Money and Banks
Australia's notes
The $100 note features world-renowned soprano Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931), and the distinguished soldier, engineer and administrator General Sir John Monash (1865–1931).
The $50 note features Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon (1872–1967), and Australia’s first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan (1861–1932).
The $20 note features the founder of the world’s first aerial medical service (the Royal Flying Doctor Service), the Reverend John Flynn (1880–1951), and Mary Reibey (1777–1855), who arrived in Australia as a convict in 1792 and went on to become a successful shipping magnate and philanthropist.
The $10 note features the poets AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1864–1941) and Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962). This note incorporates micro-printed excerpts of Paterson’s and Gilmore’s work.
The $5 note features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Parliament House in Canberra, the national capital.
Along with being printed on polymer, Australia's banknotes include a range of other security features designed to combat counterfeiting. Full details about the security features and how they can be used to authenticate our banknote are available from the Reserve Bank of Australia website.
Australia's coins
The $2 coin depicts an Aboriginal tribal elder set against a background of the Southern Cross and native grasses.
The $1 coin depicts five kangaroos. The standard $1 design, along with the 50, 20, 10 and 5 cent designs, was created by the Queen’s official jeweller, Stuart Devlin.
The 50 cent coin carries Australia’s coat of arms: the six state badges on a central shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, with a background of Mitchell grass
The 20 cent coin carries a platypus, one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world. It has webbed feet and a duck-like bill that it uses to hunt for food along the bottom of streams and rivers.
The 10 cent coin features a male lyrebird dancing. A clever mimic, the lyrebird inhabits the dense, damp forests of Australia’s eastern coast.
The 5 cent coin depicts an echidna, or spiny anteater, the world’s only other egg-laying mammal.
Banking
It is a good idea to set up an Australian bank account. You will need to provide your visa and evidence of residency. Banking services in Australia are extremely competitive. Over 20 local and numerous international banking groups are represented in Australia.
Most shopping centres have Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) facilities. These machines can be used for deposits and, in many instances, withdrawals 24 hours a day. Many department stores, supermarkets and specialist shops have electronic transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where cash withdrawals can also be made in addition to purchasing goods. More information on banking is available at www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/LivingInAustralia/MoneyMatters
Normal bank trading hours
9.30 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9.30 am – 5.00 pm Friday
Some banks are open Saturday mornings