masterful creation. Utzon, too, was aware of the impact of his masterpiece on our nation: “To me it is a great joy to know how much the building is loved” he said.
A limited number of these stamps are also available to philatelic collectors in the form of the following special products: a first day cover, stamp pack and maxicard.
The Australia Concession range of products are available from 2 October 2017, online, at participating Post Offices and via mail order on 1800 331 794, while stocks last.
View the gallery of stamp and technical specifications for this issue
For details on the eligibility requirements and application process relating to Concession stamps, visit the Australia Post Concession stamps webpage.
This article was produced at the time of publication and will not be updated.
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