Stamps celebrate Australia’s Botanical Gardens

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12 September 2007

Coinciding with an increase in popularity for Australia’s botanic gardens, Australia Post today issued a new stamp release featuring botanic gardens from across the country.

The Australian Botanic Gardens special issue features five of the major botanic gardens across the country - those of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

The stamp release comes at a time when research shows nearly 40 per cent of Australians over the age of 15 visit a botanic garden at least once a year and that botanic gardens are the second most popular cultural venue after the cinema.

Australia Post’s Group Manager of Philatelic, Mr Noel Leahy, said Australia Post was keen to celebrate and promote the beauty and range of some of Australia’s most popular botanic gardens.

“Internationally, Australia’s gardens are recognised for their iconic and individual beauty, and we were keen to celebrate this,” he said.

“While each design features a prominent aspect of the specific botanic garden, the set as a whole captures the different seasons and diversity of garden types,” Mr Leahy said.

The photos for the stamp series have been taken by award-winning photographer Simon Griffiths and the stamps have been designed by Lynette Traynor of the Australia Post Design Studio.

Simon Griffiths is a leading photographer in the field of gardening and landscape design. He has worked closely with Paul Bangay on all his books, collaborated with Rick Eckersley and Lisa Stafford on their new book Outside, and with Susan Irvine on Rose Gardens of Australia and The Garden at Forest Hall.

Designer Lynette Traynor’s previous stamp designs include Christmas (1989), AAT Aurora Australia, World Heritage Sites (1993), Australian Legends (2004), Coastlines (2005) and Wildflowers (2006).

The Australian Botanic Gardens stamp issue includes five 50 cent stamps, a first day cover, a stamp pack, a prestige booklet and a set of maxicards. The product is available from Wednesday 12 September at participating Australia Post outlets or via mail order on 1800 311 794 while stocks last. Overseas customers can purchase the stamps online at www.auspost.com.au/stamps.