Australia - The Great Barrier Reef

This original vintage travel poster, titled "Australia – The Great Barrier Reef," was created in 1956 by Eileen Mayo for the Australian National Travel Association. It is one of the most celebrated examples of mid-century Australian travel advertising, brilliantly capturing the wonder and biodiversity of the world’s largest coral reef system. The composition features a richly stylized underwater scene, teeming with fish, coral, and marine flora rendered in bold, naturalistic colors. Mayo’s intricate detailing and balanced composition invite viewers into a magical aquatic world—simultaneously educational and awe-inspiring.
Eileen Mayo (1906–1994) was a British-born artist, designer, and printmaker who later became a major artistic voice in both New Zealand and Australia. Trained at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and later under Claude Flight at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art, Mayo's career spanned book illustration, painting, tapestry, and poster design. She was especially known for her scientific accuracy combined with a strong design sense—a rare combination that made her work particularly well-suited to natural subjects and public commissions.
After emigrating to Australia in the early 1950s, Mayo quickly became an integral figure in the Australian art world. She designed postage stamps, illustrated educational materials, and worked closely with government agencies on visual campaigns, including those promoting tourism and environmental awareness. Her work is characterized by a deep respect for nature, clarity of form, and a graceful merging of art and science.
This poster exemplifies Mayo’s talent for transforming biological detail into captivating visual storytelling. Her sensitivity to nature and compositional discipline make this one of the finest Australian travel posters ever produced.
This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. It is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.