Australian Legends

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{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}

The Australian Legends is an annual series of commemorative postage stamps issued by Australia Post since 1997.{{cite web |title=Australia Post – our past |work=Australia Post |url=http://auspost.com.au/education/ourpost/students/our-post/timeline.html#tline4 |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-date=22 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122060519/http://auspost.com.au/education/ourpost/students/our-post/timeline.html#tline4 |url-status=dead }} The stamps commemorate living Australians who have made lifetime contributions to the development of the Commonwealth's national identity and character.{{Cite web |title=Celebrating sport on stamps |url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/celebrating-sport-on-stamps |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Australia Post Collectables |language=en}} Prior to 1997, the only living persons who could appear on Australian stamps were members of the British royal family, with the exception of Gwoya Tjungurrayi in 1950.Australia Post: [http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1467,CH4444%257EMO19,00.html "Racing Legends are first past the post,"] 2007. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211191031/http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0%2C1467%2CCH4444~MO19%2C00.html |date=11 December 2007 }}

As examples of Australian graphic art, the stamps are designed to tell the story of events and personalities that shaped contemporary Australia. Each becomes part of a collective Australian memory which reflects Australian values and documents the development of Australia's national identity.[http://www1.auspost.com.au/priority/index.asp?area=features&article_id=707&issue_id=33 "156 years collecting Australian graphic art,"] Priority (Australia Post), 2000. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107224302/http://www1.auspost.com.au/priority/index.asp?area=features&article_id=707&issue_id=33 |date=7 November 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/history-of-australian-legends-stamp-series|title=History of the Australian Legends stamp series 11 December 2015|website=Australia Post Collectables|access-date=3 November 2016}}

In addition to the philatelic commemoration, the honour is also known as the Australia Post Australian Legends Award.Australia Post: [http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1467,CH3007%257EMO19,00.html "Previous Australia Post Australian Legends,"] 2005. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110200526/http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0%2C1467%2CCH3007~MO19%2C00.html |date=10 November 2007 }}

Russell Crowe appears in the series despite not holding Australian citizenship.{{cite news|author=Michael Idato |url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/russell-crowe-rejected-twice-as-australian-citizen-20150325-1m70m7.html |title=Russell Crowe rejected twice as Australian citizen |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2015-03-26 |accessdate=2015-06-09}}