Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 1985 Reserve Bank Act 1959

“It is the duty of the Board, within the limits of its powers, to ensure that the monetary and banking policy of the Bank is directed to the greatest advantage of the people of Australia and that the powers of the Bank under this Act, the Banking Act 1959 and the regulations under that Act are exercised in such a manner as, in the opinion of the Board, will best contribute to the stability of the currency of Australia; the maintenance of full employment in Australia; and the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of Australia.”

The security patterns which appear on the covers and elsewhere in this Report were prepared by the Bank's Note Printing Branch. The cover design was produced by the intaglio process on a Crabtree-Hoe machine.

Security patterns, or more precisely white line patterns with thousands of diamond shaped cells, were first developed in the United States of America in the early 1800's as an adjunct to hand engraving on bank notes and other security documents to counteract an increasing incidence of counterfeiting.

Since that time, white line patterns have adorned bank notes and other security documents throughout the world.