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Australia Post customers were shocked after learning the hidden meaning of the iconic logo: “This is something we should be taught in primary school”
- A researcher has revealed the history of the Aus Post logo
- Julian O’Shea explained the logo design on TikTok
- The logo was partially created to resemble the postal horn.
Australians were shocked after learning the story behind the Australia Post logo, which is inspired by a post horn used over 200 years ago.
Melbourne engineer and researcher Julian O’Shea revealed the inspiration behind the postal service’s logo in a video posted to his popular TikTok account.
Mr. O’Shea has dedicated his social media channels to educating people about the history behind the designs, buildings, and cities.
He explained that the Australia Post logo was created to resemble the mail horn used by guards on mail cars across Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Engineer and researcher Julian O’Shea (pictured) explained the design choice for the Australia Post logo in a TikTok video that went viral.
‘Ever wonder what’s going on with the Australia Post logo?’ O’Shea says on video of him as he stands in front of a mailbox.
‘Now clearly the P is trying to represent P for the job, but what is it all about?’ she continues, pointing to the white half-circle design to the right of the logo.
“This shape is based on the postal horn and this was an actual instrument that was blown to let people know the postman was here to drop and drop their packages.”
It revealed that the same design has been used for mail service logos in a number of different countries, including Argentina, Germany and Iceland.
“So you might think the letters and mail are outdated, but the logos they use are even more outdated,” the online educator added.
The original Australia Post logo was designed in 1975 by Pieter Huveneers, a renowned graphic designer from the Netherlands.
Mr. Huveneers created a number of designs and posters throughout his career for businesses, corporations, government services and charities in the Netherlands, the UK and Australia.
After moving to Australia, he created over 70 designs Down Under, including logos for Telecom Australia, Westpac, ACI, Colonial Mutual Life, Myer, TAA and Tooth and Co.
The right side of the logo resembles a pole horn. Post horns were used in the 18th and 19th centuries to let people know that the postman was about to deliver mail and packages.
The original Australia Post logo was designed in 1975 by Pieter Huveneers, a renowned graphic designer from the Netherlands (archive image)
TikTok users who viewed Mr. O’Shea’s video expressed their surprise upon learning the inspiration behind the postcard design.
“Ok this is something we should be taught in elementary school,” wrote one viewer.
Another said: “I always thought it was a P inside an O that was a bit stylized.”
“I always assumed it was a keyhole,” added a third.
‘I’ve learned something today, cheers,’ said another.