Australian Coat of Arms (since 1912)

The Coat of Arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the sixpenny coin until 1966. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 777 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (788 × 608 pixel, file size: 640 KB, MIME type: image/png) poop File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 777 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (788 × 608 pixel, file size: 640 KB, MIME type: image/png) poop File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 - 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Sixpence may refer to: British sixpence coin Irish sixpence coin A type of cap or hat Category: ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

Design

The Coat of Arms out the front of Parliament House, Canberra.

The shield is the focal point of the coat of arms, contained within is the badge of each Australian state. In the top half, from left to right, the states represented are: New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In the bottom half, from left to right: South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Above the shield is the seven-pointed 'Commonwealth Star' or 'Star of Federation' above a blue and gold wreath, forming the crest. Six of the points on the star represent the original six states, while the seventh point represents the combined territories and any future states of Australia. In its entirety the shield represents the federation of Australia. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 301 KB)The Australian Coat of Arms on the Parliament House building. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 301 KB)The Australian Coat of Arms on the Parliament House building. ... Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag Parliament House is the name given to a purpose-built building opened in 1988 in Canberra, the capital of Australia. ... Shield Field Supporter Crest Wreath Mantling Helm Compartment Charge Motto Coat of arms elements Escutcheon is often the term used in heraldry for the shield displayed in a coat of arms. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 37  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $222,022 (2nd)  - Product per capita  $44,443/person (5th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  5,110,500 (2nd)  - Density  22. ... Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  4,164,590 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person (3rd) Population (December 2006)  - Population  2,050,900 (4th)  - Density  0. ... Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $16,114 (7th)  - Product per capita  $33,243/person (8th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  489,600 (6th)  - Density  7. ... Commonwealth Star as the crest of Coat of Arms of Australia. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed a federation. ...

The Red Kangaroo and Emu that support the shield are the unofficial animal emblems of the nation. They owe this recognition to the fact that they are native to Australia, and are found only on that continent; in addition, as neither animal can walk backwards, they have come to represent progress and an unwillingness to back down. In the background is wreath of Golden Wattle, the official national floral emblem, though the representation of the species is not botanically accurate.^[1] At the bottom of the coat of arms is a scroll that contains the name of the nation. Neither the wreath of wattle nor the scroll are technically part of the official design described on the Royal Warrant that grants the armorial design. Binomial name Macropus rufus Desmarest, 1822 The Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest surviving marsupial. ... Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in black. ... Binomial name Acacia pycnantha Banks Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is Australias floral emblem. ...

The official blazon in heraldic terms is: This is an article about Heraldry. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ...

Quarterly of six, the first quarter Argent a Cross Gules charged with a Lion passant guardant between on each limb a Mullet of eight points Or; the second Azure five Mullets, one of eight, two of seven, one of six and one of five points of the first (representing the Constellation of the Southern Cross) ensigned with an Imperial Crown proper; the third of the first a Maltese Cross of the fourth, surmounted by a like Imperial Crown; the fourth of the third, on a Perch wreathed Vert and Gules an Australian Piping Shrike displayed also proper; the fifth also Or a Swan naiant to the sinister Sable; the last of the first, a Lion passant of the second, the whole within a Bordure Ermine; for the Crest on a Wreath Or and Azure A Seven-pointed Star Or, and for Supporters dexter a Kangaroo, sinister an Emu, both proper.^[2]

History

1908 Coat of Arms

Following the federation of Australia, the first official coat of arms of Australia was granted by King Edward VII on May 7 1908.^[3] The original design is thought to have been inspired by the 1805 Bowman Flag, which showed a coat of arms of the rose, shamrock and thistle supported by a kangaroo and emu.^[4] The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed a federation. ... The complex Bowman Flag with its swallow-tail fly was designed by John and Honor Bowman of Richmond NSW in 1806. ...

It consisted of a shield in the centre, the seven pointed star on a wreath as the crest above it, and a kangaroo and an emu supporting the shield, all on a bed of green grass with a scroll containing the motto "Advance Australia". The shield had a white background, with a red cross of Saint George, blue lines outside the cross, and a blue border containing six inescutcheons featuring a red chevron on white, representing the six states. The Scottish Patriotic Association was vocally opposed to the shields designing, noting that it should display the Union Flag to represent British and Irish settlers. These arms were used by the government and appeared on the sixpenny coin until 1966. Species Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus fuliginosus Macropus antilopinus A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae. ... Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in black. ... St Georges cross The St Georges Cross is a red cross on a white background. ... Escutcheon is the term used in heraldry for the shield displayed in a coat of arms. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag (also known as the Union Jack; see discussion below) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

The 1908 arms were redesigned in 1911, and officially granted by George V on 19 September 1912. The redesign of the coat of arms spurred much debate in the Parliament, William Kelly said

The emu and kangaroo are so built that they hardly fit into the heraldic atmosphere, and I think we make ourselves ridiculous when we endeavour to carry on the traditions of the Old World with some of the wild creations of our Australian fauna.^[5]

Despite objections, the kangaroo and emu remained the shield bearers in the new coat of arms and were modified to appear more realistic. The principal reason for the redesign was to address concerns that Australia's states were not individually represented; this was achieved by showing each state's badge on the shield. The 1912 coat of arms removed the bed of grass that was beneath the shield and changed the scroll to read simply "Australia". The colours in the wreath were also changed from blue and white to blue and gold. A background of two sprays of Golden Wattle was added, however it does not form a part of the armorial bearings. Australia, having a federal system of government, is divided into states and territories. ... Heraldic badges were common in the Middle Ages particularly in England. ... Binomial name Acacia pycnantha Banks Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is Australias floral emblem. ...

Use

The coat of arms is used to identify Australian government authority and property, accordingly the coat of arms should never be used where it could wrongly imply a formal guarantee, sponsorship or endorsement by the Commonwealth.^[6] Use of the arms by private citizens or organisations is rarely permitted, however there are provisions for use by sporting bodies and in educational publications. Use of the coat of arms without permission may be in breach of Sections 53 (c) (d) and (e) of the Trade Practices Act 1974, Section 145.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 or Section 39(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1995.^[7] The import of goods bearing the arms is also illegal according Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations. The Trade Practices Act 1974 is an act of the Parliament of Australia. ...

There is a full colour version and nine heraldically correct official versions exist for single-colour reproduction.

The coat of arms is the basis of the Queen's Personal Australian Flag, and since 1973 a slightly modified version has formed the basis of the Great Seal of Australia. Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Queens Personal Australian Flag The Queens Personal Australian Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Australia is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Australia. ...

References

1. ^ Australian National Botanic Gardens. 2003. Armorial bearings to the Commonwealth of Australia
2. ^ http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms/royal_warrant.cfm
3. ^ The Armorial Ensigns of the Commonwealth of Australia 1980. Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 0-642-04793-6
4. ^ Letter from William Gullick to Atlee Hunt, 10 July 1908
5. ^ Hansard, House of Representatives, 31 October 1912
6. ^ http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms/docs/CCOA_guidelines_general.pdf
7. ^ http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms/index.cfm

External links

• Official website with more information
• National Archives of Australia. Papers relating to the Commonwealth Coat of Arms
• Online Exhibition commemorating the Centenary of the NSW Coat of Arms 1906-2006 The designer of the NSW Coat of Arms, William Gullick, was also involved in the creation of the Australian Coat of Arms
• Details the Croat connection with the Australian coat of arms