THE Royal Australian Mint will unveil its new series of 50-cent coins celebrating the poetry of Dorothea Mackellar in Gunnedah on Thursday in conjunction with the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society.
The launch will take at 10am at the Mackellar Centre, with special guests including Royal Australian Mint executive manager, Jennifer Sullivan and Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society committee members.
The three-coin set includes a stunning tribute to Dorothea Mackellar’s iconic poem, My Country and Dawn, which captures the tranquil beauty of the road to Gunnedah, a place Mackellar held close to her heart.
Etched into the hearts of Australians for generations, Mackellar’s words “I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains” embody the beauty, resilience and spirit of the nation.
Now, her timeless verses are beautifully brought to life in a set of 50-cent coins, each designed to honour her most celebrated poems.
The collection brings three of her most beloved poems – Dawn, My Country and The Colours of Light – to life in stunning detail.
Dorothea Mackellar’s words are woven into the fabric of Australia’s cultural identity.
Her poetry, rich with emotion, captures the beauty, harshness and spirit of the land she so adored.
Born in 1885, Mackellar remains a literary icon, her works reflecting a profound connection to the landscapes and contrasts of her “opal-hearted country.”
The Royal Australian Mint will unveil its new series of 50-cent coins celebrating the poetry of Dorothea Mackellar.
Inspired by Dawn, the first coin captures the tranquil beauty of the road to Gunnedah, a place Mackellar held dear.
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.
These coins are more than exquisite works of art; they are a tangible connection 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.
This series ensures that Mackellar’s vision endures for generations to come.
The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society in Gunnedah was founded in 1983 by post-war immigrant Mikie Maas, with the support of Rosemary Dobson and Joan Phipson and local poet Anne Bell to recognise the contribution Dorothea made to Australian literature.
The same year, Gunnedah celebrated the unveiling of a bronze statue of Dorothea Mackellar sitting side-saddle on a horse. The statue is in ANZAC Park Gunnedah, opposite the Mackellar Centre on South Street.
The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society committee is made up of eight local community volunteer members and two Gunnedah Shire Council representatives.
Dorothea Mackellar Coin Series Launch
Where: The Mackellar Centre Anzac Park, South Street, Gunnedah
When: Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time: 10am
Featuring: Gunnedah children reciting The Colours of Light and Dawn and Royal Australian Mint executive manager, Jennifer Sullivan
The three-coin set will be available for purchase from Thursday: Royal Australian Mint
