To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Australia Post has released a pair of commemorative stamps.

The Australia Post stamps feature replicas of the first full-colour stamps released in 1956 for the Games.

50 Years On -- The Melbourne Olympics, also depict the city's 2006 skyline, thereby charting the changing cityscape over 50 years.

Melbourne Lord Mayor John So and 1956 Olympians John Devitt and Faith Leech launched the stamps in Melbourne.

"It is wonderful that Australia Post is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games, as it is such a momentous occasion in Melbourne's history," said Olympic gold medallist Faith Leech.

"These stamps are a great way for people all over the world to remember the time the Olympics came to Melbourne and to celebrate the sporting culture the city is known for."

The products in the range include a stamp pack ($3.45), first day cover ($3.30) and set of maxi cards ($4.00).

50 Years On - The Melbourne Olympics stamp issue is available from Tuesday 1 November 2006 at all Australia Post outlets.

As part of the celebrations, Australia Post is running a free exhibition at the Post Master Gallery, 321 Exhibition St, Melbourne, from 30 September 2006 to 10 February 2007.

The exhibition will feature photographs of Melbourne in 1956, stamps issued by other countries for the Olympics and a wall-size street map of Melbourne in 1950.

AOC/Australia Post