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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

The Australian $10 Banknote

Date of First Issue 1 November 1993
Size 65 x 137 mm
Current Signatures Top - GR Stevens
Bottom - KR Henry
Front of Banknote Portrait AB 'Banjo' Paterson (1864–1941)
Back of Banknote Portrait Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962)
Designer Max Robinson

Image showing the front of the A$10 banknote featuring AB 'Banjo' Paterson Image showing the back of the A$10 banknote featuring Dame Mary Gilmore

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Design Elements

Front

Portrait of AB 'Banjo' Paterson

Based on a photograph of him taken at the time of his return to the Boer War in 1900. The photograph is held by the Paterson Estate.

Running Horses (Brumbies)

Inspired by the imagery and feeling conjured by the poem The Man From Snowy River. This element is based on a lithograph entitled Rounding up Wild Horses which appeared in The Australian in 1870 and a picture from the Illustrated Sydney News 1875 entitled Mustering Horses.

Horseman

Designer's interpretation of an authentic horseman - from the times of The Man from Snowy River.

Waltzing Matilda Logo

Taken from the 1903 publication of Marie Cowan's arrangement of Waltzing Matilda which was used to promote Billy Tea. Courtesy of the State Library of NSW.

Extract from The Man from Snowy River

This extract is from a manuscript, in Paterson's own handwriting, held in the manuscripts section of the State Library of NSW.

Microprinting

Consists of the words from the poem The Man from Snowy River, with the words 'TEN DOLLARS' repeated between each stanza.

Vignette of Windmill

Design created by the banknote's designer, Max Robinson, to complement the outback theme on both sides of the banknote.

Back

Portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore

Based on a photograph of Gilmore taken in her early twenties. This photograph has appeared in the Australian encyclopaedia and is held by the National Library of Australia.

Dobell Portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore

The source for this element is Sir William Dobell's portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore. This portrait belongs to the Art Gallery of NSW, with copyright resting with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation.

Bullock Team Carrying Wool

The inspiration for some of Gilmore's writings. The source material for this element is an engraving entitled The Wool Season that appeared in The Illustrated Australian News – 30 November 1881. This is held by the State Library of Victoria.

Woman of the Outback and Outback Scene

Imagery created by the designer of a country woman and the surrounding landscape which were the themes of many of Gilmore's writings.

Extract from No Foe Shall Gather our Harvest

The manuscript version used by the designer was from a letter written by Dame Mary to George Mackaness on 2 March 1942. Original Manuscript is held in the National Library of Australia archives and is part of the George Mackaness Collection.

(The poem was first published in the 29 June 1940 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.)

Microprinting

Consists of words from Gilmore's poem No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest, with the words 'TEN DOLLARS' repeated between each stanza.

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Security Features

The $10 banknote incorporates the following security features:

  • A clear window which has a stylised windmill printed in it, along with embossing of a wave pattern (both can be seen from either side of the banknote).
  • When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven pointed star within a circle is formed, by four points on one side of the banknote, combining perfectly with three points on the other.
  • When the banknote is held to the light also, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen under other printing.
  • Slightly raised printing, that can be felt with your fingers, is used for selected parts of the design such as the portraits of Dame Mary Gilmore and 'Banjo' Paterson, the word 'Australia' and the numeral '10'.
  • On one side of the banknote, excerpts from the poem The Man from Snowy River are microprinted in the area surrounding 'Banjo' Paterson's portrait and can be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. Between each stanza are the words 'TEN DOLLARS'.
  • On the other side, excerpts from the poem No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest are microprinted around Dame Mary Gilmore and can be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. Between each stanza are the words 'TEN DOLLARS'.
  • Intricate multi-coloured fine-line patterns and images appear on each side.
  • The serial number of each banknote is printed twice in blue on the back of the banknote. A different font is used for each serial number. The alpha prefix of two letters is followed by two numerals representing the year of the production, followed by a further six numerals. Under ultra-violet light, the serial numbers fluoresce.

If you would like to see some examples of these features or find out more about the security features incorporated in our other banknotes, visit our Security Features page.

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