Date of Issue : 7 Sep 2004
Postmark : Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Denomination : 5 x 50c
Stamp Size : 37.5 mm x 26 mm
Paper : Tullis Russell
Printing Process : Lithography
The first steam propelled train on a railway in Australia ran from Melbourne to Sandridge, and was officially opened on 12 Sep 1854. Other steam-powered railways followed in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Within 25 years, all colonies had some form of railway. This stamp issue celebrates 150 years of railways in Australia in 2004, featuring the Melbourne-Sandridge line, Sydney-Parramatta line, Helidon-Toowoomba line, Kalgoorlie-Port Augusta line and the Alice Springs-Darwin line.