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The five dollar note features Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side while the reverse side has a representation of Parliament house. Like all of our new polymer notes, it features anti-counterfeiting measures including clear windows of the polymer that makes up the note making it nearly impossible for colour photocopiers to replicate.
Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was born in 1926 in London, England. The daughter of King George VI, she served as a councillor of state while her father served in the armed forces during World War II. She married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947 and a year later gave birth to a son Charles (the next heir to the English throne). In 1950 she gave birth to a daughter, Anne. She succeeded to the throne on the death of her father in February 1952. She gave birth to a second son, Andrew in 1960 and to a third son, Edward in 1964.
Her reign has seen vast changes experienced by her people and the country. Her primary role throughout this period has been that of symbol of unity within the Commonwealth of Nations. As monarch of Australia and it's head of state it was deemed appropriate that she feature on one of our notes. The note also features a drawing of 'wattle' to symbolise the fact that she is Australia's head of state.
On the reverse side of the five dollar note are drawings of the new and old parliament houses. This representation signifies a new beginning and a continuation of the old traditions. The old Parliament house was officially opened in 1927 but it became increasingly apparent (perhaps only to the politicians) that a new Parliament house was needed. The site chosen for the new Parliament House was Capital Hill which is somewhat ironic as the architect responsible for designing much of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin, had suggested that a public building be built there. He suggested that by having a public building there, overshadowing Parliament House it would remind politicians of whom they truly served. He warned that unless a public building would be built there, the politicians would eventually have it for themselves. He was right.
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