Reserve Bank of Australia

Who Makes Australia’s Banknotes?

Australia's banknotes are printed by Note Printing Australia Limited (a separately incorporated, wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia). Note Printing Australia Limited was originally established under charter from the Bank's Board as a separate business enterprise within the Reserve Bank, with its own Board of Directors; since 1 July 1998, it has been a subsidiary of the Bank. The Reserve Bank is the issuer of Australia's banknotes.

Note Printing Australia Limited is located at Craigieburn, 25 kilometres north of Melbourne. Production of banknotes commenced there in October 1981. Prior to that, other premises in Melbourne were used.

The complex is enclosed within an area of 26 hectares of landscaped grounds featuring native flora, bounded by a double security fence. The main production building is a four-storey, reinforced concrete structure which has printing and finishing operations and strong-rooms on the same level; there are no basements as the complex is erected on bedrock. An armed guard force protects the facility around the clock and is supported by a range of highly sophisticated electronic security and surveillance devices.

The complex also houses the Guardian® polymer substrate production facility of Securency International Pty Ltd, a joint venture between the Reserve Bank and Innovia Films. The base polymer film is produced in an adjoining secure complex owned by Innovia Films.

In addition to Australia's banknotes, Note Printing Australia Limited has printed polymer banknotes for a growing number of overseas countries including Bangladesh, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Western Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

For further information, visit the Note Printing Australia Limited website or contact: