The national currency of Australia is known as the dollar, which is represented by the $ symbol. The Federal Government has been in charge of our currency since 1901 and they control the manufacture and distribution throughout Australia and the world.

The Australian Notes Act was passed in 1910, but it wasn't until 1966 that the Decimal currency system was introduced. The public and officials voted for what the currency should be called and the eventual decision was the 'dollar'.

Australia was the first system in the world to have a complete system of bank notes made from plastic. The national currency comprises of 5, 10, 20, 50 cent and 1 and 2 dollar denominations, and notes 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar denominations.

Australia's notes are printed by Note Printing Australia, which is a division of the Australian Reserve Bank. This company also produces notes for many countries around the world such as Chile, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.

The Royal Australian Mint produces Australia's coins and can manufacture up to 600 millions coins each year. The silver coins are made of cupro-nickel and the 1 and 2 dollar coins are derived from aluminium bronze. All the coins and notes feature commemorative designs that depict Australia's rich cultural and political history.

The Australian dollar is constantly varying where it ranks among the other countries. Our most apparent competitor is the U.S.$, and we are also strongly compared to the Euro and the Yen.

Money is easily exchangeable at many locations in the country, and will be exchanged according to the current conversion rate. Australia is a wealthy yet affordable country that places special value on its currency and the importance of money.