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Clip description
Australia Post’s joint issue koala and Eagle Australia–USA stamp is launched in Sydney.
Curator’s notes
Australia Post’s bicentennial koala and eagle was a 37 cent stamp, at the time the cost of postage for what is classified as a standard ‘small letter’ within Australia. In this clip, Bill Broadbridge, the state manager of Australia Post in New South Wales, launches the koala and eagle stamp and promotes a commemorative bicentennial history of the Sydney GPO.
The book included the final strip of First Fleet stamps issued for the bicentennial. Ten strips of First Fleet stamps were released on ten dates leading up to 26 January 1988, each strip illustrating points along the First Fleet’s journey from Britain to Australia, and coinciding with relevant dates 200 years earlier.
Broadbridge also alludes in his speech to the Bicentennial displays at the Sydney GPO – an exhibition of historic stills from Australia Post’s photographic collection, and the 1874 GPO building festooned with lights. Broadbridge is followed by Don Eltringham, the managing director of Australia Post, presenting a speech. The final shot in the clip is Sydney Harbour chock-a-block with boats – as it was for the entire bicentennial celebrations.
