TRAVEL POSTER - Great Barrier Reef by the Australian National Travel Association

“Australia — Great Barrier Reef, Queensland” — Australian National Travel Association
Vintage Travel Poster (c.1930)

Vivid, playful, and unmistakably modern for its time, this striking reproduction of the Great Barrier Reef travel poster captures Australia’s earliest efforts to present the reef as a world-class destination. Produced around 1930 by the Australian National Travel Association, it celebrates colour, marine life, and tropical promise at a moment when international travel was becoming aspirational—and adventurous.

Bright angelfish glide through stylised waters beneath palm-fringed islands, transforming the reef into a graphic paradise that feels both exotic and inviting.

A bold underwater dream from the dawn of Australian tourism.

✈️ Iconic Imagery from the Early Age of Travel

• Stylised yellow reef fish drifting through deep turquoise waters

• Palm trees floating above the sea, merging island fantasy with marine wonder

• Strong Art-Deco geometry and flat colour blocks typical of late-1920s poster design

• High-contrast palette—teal, gold, coral red, and midnight blue

• Bold lettering proclaiming AUSTRALIA and Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

📐 Size Options

Original proportions preserved. Custom sizing available on request.

🎨 Premium Format Options

📄 Paper — Printed on heavyweight 170 gsm coated paper; crisp, vibrant, and ideal for framing under glass.

🧽 Laminated — True encapsulation using 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate; exceptionally durable and wipe-clean.

🪵 Laminated + Wooden Hang Rails — Natural timber rails with discreet hanging cord; ready to hang on arrival.

🖼️ Canvas — 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas, printed with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for archival depth and texture.

🪵 Canvas + Wooden Hang Rails — Premium canvas presentation with timber rails top and bottom for effortless display.

⏳ Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed finishes, as each is carefully assembled by our professional framer.

🎁 Ideal For

• Vintage travel and Art-Deco poster collectors

• Great Barrier Reef and Queensland enthusiasts

• Coastal, tropical, and mid-century interior styling

• Offices, studies, beach houses, and gallery walls

🌍 A Poster That Tells a Story

Issued decades before mass tourism, this poster reflects a visionary moment when Australia began promoting its natural wonders to the world. The reef is not shown scientifically, but romantically—as a place of colour, warmth, and escapism—perfectly aligned with early 20th-century ideas of leisure and discovery.

It invited travellers not just to visit Australia, but to immerse themselves in it.

🖼️ Display with Pride

Whether framed, laminated for durability, or displayed on canvas with elegant timber hang rails, this poster brings joy, colour, and early-tourism optimism into any space.

Playful. Tropical. Timeless.