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 kn