Dorothea Mackellar to be honoured with Australian coins

Dorothea Mackellar will be honoured with a set of coins to be released tomorrow.

To celebrate, the Dorothea Mackellar Society is inviting people to join in the official launch tomorrow at the centre on South Street at 10am.

Society president Pip Murray believes the coins will be of interest to many people. From poetry lovers and fans of Dorothea to avid coin collectors or maybe those just interested in seeing this historic moment.

“Plenty of people will have an interest in the coins,” she said.

The set will be of three coins – My Country (50c), The Colours of Light (50c) and Dawn (50c).

“I think it is just a big kudos to Gunnedah,” Ms Murray said. “For us, [the coin release] also coincides with the 2025 poetry awards for the 41st year – All The Beautiful Things.”

According to Dorothea’s diaries at the State Library, she had a love for Gunnedah and her family’s Kurrumbede home. Insomuch, one of the coins is an ode to the town.

Inspired by Dawn, the first coin captures the tranquil beauty of the road to Gunnedah. As the soft light of sunrise spreads across the landscape, a delicate spider web glistens. It evokes Mackellar’s deep connection to her family property, Kurrumbede, where she was often moved by the mystic splendour of daybreak. The intricate design invites collectors to pause and marvel at the transformative power of dawn, as Mackellar did in her life and writing.

The second coin brings to life Mackellar’s most iconic poem, My Country, a love letter to the land she described as “a wilful, lavish land” of both beauty and extremes.

The design is a sweeping portrait of Australia’s diverse landscapes – sunlit beaches, green forests, fertile farmlands and rugged plains; it pays homage to the country’s dramatic contrasts.

Mackellar’s famous words, “I love a sunburnt country,” echo through the design, reminding us of her ability to celebrate the land’s splendour while embracing its challenges.

The final coin, inspired by The Colours of Light, is a vivid tribute to Mackellar’s lyrical mastery of colour and movement. Featuring a dazzling peacock, radiant flowers, and lush plants, this design reflects her poetic celebration of nature’s vibrancy. Mackellar has been described as a “lyricist of light,” and this coin embodies her ability to paint the Australian landscape with words.

The Royal Australian Mint described these coins as not only exquisite works of art but also tangible connections to Mackellar’s legacy.

Available as a three-coin collection or individually, they offer poetry lovers and collectors a chance to hold a piece of Australia’s cultural heritage, ensuring that Mackellar’s vision endures for generations to come.

The coins will be available from select post offices and the Royal Australian Mint. The set will cost $50 for the set or $20 each coin.