The life and work of Australian author and illustrator Norman Lindsay was celebrated in 2007 and 2008 with the release of this one dollar piece. The reverse features Vladimir Gottwald's impression of Lindsay along with four characters from the Magic Pudding; Albert the Magic Pudding, Bunyip Bluegum, Bill Barnacle, and Sam Swanoff. The reverse legend states "NORMAN LINDSAY THE MAGIC PUDDING" with the denomination "ONE DOLLAR". The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the standard legend "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA" followed by the date (2007 or 2008).
Norman Lindsay was born in the Victorian town of Creswick in 1879. (Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum, 2017) Lindsay was an outstanding artist and served as cartoonist for the Bulletin magazine while also producing a number of well-known propaganda posters during World War I. In 1918 he published the children's book 'The Magic Pudding' which told the story of an infinite pudding and its three owners that must defend the pudding against pudding thieves. (Norman Lindsay Galley & Museum, 2017) The story is considered an Australian children's classic and was released as a film adaption in 2000 featuring John Cleese, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, and Sam Neill.