A Melbourne Artist Has Redesigned Our Money Into A Glorious Celebration Of Aussie Culcha

Australia’s currency has been bamboozling overseas tourists and primary school maths students for generations. Like our anthem and our flag, our currency is a relic of a largely bygone era, celebrating people and accomplishments most Australians are barely aware of.

To rectify this sorry state of affairs, Melbourne-based art director Aaron Tyler has knocked up a series of new banknotes putting some more contemporary Aussie icons front and centre. Everyone from Dame Edna to Corey Worthington has a place on Australia’s glorious new currency. This is what the Republic shall look like.

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It’s hard to argue with Tyler’s assessment of what Australians want from their money; cash transactions would make a staggering comeback if Karl Stefanovic was on the $20 note. But it’s the oft-forgotten $100 bill — the humble hunjee — that gets the best makeover of all, on both sides. Behold:

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The attention to detail is what really does it — the little logos next to the number denomination, the quotes from classic Aussie rock songs running along the bottom in cursive, the see-through security windows.

He’s even stitched together a video showing where every pictorial reference comes from, which will come in handy when you next have to explain Australian currency to confused backpackers.

They aren’t perfect — I’d personally like to see Rattus the Rat from Feral TV score a place on there somewhere, and shamefully there’s no new banknote worth 900 dollarydoos. But it’s a bloody good start.

Next up: the flag. Thankfully, we already have a design ready to go.

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All images via Aaron Tyler.