Straya Cash by Aaron Tyler

Aaron Tyler — Straya Cash 10 Year Anniversary Collection

Aaron Tyler is a Melbourne-based independent creative and senior art director.

In 2015, Tyler gained widespread attention for his viral project Straya Cash — a reimagining of Australia’s banknotes that replaced traditional historical figures with contemporary Australian icons such as Steve Irwin, Shane Warne, and Dame Edna. The project quickly spread online and through the media, resonating with audiences for its humour, visual polish, and underlying social commentary.

This collection marks the 10-year anniversary of Straya Cash, celebrating a decade since Aaron’s irreverent designs captured the nation’s imagination and travelled around the world in true memetic fashion.

Beyond their surface-level fun, the Straya Cash works playfully question ideas of national identity, legacy, and who we choose to honour in our collective storytelling. By blending satire and design precision, Tyler repositions familiar cultural icons into the aesthetic language of currency — symbols of power and value — encouraging reflection on what Australians truly treasure.

Aaron’s approach sits at the intersection of pop culture and design, where wit, nostalgia, and critique meet. His work continues to explore how art and media can reshape cultural narratives and challenge the symbols that define us.

"I was curious about how most Australians couldn’t name the people on our bank notes, so I gave them a face lift and ignited a deep cultural yarn about identity, tall poppy syndrome, and what matters. Straya Cash has become one of our most endearing memes inspiring thousands of emulations." - Aaron Tyler

 

Website:   https://www.aarontyler.com.au/work/straya-cash

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/p/DGSJRACTxfb/?img_index=1