Date of First Issue 4 October 1995 Size 65mm by 151mm Designer Brian Sadgrove

Design Feature Mission church at Point McLeay This image depicts the mission church at Point McLeay as it was in the late 19th century. Point McLeay (the Aboriginal name is Raukkan) is the community where David Unaipon's people live.

Design Feature Portrait of David Unaipon This portrait of David Unaipon, an inventor and Australia's first published Aboriginal author, is based on an original photograph taken in 1938. Read David Unaipon's biography.

Design Feature Diagrams of Unaipon's patent application This element is based on drawings from David Unaipon's 1909 patent application for an improved mechanical handpiece for sheep shearing.

Design Feature Manuscript This is an extract from David Unaipon's handwritten preface to his story Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines . It's based on copies of the original manuscript provided by the State Library of New South Wales.

Security Feature Microprinting Microprint is very small but well-defined text that usually requires a magnifying glass to read. On the $50 banknote, the words ‘FIFTY DOLLARS’ are microprinted.

Security Feature See-through registration device When the banknote is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote combining perfectly with three points on the other side.

Security Feature Clear window – vignette of the Southern Cross On all genuine banknotes the window should be very clear and look like it's an integral part of the banknote, not an addition. Inside the clear window on the $50 banknote is a printed image of the Southern Cross, along with embossing of the number ‘50’.

Security Feature Shadow Image When the banknote is held up to the light, an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen faintly, under other printing.

Design Feature WA Parliament House This drawing shows the original front of the West Australian Parliament House, as it was in the 1920s when Edith Cowan was an MP.

Design Feature Portrait of Edith Cowan This portrait of Edith Cowan, who is best remembered as the first female member of an Australian parliament, was based on a 1929 photograph from the biographical register of West Australian Parliament. Read Edith Cowan's biography.

Design Feature Foster mother and state children This composite illustration represents a foster mother and children who were wards of the state circa 1920.

Design Feature Cowan at lectern This image of Edith Cowan at a lectern represents her frequent public speaking on matters such as women's rights and children's welfare issues.

Security Feature Background print (offset) Multi-coloured and multi-directional patterns of fine lines appear on each side of the banknote.

Security Feature Fluorescent ink properties Under ultraviolet light, the serial numbers on the back of the $50 banknote glow and a patch showing the value of the banknote becomes visible.