Europeans settled in Queensland in 1825 when Brisbane was selected as a penal settlement for the more difficult convicts. The penal settlement was officially closed in 1839 and the land was prepared for sale for permanent settlement. Queensland was originally part of the British-administered colony of New South Wales. The first stamps of Queensland were issued on 1 November 1860. Before that, Queensland used the stamps of New South Wales from 1851. Todays stamp (6 pence) is from 1860 and showing the portrait of Queen Victoria.