Postmarks

All about postmarks

A postmark is an inked rubber stamp, with an imprint that indicates the date and place. A postal worker will press the postmark onto your letter to show the stamp has been used for postage. The date on the postmark records where and when the item enters the mail system.

Postmarks are just as unique and fascinating as stamps themselves. Take a look at some of our latest ones, and learn how to perfectly place postmark ink onto your collectable items.

Latest first day of issue postmarks

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Basket Weaving postmark

Issue: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Basket Weaving
Issue date: 26 June 2018

Issue: Art in Nature
Issue date: 12 June 2018

Issue: Finches of Australia II
Issue date: 5 June 2018

Issue: Silo Art
Issue date: 21 May 2018

Issue: First Cricket Tour: 150 Years
Issue date: 1 May 2018

Issue: Cloudscapes
Issue date: 1 May 2018

Issue: Norfolk Island Wrasses
Issue date: 30 April 2018

Queen's Birthday 2018

A Century of Service: War Memorials

AAT: Crabeater Seals

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

Finches of Australia

Vintage Jam Labels

Norfolk Island Golf

Banksias

With Love

Australian Legends 2018

Convict Past

Christmas Island Year of the Dog 2018

Previous year's postmarks

2017 First Day of Issue postmarks 2016 First Day of Issue postmarks 2015 First Day of Issue postmarks

Latest temporary and permanent postmarks

First day of use: 16 April 2018
Post Office: Bendigo Central, Bendigo, Victoria 3550
Type: Permanent pictorial with rolling date
Postmark text: Bendigo Central, Bendigo VIC 3550
Pictorial elements: Gold Mine Tram
Size: tba

First day of use: tba
Post Office: Woodbridge LPO Tasmania 7162
Type: Permanent pictorial with rolling date
Postmark text: Woodbridge Home of the Marine Discovery Centre Tasmania 7162
Pictorial elements: Sailing ship on water
Size: 36 x 42mm diameter

First day of use: 2 April 2018
Post Office: Surfers Paradise Qld 4217
Type: Permanent pictorial with rolling date
Postmark text: Surfers Paradise Qld 4217
Pictorial elements: Beach sign (adapted)
Size: 38 x 22mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 30 March 2018, Brisbane QLD 4000 postmark

First day of use: 30 March 2018
Post Office: Brisbane QLD 4000
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 30 March 2018, Brisbane QLD 4000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 2 March 2018, Darwin NT 0800 postmark

First day of use: 2 March 2018
Post Office: Darwin NT 0800
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 2 March 2018, Darwin NT 0800
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 24 February 2018, Perth WA 6000 postmark

First day of use: 24 February 2018
Post Office: Perth WA 6000
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 24 February 2018, Perth WA 6000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 18 February 2018, Adelaide SA 5000 postmark

First day of use: 18 February 2018
Post Office: Adelaide SA 5000 (Rundle Mall Post Office)
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 18 February 2018, Adelaide SA 5000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 10 February 2018, Melbourne VIC 3000 postmark

First day of use: 10 February 2018
Post Office: Melbourne VIC 3000
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 10 February 2018, Melbourne VIC 3000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 9 February 2018, Hobart TAS 7000 postmark

First day of use: 9 February 2018
Post Office: Hobart TAS 7000
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 9 February 2018, Hobart TAS 7000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 3 February 2018, Sydney NSW 2000 postmark

First day of use: 3 February 2018
Post Office: Sydney NSW 2000
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 3 February 2018, Sydney NSW 2000
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Bloomin’ Beautiful Blackbutt, Gateway to the South Burnett, Blackbutt Qld 4314 postmark

First day of use: 1 February 2018
Post Office: Blackbutt Qld 4314
Type: Permanent pictorial with new postcode
Postmark text: Bloomin’ Beautiful Blackbutt, Gateway to the South Burnett, Blackbutt Qld 4314
Pictorial elements: Avocados
Size: 36mm diameter

Queen’s Baton Relay, 25 January 2018, Canberra ACT 2600 postmark

First day of use: 25 January 2018
Post Office: Canberra ACT 2600
Type: souvenir temporary pictorial with fixed date
Postmark text: Queen’s Baton Relay, 25 January 2018, Canberra ACT 2600
Pictorial elements: Queen’s Baton Relay logo
Size: 32mm diameter

Heart of the Reef, Hamilton Island Qld 4803 postmark

First day of use: 8 January 2018
Post Office: Hamilton Island Qld 4803
Type: Permanent pictorial with rolling date
Postmark text: Heart of the Reef, Hamilton Island Qld 4803
Pictorial elements: heart-shaped reef
Size: 45 x 30mm diameter

Latest stamp show postmarks

Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair - day 01 postmark

First day of use: 25 May 2018
Show: Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair
Type: Stamp Show temporary postmark
Postmark text: Anniversary Day | 25 May 2018 | Newcastle NSW 2300
Pictorial elements: Lieut. John Shortland
Size: tba

Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair - day 02 postmark

First day of use: 26 May 2018
Show: Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair
Type: Stamp Show temporary postmark
Postmark text: Memorial Day | 26 May 2018 | Newcastle NSW 2300
Pictorial elements: Poppy
Size: tba

Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair - day 03 postmark

First day of use: 27 May 2018
Show: Newcastle Stamp and Coin Fair
Type: Stamp Show temporary postmark
Postmark text: Newcastle Day | 27 May 2018 | Newcastle NSW 2300
Pictorial elements: Newcastle lighthouse
Size: tba

The four types of postmarks

Most Post Offices have a standard postmark with the name of the Post Office, postcode and date, but there are also four postmark types exclusively produced for specific stamp releases or events.

National First Day of Issue

Used to commemorate the release of a new stamp on a national level. The locality name is chosen for its link to the stamp issue.

Permanent Pictorial

Reflecting something distinctive to the locality, such as penguins for the town of Penguin in Tasmania or a lighthouse if one is prominent in the area.

Temporary

These postmarks are used on either single days or consecutive days commemorating a special event.

Individual location

Postmarks associated with a historical or geographical reflection of the local area but not necessarily pictorial and can be used to cancel first day of issue stamps only.

Applying a postmark

If you need a postmark applied to your philatelic item, head to your local Post Office. Only authorised Australia Post staff can apply postmarks. Make sure you’re getting the right kind of postmark applied. You’ll want a national postmark on a first day cover, the correct commemorative postmark for a special occasion stamp, and so on.

Request that the postmark impression is applied with clarity and precision - no smudging! Black is the only colour ink that should be used. Catch the corner of the stamp - don’t cover up the stamp design. Refer to the images below as a guide.