Banknotes of the Australian pound
Banknotes of the Australian pound were first issued by numerous private banks in Australia, starting with the Bank of New South Wales in 1817. Acceptance of private bank notes was not made compulsory by legal tender laws but they were widely used and accepted. The Queensland government issued treasury notes and banknotes, which were legal tender in Queensland. The New South Wales government issued a limited series of Treasury Notes in 1893.
In 1910, the Commonwealth passed the Australian Notes Act of 1910 to initiate banking and currency reform. The Act stipulated that six months after the date of passage, private banks could no longer issue any form of money, and that any note or instrument issued by a State Bank would no longer be considered legal tender. The Act further established the powers of the Commonwealth to issue, re-issue, and cancel Australian notes. The Act also established denominations, legal tender status, and the amount of gold coin held in reserve to secure the issues. On 10 October 1910, a Bank Notes Tax Act 1910 imposed a "Ten pounds per centum" tax on all issued or re-issued bank notes. A third currency reform act was passed on 22 December 1911 establishing the Commonwealth Bank. The Commonwealth Bank Act of 1911 specifically stated that the Bank was not to issue bills or notes for circulation. The Australian Treasury issued banknotes until a 1920 amendment to the Commonwealth Bank Act of 1911. The amendment established a note-issuing department within the bank which assumed those responsibilities previously held by the Treasury.
On 14 February 1966 the Australian pound was replaced by a decimal currency, the Australian dollar, which was divided into one hundred cents.
Superscribed banknotes (1910–1914)
The first national issue of paper money consisted of overprinted notes from fifteen private banks and the Queensland government, issued between 1910 and 1914 in denominations of £1, £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. The notes, purchased by the Australian government from the remaining private bank stock, were overprinted with the words "Australian note". Surviving notes above the £10 denomination are extremely rare: two £20 notes are known, £50 notes are known in the collections of the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia, and no £100 banknotes of this series are known to exist.| Bank Charter | Location | Branches | Issue | In operation |
| Australian Bank of Commerce Limited | Sydney, NSW | Brisbane, Sydney | 1,5,10,50 | 1910–31 |
| Bank of Adelaide | Adelaide, SA | Adelaide | 1,5,10,20,50 | 1865–1980 |
| Bank of Australasia | London, England | Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | 1,5,10,50,100 | 1835–1951 |
| Bank of New South Wales | Sydney, NSW | Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | 1,5,10,20,50,100 | 1817–1982 |
| Bank of Victoria Limited | Melbourne, Victoria | Melbourne | 1,5,10,20,50 | 1852–1927 |
| City Bank of Sydney | Sydney, NSW | Sydney | 1,5,10,20,50 | 1864–1918 |
| Colonial Bank of Australasia | Melbourne, Victoria | 1856–1918 | ||
| Commercial Bank of Australia Limited | Melbourne, Victoria | Hobart, Perth | 1,5 | 1866–1982 |
| Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited | Hobart, Tasmania | Hobart, Launceston | 1,5,10,20 | 1829–1921 |
| Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited | Sydney, NSW | Sydney | 1,5,10 | 1834–1982 |
| English Scottish and Australian Bank Limited | London, England | Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney | 1,5,10,20,50 | 1852–1970 |
| London Bank of Australia Limited | London, England | Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney | 1,5,10,50,100 | 1852–1921 |
| National Bank of Australasia Limited | Melbourne, Victoria | Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | 1,5,10,20,50,100 | 1858–1982 |
| Queensland Government | Brisbane, Queensland | Brisbane | 1,5 | 1893–1910 |
| Royal Bank of Australia Limited | London, England | Melbourne, Sydney | 1 | 1888–1927 |
| Union Bank of Australia Limited | London, England | Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | 1,5,10,20,50 | 1837–1951 |
| Western Australian Bank | Perth, WA | Perth | 1,5,10 | 1841–1927 |
Commonwealth banknotes of the Australian pound
In 1913 the first national banknotes were introduced in denominations of 10s, £1, £5, and £10. 1914 saw the introduction of £20, £50, £100, and £1000 notes. The £1000 note only saw limited circulation and was later confined to inter-bank use. Stocks were destroyed in 1969 and there are no uncancelled examples of this note known to exist in private hands, though a single cancelled example sold in a 2007 auction for AU$1,200,000.Design alterations were introduced fairly quickly. Beginning in 1915, 10s notes included a red "Half Sovereign" overprint. Banknote size was reduced for the £1, £5, and £10. A portrait of King George V was introduced in the mid 1920s on the 10s through £10 notes. These notes still referred to the currency's convertibility to gold on demand. A newer £1000 note with the profile of George V was also prepared but never issued. A punch-cancelled specimen note was discovered in London in 1996 and subsequently sold for a sum in excess of $200,000. Nonetheless, this note is not recognised as a legitimate Australian banknote issue.
Just after the start of the Great Depression in 1933, Australian currency ceased to be redeemable for gold at the previously maintained rate of one gold sovereign for one pound currency. Subsequently, a new series of legal tender notes were designed, once again bearing the portrait of King George V, in denominations of 10s, £1, £5 and £10. These denominations and designs were maintained and modified to accommodate the portrait of King George VI in 1938. For both issues £50 and £100 specimens were prepared, but were not issued.
