Designed by Garry Emery, Mary Reibey, who arrived in Sydney in 1792 as a 15 year old convict, features on the front of this note. She subsequently married and after the premature death of her husband inherited numerous businesses and properties, including the schooner "Mercury" which is depicted on the left of the note. To the right is a building in George Street Sydney, the main street, which was at one time owned by Reibey.

(A central Sydney building also owned by Reiby was the initial office of Australia's first bank, the Bank of New South Wales, when founded in 1817. This bank is now one of Australia's major commercial banks having changed its name in the early 1980's to Westpac Banking Corporation. It was responsible for Australia's first formal bank note issue in April 1817 and it and banks which later joined with it through merger or acquisition were significant issuers of currency in Australia for the next 90 years.)

On the back is John Flynn, "Flynn of the Inland" a Presbyterian minister whose tireless work for isolated communities in Australia's far flung areas resulted in the establishment of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The "Victory," a De Havilland 50 leased from QANTAS flew the first Flying Doctor mission in May 1928, is the plane depicted to the left of the note. Below the plane is a pedal transceiver wireless set used on outback stations for communication including the "School of the Air" which bought education to children in isolated areas. A "Where Does It Hurt" body chart for medical diagnosis by numbers over the pedal wireless is also shown. A Flynn Boundary Rider or Patrol Padre mounted on a camel is shown at the right.

Orientation bands to assist in note sorting are on the front and back.

There are rows of white geometric shapes above and through the aeroplane. From year to year some rows tend to become less distinct.

(a) A clear window contains a nautical and aeronautical compass. The denomination numeral "20" is embossed twice. These features can be seen from both sides of the note.
(b) When the note is held up to the light, the seven pointed Commonwealth Star becomes visible with four points on the front registering perfectly with three on the back.
(c) An image of the Australian Coat of Arms to the left of the denomination numeral on the front can be seen when it is held up to the light. This is similar to a watermark.
(d) The serial number is printed twice in black on the back in differing fonts. Modern Extended is used at upper left and Butsch Grotesque at lower right of the note.
(e) Micro-printing of "TWENTY DOLLARS" in 31 lines on Reibey's "bonnet" and in 35 lines under the aeroplane. Lines are in whole or in part.
(f) Intricate, multi-coloured fine-line patterns and images are present on each side.
(g) Serial numbers fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light. A box containing the denomination numeral appears under the printed denomination numeral at front right under ultraviolet light.

Modified Issue - 2002 Twenty Dollars.

Towards the end of March 2002, a modified version of the $20 was released by RBA.

In response to a significant number of queries from the public, RBA decided to print the names of the people depicted on its notes. Whilst each portrait is accompanied by the person's autograph, some are difficult to read. It also restored the pre 1984 signature order with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia now preceding the Secretary to the Treasury reading from top to bottom.

These changes commenced with the Federation $5 and will be introduced to other denominations as production of new notes is required. Changes to the $20 coincide with the new Macfarlane - Henry Signature variety.

All security and design features otherwise seem to be the same, including fluorescing characteristics. It is possible however that there are some subtle changes.

Modified issue introduced in 2002: P New, Mc503 and R419.

1997 to 1998 dated notes: P53b, Mc502 and R418.
Governor: Ian Macfarlane 18th September, 1996 to date.
Secretary: Evans as above.
2002 dated notes: PNew, Mc503 and R419.
Governor: Ian Macfarlane as above.
Secretary: Ken Henry. 27th April 2001 to date.