Norfolk Island: 1974 Royal Visit 50th Anniversary Australia Post Collectable Stamps Norfolk Island 2023

Since 2016, Australia Post has issued stamps with Norfolk Island historic events, Fauna and Flora and many other themes. This year there have been two series of stamps issued, in January and March 2024.

This week I feature the latest series released, Norfolk Island 1974 Royal Visit 50^th Anniversary. The postage stamps were released 19 March 2024 titled Norfolk Island: 1974 Royal Visit is a set of two stamps marking the 50th Anniversary of the first visit to Norfolk Island by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The monarch made three visits to Australia in the 1970s, one of which was in early 1974 and during which she visited Norfolk Island. She had flown to New Zealand to close the Commonwealth Games on 2 February (opened by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh), and following a brief tour of that country, the royal yacht HMY Britannia sailed to Australia, visiting Norfolk Island en route.

Here on Norfolk Island the 50th anniversary of the Royal Visit arriving on the yacht Britannia, was celebrated at Kingston at the Norfolk Island Museum in the Royal Engineers Office 1861 building. The Royal visit was on the 11 February 1974, Her Majesty the Queen was accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Prince Philip and Princess Anne, as well as Princess Anne’s husband, Mark Phillips. The anniversary displays are open to the public and locals to visit 9am to 3pm weekdays, down at Kingson at the REO, The Royal Engineers Office, near the Kingston Pier.

The Norfolk Island stamp issues released by Australia Post will be sold in the same way as those produced for other Australian territories (Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands), in that the stamps can be used in Australia as well as within Norfolk Island. Information on updating standing orders to receive Norfolk Island stamps is at the base of this article.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 19 March 2024

Issue withdrawal date: 1 October 2024

Denomination: $1.20 x 4, $2.40 x 1

Stamp & product design: Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio

Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor

Printer: Southern Impact

Printing process: Offset lithography

Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26

Minisheet size (mm): 135 x 80

Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6

Sheet layout: Module of 50 (2 x 25 no design)

FDI Postmark: Norfolk Island, NSW 2899

FDI withdrawal date: 17 April 2024

Stamps in this issue

$1.20 Her Majesty at Queen Elizabeth Lookout

The stamp shows the royal party at Queen Elizabeth Lookout, which was named in her honour on that occasion, and the Queen as she moved between the events on program.

Photos: (L) courtesy Norfolk Island Museum; (R) Donald Marshall, courtesy Murray Marshall.

$2.40 The Queen at Golf Clubhouse

The stamp shows the royal yacht Britannia anchored in Sydney Bay, Norfolk Island, and Queen Elizabeth unveiling a plaque at the clubhouse of the island’s golf course.

Photos: (L) Donald Marshall, courtesy Murray Marshall; (R) courtesy Norfolk Island Museum.

Norfolk Island: 1974 Royal Visit First Day Cover (minisheet)

This First Day Cover is from the Norfolk Island: 1974 Royal Visit stamp issue and presents the gummed minisheet with official postmark.

These 50th Anniversary of the Norfolk Island 1974 Royal Visit stamps are available at Norfolk Island Post Shop or can be viewed on the Australian Post Collectable web page.

Norfolk Island 1974 Royal Visit - Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

Norfolk Island philatelic also released many Royal Postage Stamps, it is always interesting studying stamps as they record historic events and amazing flora and fauna of Norfolk Island.

During the next few weeks, I look forward to sharing details of the other Collectable Australian stamps issued in 2024 featuring Norfolk Island and learn about the links with Norfolk Island

Betty Matthews

5 April 2024