23 April 1902   Call for decimal currency

On 23 April 1902 the Advertiser  ran an article suggesting a change to decimal currency. It was reported that a Select Committee appointed by the federal House of Representatives was to enquire into, and report on, the subject. It was argued that the British currency was not easily or quickly calculated and it was surmised that great losses were incurred every year by business due to incorrect calculations. Some large retail stores in England employed special experts for the purpose of calculating quickly purchases such as 191/4 yards at 7s 53/4d per yard. Why should people, children at school, clerks and business people waste time and brain power on such problems when decimal money would simplify matters enormously? It was felt that a change to decimal currency would be a wise move.

However, it was not until 14 February 1966 that this change came about. On that day a 5d stamp was replaced by a 4c one and local telephone calls could be made with either a 6d or 5c coin.

Peter Lord, 125 Years of the Advertiser, 1983, pp. 75, 183.
(Advertiser, 23 April 1902, 15 February 1966.)