Australia’s first number plate: the story behind “NSW 1”

It was “NSW 1,” issued in 1910 when New South Wales launched its state-wide vehicle registration scheme—widely regarded as the first official number plate in Australia. While some local councils had earlier identifiers and other states established registration around the same era, the consensus among motoring historians and registries is that “NSW 1” marks the first formal, state-issued plate in the country. This answer reflects how Australia’s federated system rolled out registration at slightly different times, with New South Wales’ early statewide scheme setting the benchmark.

How “NSW 1” became Australia’s first official plate

At the dawn of motoring, Australian states introduced regulation independently. New South Wales moved to a centralised, state-wide register in 1910, issuing numeric enamel plates and beginning with number 1. That inaugural plate—commonly referred to as “NSW 1”—has since been treated as the first Australian number plate in the modern, official sense, distinguishing it from earlier, locally issued identifiers or non-standard markings used by councils and police.

Context from a federated roll-out

Other states followed closely in the late 1900s and early 1910s, each creating its own format and numbering. Because there was no national scheme, “firsts” can be described in different ways (first local identifier, first state law, first enamel plate). Even so, New South Wales’ “1” plate issued under a statewide system has become the prevailing reference point for Australia’s first registration plate.

What happened to “NSW 1” over time

Like many early plates, “NSW 1” was initially an administrative allocation rather than a collectible. Over decades, as plate heritage and provenance gained cultural cachet, single-digit NSW plates became highly coveted. NSW’s oldest numeric plates are now classed as “heritage” and are tightly controlled; some are used ceremonially, while others, including “NSW 1,” are known to be in private hands and rarely, if ever, publicly offered for sale. Comparable single-digit NSW plates have sold for multi-million-dollar sums in recent years, underlining the historical and cultural value attached to such early numbers.

What “first” can mean with early plates

Because different states moved at different times and used varying systems, people sometimes use “first” to mean different things. The points below outline the main ways “first” is discussed with early Australian plates.

• First statewide, officially issued plate: “NSW 1,” 1910, is widely cited as the first modern, state-issued Australian number plate.
• First local identifiers: Before statewide schemes, some councils and authorities used their own markings; these weren’t standardized or enduring across a state.
• First by other states: By the early 1910s, every state had adopted registration and began issuing its own plates, creating multiple “firsts” within each jurisdiction’s history.
• First surviving heritage plates: Today, single- and low-digit plates from that era are preserved as heritage items and can be among the most valuable automotive artefacts in Australia.

Taken together, these perspectives explain why “NSW 1” is the accepted national milestone, even as each state maintains its own early-plate story and traditions.

Why the answer still matters

Australia’s first plate is more than a curiosity; it marks the moment when governments formalized the rules of the road for a new technology. The legacy of “NSW 1” captures the birth of mass motoring in Australia and the enduring appeal of the earliest registration marks.

Summary

The first number plate in Australia is widely recognized as “NSW 1,” issued in 1910 when New South Wales implemented statewide vehicle registration. While earlier local identifiers existed and other states quickly followed with their own systems, “NSW 1” remains the benchmark first official plate in Australia’s motoring history.

When was the first car registered in Australia?

1906
South Australia brought in Australia’s first motor vehicle registration and licensing during 1906. In 1904, with the first “mechanically propelled vehicles” on Adelaide streets, the Motor Traffic Regulation Act had been legislated. By 1910, 1,350 cars (and many motor cycles) were registered.

What was the first car to drive around Australia?

Citroën 1923 5CV tourer
First car to circumnavigate Australia. The Citroën 1923 5CV tourer model was first introduced at the 1921 Paris Motor Show. Several hundred were imported to Australia for distribution by local agents in the early 1920s.

What number plates are banned in Australia?

Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what’s considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned.

What was the very first license plate number?

1
1903 – Massachusetts Issues First State License Plates
The very first plate featured just the number “1.” It was issued to Frederick Tudor, who worked for the highway commission.