Australian-bred Roses

Overview

There are in excess of 120 species of rose in the world, all native to the Northern Hemisphere. New roses that have been hybridised or bred from these wild roses are referred to as “cultivars” or “new varieties”.

Large, professional rose hybridisers are located mainly in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and New Zealand. However, Australia boasts very reputable, mainly amateur, rose breeders, the best known and most of influential of which was Alister Clark (1864–1949), who released more than 120 roses during his lifetime. His aim was to prioritise plant health, a long flowering season and hardiness for Australia’s hot, dry conditions.

The four roses featured in this stamp issue are examples of high-quality Australian-bred roses that represent a diversity of colour, appearance, type, breeder and breeding location. The issue is being released in the lead-up to the World Rose Convention 2022, which is being held in Adelaide between 27 October and 3 November. Read our interview with rose experts Kelvin and Melanie Trimper.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 13 September 2022
Issue withdrawal date: 31 March 2023
Denomination: $1.10 x 4
Stamp design: Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Product design: Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phos.
Paper: self-adhesive: Tullis Russell Red Phos. PSA
Printer: EGO
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26
Minisheet size (mm): 170 x 80
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI Postmark: Rosebud VIC 3939
FDI withdrawal date: 11 October 2022

Stamps in this issue

$1.10 Lorraine Lee

‘Lorraine Lee’ is a tea rose, bred in Victoria by Alister Clark and released in 1924. One of the most iconic and much-loved Australian-bred roses, in 2020 ‘Lorraine Lee’ was inducted into the Australian Bred Rose Hall of Fame. As well as being elegant and superbly fragrant, it is almost perpetually in flower. As a bush rose, ‘Lorraine Lee’ is extremely hardy and vigorous, growing to two metres tall, with rich green, glossy foliage. The salmon-pink blooms begin as long pointed buds and open into a cupped form. This cultivar’s namesake, Lorraine Lee, was a distant cousin of Clark, who worked in the Women’s Land Army and the Ministry of Munitions in England during World War I, earning an MBE for her dedication.

The stamp photograph is by Melanie Trimper.

$1.10 Lady of Australia

‘Lady of Australia’ is a floribunda rose, bred in Victoria by Bruce Brundrett. After a two-year trial, this rose won the top gold medal for best rose at the National Rose Trial Awards in 2018 – the first time in the Trial Garden’s 26-year history that an Australian rose has been awarded the best overall rose, beating the international competition. This highly acclaimed rose produces clusters of fragrant, classically shaped, bright yellow flowers, showing ruffled petals when fully opened and fading to a lighter yellowish cream on the reverse. The plant is highly disease resistant and very free flowering, with dark green foliage on a well-shaped bush of around 1.2 metres tall and one metre wide. ‘Lady of Australia’ was so named to honour the wives of the governors-generals of Australia and it is a charity rose for Australian War Widows.

The stamp photograph is by Benedetta Rusconi.

$1.10 Governor Marie Bashir

‘Governor Marie Bashir’ is a floribunda rose bred in Queensland by Paul Hains. This rose has proven to be an excellent performer. Its perfectly formed classic bloom is soft pink, with a coral centre and a delicate fragrance. It is a neat compact bush with glossy, healthy foliage and is suitable for growing in a container. The rose is named in honour of Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO, the popular former governor of New South Wales (and the first female governor of that state) and a patron of the Rose Society of New South Wales for many years.

The stamp photograph, and webpage banner photograph, above, are by Paul Hains.

$1.10 Dusky Moon

‘Dusky Moon’ is a shrub rose, bred in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales by Richard and Ruth Walsh. ‘Dusky Moon’ took out best Australian-bred rose and a silver medal at the 2020 National Rose Trial Awards, as well as the Ausrose Australian Bred Rose of the Year. This widely available rose has an attractive mauve, cup-shaped bloom, with a white reverse on the petals and an intense fruity fragrance. The blooms are produced in small and large clusters on arching canes, and it has dark green foliage. The bush is hardy and vigorous, growing up to 1.5 metres high.

The stamp photograph is by Benedetta Rusconi.