This 18-cent Australian commemorative stamp, issued on 1 July 1978, celebrates the Establishment of the Government of the Northern Territory. The design prominently features Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum), the floral emblem of the Northern Territory, rendered in vivid pinks and greens. In the background, a silhouette map of Australia highlights the Northern Territory in red, symbolizing its new self-governing status within the Commonwealth.

This issue marks a historic moment when the Northern Territory achieved self-administration, ending direct federal control from Canberra. It combines political significance with national flora symbolism, uniting governance and nature in a single elegant design.