Australian National Botanic Gardens: 50 Years

Overview

There are currently more than 140 botanical gardens and arboreta (specialising in trees) in all states and territories of Australia. It has been estimated that 5.6 million people, or 44 per cent of Australian adults, visit a botanic garden at least once every year.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens occupy around 90 hectares on Black Mountain, Canberra. The gardens were planned in the 1930s at a location in Canberra and in September 1949 the first trees were ceremonially planted. After development of the site, facilities and the living collection, the gardens were opened to the public in 1967; and in October 1970, they were officially opened by Prime Minister John Gorton. Today, the gardens contain the world’s largest living collection of Australian native flora. Its extensive collection includes around 75,000 plants from more than 6,000 species.

The gardens comprise a major scientific, educational and recreational resource. They are recognised for their role in scientific and horticultural research and for their contribution to the understanding, conservation and use of Australian plants. The gardens and CSIRO jointly manage the Australian National Herbarium — the world’s largest collection of Australian plant specimens that supports research into the taxonomic and evolutionary origins of Australian plants.

The two plants featured on the stamps in this issue are representative of the native flora grown in the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 13-October-2020
Issue withdrawal date: 30-April-2021
Denomination: $1.10 x 2
Stamp design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Product design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell Red Phos
Paper: self-adhesive booklet: Arconvert Securepost MC90
Paper: self-adhesive Rapid: Yenom Cast Gloss SWG80
Paper: self-adhesive roll: RAF Unik Stampcoat
Printer: EGO
Printer: booklet: Rapid Labels
Printer: roll: MCC
Printing process: Offset lithography
Printing process: Rapid booklet: Inkjet Printing
Printing process: Roll: Flexographic
Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26
Minisheet size (mm): 135 x 80
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI Postmark: Canberra ACT 2601
FDI withdrawal date: 11-January-2021

Stamps in this issue

$1.10 - Banksia marginata

Silver Banksia (Banksia marginate) was the inspiration behind the logo of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It is one of the approximately 170 species of the plant genus Banksia and is found throughout much of south-eastern Australia, including the Canberra region. It varies widely in habit, ranging from a 20-centimetre shrub to a 12-metre tree. Yellow flower spikes occur from late summer to early winter. The flower spikes fade to brown and then grey and develop woody follicles bearing the winged seeds. Many bird species, particularly honeyeaters, forage at the flower spikes, as do native and European honeybees.

The stamp photograph is by R. Hill, courtesy Australian National Botanic Gardens.

$1.10 - Grevillea iaspicula

Also known as Wee Jasper Grevillea, this species is one of Australia’s rarest plants. There are only about 100 plants left its natural habitat, at six sites around the Lake Burrinjuck and Wee Jasper areas in the Yass Valley of New South Wales. It is endangered because of the heavy grazing of sheep and goats and most of the remaining plants are to be found in rocky areas inaccessible to grazing. The shrub has an average height of 1.2 to 1.5 metres and the 2- to 3-centimetre-long flowers are cream to green, with a pink to red style. The plant flowers from May to November and attracts native nectar-feeding birds.

The stamp photograph is by Murray Fagg.

Gallery

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Set of Botanic Gardens: 50 Years gummed stamps

This set of stamps contains the two gummed stamps from the Australian National Botanic Gardens: 50 Years stamp issue.

Botanic Gardens: 50 Years stamp pack

The Australian National Botanic Gardens: 50 Years stamp pack contains the two stamps and minisheet from the stamp issue presented in high quality folder.