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Australian $10 Note Convict Past

Michael Shields $10 Australia Banknotes

Did you know that Australia's first $10 note was issued in 1966 and portrayed 2 famous Australians. On the reverse is Henry Lawson, the Australian poet, who sadly died penniless and would have seen the irony of appearing on a banknote. On the obverse or front of the note is Francis Greenway, an early architect who designed many of Sydney's iconic buildings, including St James church and the Supreme Court.

$10 Australian Paper Banknote

Like the majority of the population in New South Wales at the time, Francis was transported to Australia as a convict. Fancy a convict designing the Supreme Court. Can you guess his crime? Fact is stranger than fiction, and Francis was transported for forging banknotes!! To further complicate this situation, the $10 note was forged in 1967 and the culprits arrested. Like Henry Lawson, Francis Greenway would have been wryly amused at being portrayed on this iconic note.



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