2017 100th Anniversary Trans-Australian Railway Medallion PNC

2017 100th Anniversary Trans-Australian Railway Medallion PNC

This year marks the centenary of the completion of the 1,690-kilometre transcontinental railway between Port Augusta, in South Australia, and Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia. The line was officially opened on 22 October 1917, but had been planned many years before. 

Prior to Federation, in 1901, Western Australia had been reluctant to join the new Commonwealth of Australia, but it was persuaded with the promise of a transcontinental rail link facilitating closer communication with the eastern states. 

The first sod was turned at Port Augusta on 14 September 1912, beginning five years of arduous construction work across the Nullarbor desert. The stamp issue features advertising posters from 1930 and 1960. 

Both the stamp and this cover show the first diesel locomotive GM1, which was in service between 1951 and 1967.