Issuance of the Australian pound banknote (1913–1965)
| Issue | Value | Banknote | Varieties | Images Size |
| 5 Shillings c. 1916 | Cerutty and Collins | O:George V | ||
| 10 Shillings 1913 | Collins and Allen | O:Arms R:Goulburn Weir | ||
| 1 Pound 1913 | Collins and Allen | O:Crowned arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Gold miners underground | ||
| 1 Pound 1914–15 | Collins and Allen Emergency issue superscribed note. | O:Allegory of woman with anchor | ||
| 1 Pound 1914–15 | Collins and Allen Emergency issue note | O:Black text on multicolor underprint R:Contemporary inscription | ||
| 1,000 Pounds 1914–24 | Collins and Allen Kell and Collins | O:Arms R:Merino sheep in Bungaree | ||
| 10 Shillings 1915–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue text multicolor underprint, "Half Sovereign" red overprint R:Goulburn Weir | ||
| 1 Pound 1913–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Crowned arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Gold miners underground | ||
| 5 Pounds 1913–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Hawkesbury River landscape | ||
| 10 Pounds 1913–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Wagons with bags of grain at Narwonah railway station | ||
| 20 Pounds 1914–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Lumberjacks at Bruny Island | ||
| 50 Pounds 1914–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Merino sheep, Bungaree | ||
| 100 Pounds 1914–18 | Collins and Allen and Collins | O:Arms, blue with multicolor underprint R:Leura Falls, Upper Yarra River | ||
| Half Sovereign 1923 | Miller and Collins | O:George V, brown with multicolor underprint, Half Sovereign overprint R:Goulburn Weir | ||
| 1 Pound 1923 | Miller and Collins | O:George V, olive-green with multicolor underprint R:Cook's landing at Botany Bay | ||
| 5 Pounds 1924–27 | Kell and Collins Kell and Heathershaw | O:George V, blue with multicolor underprint R:Hawkesbury River landscape | ||
| 10 Pounds 1925 | Kell and Collins | O:George V, red with multicolor underprint R:Wagons with bags of grain | ||
| Half Sovereign 1926–33 | Kell and Collins Kell and Heathershaw Riddle and Heathershaw Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, brown with multicolor underprint, Half Sovereign overprint R:Goulburn Weir | ||
| 1 Pound 1926–32 | Kell and Collins Kell and Heathershaw Riddle and Heathershaw Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, olive-green with multicolor underprint R:Cook's landing at Botany Bay | ||
| 5 Pounds 1927–32 | Riddle and Heathershaw Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, blue with multicolor underprint R:Hawkesbury River landscape | ||
| 10 Pounds 1925–33 | Kell and Collins Riddle and Heathershaw Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, red with multicolor underprint R:wagons with bags of grain at Narwonah railway station | ||
| 10 Shillings 1933 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, brown with multicolor underprint R:manufacturing allegory WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales | ||
| 10 Shillings 1934 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, brown with multicolor underprint, overprint Ten Shillings R:manufacturing allegory WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales | ||
| 10 Shillings 1936–39 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, orange with multicolor underprint, overprint Ten Shillings R:manufacturing allegory WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales, size reduced | ||
| 1 Pound 1933–38 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, green with multicolor underprint R:shepherds with sheep WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales | ||
| 5 Pounds 1933–39 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, blue with multicolor underprint R:dock workers with barrels and sacks WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales | ||
| 10 Pounds 1934–39 | Riddle and Sheehan | O:George V, red with multicolor underprint R:allegory of agriculture WM:Edward VIII as Prince of Wales | ||
| 5 Shillings 1946 | Armitage and McFarlane | O:George VI, black with red-brown underprint R:Australian crown coin | ||
| 10 Shillings 1939–54 | Sheehan and McFarlane Armitage and McFarlane Coombs and Watt Coombs and Wilson | O:George VI, orange with multicolor underprint R:allegory of manufacturers WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 1 Pound 1938–52 | Sheehan and McFarlane Armitage and McFarlane Coombs and Watt Coombs and Wilson | O:George VI, green with multicolor underprint R:shepherds with sheep WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 5 Pounds 1939–52 | Sheehan and McFarlane Armitage and McFarlane Coombs and Watt Coombs and Wilson | O:George VI, blue with multicolor underprint R:dock workers with barrels and sacks WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 10 Pounds 1940–52 | Sheehan and McFarlane Armitage and McFarlane Coombs and Watt Coombs and Wilson | O:George VI, red with multicolor underprint R:allegory of agriculture WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 50 Pounds 1939 | Sheehan and McFarlane specimen only, not issued | O:George VI, purple with multicolor underprint WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 100 Pounds 1939 | Sheehan and McFarlane specimen only, not issued | O:George VI, brown with multicolor underprint WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 10 Shillings 1954–66 | Coombs and Wilson Coombs and Wilson | O:Matthew Flinders, arms, brown with multicolor underprint R:Old Parliament House WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 1 Pound 1954–60 | Coombs and Wilson | O:Elizabeth II, arms, green with multicolor underprint R:Charles Sturt and Hamilton Hume WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 5 Pounds 1954–59 | Coombs and Wilson | O:Sir John Franklin, arms, blue on multicolor underprint R:bull and cow's head, sheep WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 10 Pounds 1954–59 | Coombs and Wilson | O:Gov. Arthur Phillip, arms, red and black with multicolor underprint R:allegory of woman with compass, science and industry | ||
| 5 Pounds 1960–65 | Coombs and Wilson | O: Sir John Franklin, arms, black on blue underprint R:bull and cow's head, sheep WM:Captain James Cook | ||
| 10 Pounds 1960–65 | Coombs and Wilson | O:Gov. Arthur Phillip, arms, black with red underprint R:allegory of woman with compass, science and industry WM:Captain James Cook |