Kangaroo and Map
Encyclopedia
They were issued in 1913, over 12 years after Federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
. Although the delay had several causes, one of the major reasons was political wrangling regarding the design. There was a considerable amount of opposition to any inclusion of British royal symbols or profiles.
A design completion was announced in 1911, and several designs, including royal profiles were chosen. The government decided on having only one design, and Charles Frazer
Charles Frazer (Australian politician)
Charles Edward Frazer was an Australian politician.Frazer was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria and educated locally until he was 15, when he left for Western Australia during its goldrush...
, then postmaster-general, inspired the basic outline of the new design.
Blamire Young
Blamire Young
William Blamire Young , commonly known as Blamire Young, was an English Australian artist.-Early life:...
, a local watercolour artist, was commissioned to produce the final design.
There was some criticism and minor changes made, and the first issues were released in January 1913.
When Joseph Cook
Joseph Cook
Sir Joseph Cook, GCMG was an Australian politician and the sixth Prime Minister of Australia. Born as Joseph Cooke and working in the coal mines of Silverdale, Staffordshire during his early life, he emigrated to Lithgow, New South Wales during the late 1880s, and became General-Secretary of the...
took over as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in mid 1913, he promptly had issued a series of stamps featuring the profile King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. However, the Kangaroo and Map series continued to be issued, and was not removed from sale for over thirty years.