Stand clear! Historic railway stations fast-tracked onto new stamp issue
Australia Post is featuring four historic Australian railway stations—Maryborough, Victoria; Quorn, South Australia; Hay, New South Wales and Normanton, Queensland—in a new stamp issue. The stamp issue comprises four domestic base-rate (60c) stamps.
Australia Post Philatelic Manager Michael Zsolt said, "We are pleased to release this second stamp issue in a series on Australian historical architecture. We trust these stamps have captured the beauty of these distinctive and historic buildings."
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, railways played an important role in transforming Australia into a nation by establishing a network of communications and trade throughout the continent.
The historic railway stations taking centre stage in the new stamp issue are:
- Maryborough, Victoria - built in 1890 of red brick with stucco trimming and a clock tower. This magnificent station boasts one of the longest platforms in the southern hemisphere and still hosts freight and passenger services. When American writer Mark Twain visited Maryborough in 1895, he was most impressed by the town's grand railway station.
- Quorn, South Australia - constructed in 1916 of stone and brick. In its heyday it served as a junction for all rail traffic travelling south-north (Adelaide to Darwin) and east-west (Sydney to Perth) across the continent. The line was closed in the 1980s and the Pichi Richi Rail Preservation Society now runs and maintains the station and the rolling stock.
- Hay, New South Wales - opened on 4 July 1882. Built in the Italianate style with bonded brick and a corrugated iron roof, the station features cast iron ridge decoration. Today the Hay station building accommodates various arts and community organisations.
- Normanton, Queensland - built around 1889. It is historically important as a unique building in an isolated inland railway system. This station has an exposed stud frame with verandahs and iron roof, to which is attached a spectacular train shed of all-metal construction with a barrel vault, clad in corrugated iron.
The stamp illustrations are by Melbourne-based artist Peter Edgeley. The stamp designs are by John White from the Australia Post Design Studio.
The associated products available include a first day cover, stamp pack, maxicard set of four, roll of 100 x 60c self-adhesive stamps, booklet of 10 x 60c self-adhesive stamps and a gutter strip of 10 x 60c stamps with design.
The Historic Railway Stations stamp issue is available from 8 October 2013 at participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.