Thanks Steve, this early millenial collectable has grown on me a bit too.
Last two states - we start with your one - Western Australia, which was a new convict colony in 1829 known as Swan River. The main city was Perth on the Swan river joined by the nearby port of Fremantle where the Australians tried to defend the America's cup in 1987. The State is also known for gold and Iron Ore mining and the wines of the south eastern corner.
Western Australia was also and still the biggest state in Union in land area, just 90% of it is shrub and desert. However mineral wealth it abounds in and Perth is a splendid city. It is so isolated from Eastern Australia, a flight to Auckland or Christchurch from Melbourne or Sydney takes less time (Although you don't need passports and customs flying to Perth).
Some weird marsupial astride a flower branch on a map of the state is on the 20. I think its a bilby or a glider (My knowledge of marsupialania is lacking).
Quote: I think its a bilby or a glider (My knowledge of marsupialania is lacking).
For some time I thought it was our state emblem animal, the Numbat, but later realised it was a Bilby or Rabbit-Eared Bandicoot. The flower is our state floral emblem, The Kangaroo Paw.
I have flown to the eastern states and to Auckland and I can tell you it is 4 hour flight to the east and 7 hours to Auckland. Although once, when the airlines were trying to catch up after the Chile volcano affected flights, we did Perth of Brisbane in 3.5 hours. From memory we did about 1100KPH most of the way.
Thanks Steve, your guys wildlife will always stump me and I went to the Healesville sancutary in 2008 (Sadly before those wildfires and Taronga Zoo in Sydney - so my knowledge of Australian animals should be much better).
Both were amazing, seeing a 10 foot perentie scared the crap out of me and we loved all the friendly Kangaroos and Koalas (Amazed as I heard they are usually quite angry and aggressive). The highlight was a Platypus enclosure and the platypus was very friendly following us around.
Last state showcases an animal I do know, the Tasmanian wolf notoriously known for its bad temper.
Tasmania was first settled by indigenous people around 40 - 50k years ago and it was cut off from the mainland around 10k years ago leaving their culture separate from the rest of Australia. Convict settlements of "Van Diemens Land" started in 1803 and in 1856 it was renamed Tasmania. Some of these convict settlements were more severe and the state was known for its scenery, apples and cool New Zealand like climate.
Sadly it was also known for the Port Arthur massacre in 1995 when crazed cretin Martin Bryant shot over 30 people at the ancient and haunted penal settlement. Less spookily it is also the base of the famous Hobart to Sydney yacht race every summer.
Tazzie was the last pair of coins released and the Wolf is dominant on the design, with another map (0 points for originality after WA did the same thing, but better). Released in November 2001 - the Tasmanian pair of coins wrapped this series up and now you had an album full of over priced coins to admire for years to come!
sel_69l - I know, but my budget does not stretch to proof and no doubt the original buyer of this thing either.
I could probably afford it, but this is enough of this set I need. The proofs do little to recommend itself, no precious metal coins and merely the same 20 coins but polished proofs. These coins look nice enough already. If anything the marketing for these coins was just overkill. I mainly brought the book as it was cheap by my estimations and it had several coins I really needed.
They marketed the crap out of this series, you could buy the state coins in fold out booklets which had the dollar as well and opened to a 3d display with each coin jutting out like an oriel window. Each folder had a different colour to milk it further. The hapless buyers would be saddled with 9 copies of the dull federation dollar.
One is enough!
For this album you bought these small packets for each state with the 2 coins in the plastic holders. The cost for 70 cents worth of coins was a convenient $6.53 (Who dreamed that up ) I mean in 2001 the smallest coin in use was 5 cents.
Then for Mr. Moneybags you got the stunning proof set with the complete group of coins in a carrying case and separate proof sets for each state, again with a federation dollar thrown in for good measure. I have no idea how much these cost, but hundreds of dollars ending in 53 cents no doubt
Then again that was typical for Australian mint - which does love to market every coin in as many permutations and metals as humanly possible.
Finally you could try your luck and just harvest the coins from change.
Quote: Last state showcases an animal I do know, the Tasmanian wolf notoriously known for its bad temper.
Tane, I think you might be getting 2 creatures mixed up here. The animal on the coin is a Tasmanian Tiger, thought to be extinct now. The animal that has the anger issues is the Tasmanian Devil.
As for Kangaroos, I don't trust them. I try and steer clear.
Port Arthur is a beautiful, but sombre place. That was one of our stops on a cruise we took a few years ago that started in Auckland.
Nice photos - how many weird Australian animals are there, all ours are birds, one lizard and some creepy bugs.
Oh you went on that Australia/NZ cruise - always wanted to do that but never been a good sailor, I am notoriously sea sick and get anxious at the slightest wavelet.
I get nervous on a 18km trip across the Hauraki Gulf and in 2014 our European tour had a ferry trip from Italy to Greece which really made me nervous (Even though it was pancake flat all the way and only a few wavelets back).
Quote: Nice photos - how many weird Australian animals are there, all ours are birds, one lizard and some creepy bugs.
Yes, strange birds that steal bits of your car if you leave it parked long enough and don't forget all those lovely possums, care of Australia) :):
Quote: Oh you went on that Australia/NZ cruise - always wanted to do that but never been a good sailor, I am notoriously sea sick and get anxious at the slightest wavelet.
I was worried too when we first started cruising, as I always got seasick on smaller boats like ferries. I have never had a problem on the big ships, although I still take seasick tablets with me just in case.
Oh, and by the way, our strangest creature in W.A. is the Sandgroper, after which we get our nicknames.
We get those sand things here too. we call them sand hoppers. You dig down into hot sand and they all start jumping up and about.
The kea does steal bits off cars, but only if you are not watching. Modern cars don't really have detachable wing mirrors or headlights anymore, so you are safe.
I would rather being forking out for new car parts, than being eaten by a 10 foot long lizard, kicked to death by a Kangaroo or emu, bitten by a cassowary or stung by a Jimble, crown of thorns, black widow and stung by some poisonous desert snake.
That is what I love about NZ, you can walk through the forest and the worst you may encounter is a weta or a boar with an attitude problem!
I would rather being forking out for new car parts, than being eaten by a 10 foot long lizard, kicked to death by a Kangaroo or emu, bitten by a cassowary or stung by a Jimble, crown of thorns, black widow and stung by some poisonous desert snake.
Aww... give credit where credit's due PT. What about being stung by a Blue-ring? Or a geographer cone? Some of our best killing sakes can be found outside the dessert regions. We now have fire ants plus let's not forget the cane toad. I guess we can't claim the great white and sting rays (thinking Steve Irwin here) as other nations get to share such honours but we do have them. Always feel a bit disappointed that we don't have a bad butt scorpion which would pretty well complete our collection.
Oh, one good reason not to go on a cruise ship in NZ waters:
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Also, I am very envious of your 2001 state set. That is a lovely set at a bargain price that only rarely happens here. I did see the 20c collection go on Gumtree for $20. It was gone in minutes. The same 20c sets sell for $60-80 on ebay. I have all the coins from change but in pretty jaded condition.
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Posted 04/04/2021 05:54 am
) I mean in 2001 the smallest coin in use was 5 cents.
