Beautiful Cities

Overview

Australian cities consistently rate very highly in the plethora of “liveability” surveys that have emerged in recent years. According to the annual Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Survey, for example, Melbourne has been the world’s most liveable city for the last seven years, until the most recent poll result (August 2018) placed Vienna in the number one spot and Melbourne as second. In the 2017 survey, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane were all ranked in the top 20. In 2018, Sydney ranked fifth, Adelaide 10th, Perth 14th and Brisbane 22nd.

While such surveys may evoke a level of pride, they really just confirm what we already know – that for most of us, our major cities are desirable places in which to live. This international-rate stamp issue features just three of our beautiful cities: Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. Read more in our article celebrating some of Australia’s beautiful cities.

The stamps, designed by Jason Watts of the Australia Post Design Studio, feature striking, modern photographs that showcase a cityscape from each beautiful city.

Products released with this issue

First day cover (blank, gummed)
Stamp pack
Maxicards
Postcards
Sheetlet of 5 x $3 (self-adhesive)

Technical specifications

Issue date: 25 September 2018
Withdrawal date: to be advised
Denominations: 1 x $3, 1 x $4.60, 1 x $7.50
Stamp design: Jason Watts
Product design: John White
Printer - gummed: Egotrade
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell
Paper: self-adhesive: Securepost MC90
Paper: rolls: RAF Unik
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size: 50mm x 30mm
Perforations: 14.4 x 14
Sheet layout: Modules of 50
FDI postmark: Melbourne VIC 3000
FDI withdrawal date: 23 October 2018

Stamps in this issue

$3 Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne, Victoria, is Australia’s second most populous city, known as a thriving multicultural city with a love of sport. The stamp shows the city skyline, Princes Bridge and the Yarra River, as depicted in a photograph by We Xu (via Getty Images).

$4.60 Adelaide, SA

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is depicted on the stamp using a photograph by Ben Goode (via iStock). The photograph showcases the Torrens River precinct, which includes the Adelaide Festival Centre and the recently renovated and expanded Adelaide Convention Centre.

$7.50 Brisbane, QLD

The state capital of Brisbane lies near Moreton Bay, on the Brisbane River in south-eastern Queensland. The stamp shows a view of Brisbane’s central business district from Kangaroo Point, in a photograph by Stefan Mokrzecki (via Getty Images).