Damon Mcknight
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the country. It has a rich history, having been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians prior to 50,000 BC and explored by Europeans in the 17th century. Queensland has a variety of official symbols and emblems that represent its history and values, including a state animal or faunal emblem. So, what is the state animal of Queensland, Australia?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State animal or faunal emblem | Koala |
| Year of naming the state animal | 1971 |
| State bird emblem | Brolga |
| Year of naming the state bird | 1986 |
| Floral emblem | Cooktown orchid |
| Year of naming the floral emblem | 1959 |
| Fossil emblem | Muttaburrasaurus langdoni |
| Year of naming the fossil emblem | 2023 |
| Gem emblem | Sapphire |
| State colour | Maroon (changed to blue in 2025) |
| Aquatic emblem | Barrier Reef anemone fish |
| State flag | British Blue Ensign with the state badge on a white disc |
| State badge | Light blue Maltese Cross with an imperial crown in the centre |
| State motto | Audax at Fidelis, meaning "Bold but Faithful" |
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What You'll Learn
Queensland's faunal emblem is the koala
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the country. Queensland has official flags, emblems, and icons that represent the state's history and values.
The koala is a well-known Australian animal and is an appropriate choice for Queensland's faunal emblem. Koalas are marsupials, which are characterised by a pouch in which they carry their young. They are native to Australia and are found in coastal regions and forests. Koalas have a distinctive appearance with grey fur, a large nose, and sharp claws. They are known for their love of eucalyptus leaves, which make up the majority of their diet.
The koala is not the only emblem of Queensland. The state also has a floral emblem, which is the Cooktown orchid. This flower is native to Queensland and was featured on an Australian postage stamp in 1968. In 2003, maroon was officially named Queensland's state colour, and in 2005, the Barrier Reef anemone fish was named the aquatic emblem. Queensland also has a coat of arms, which was granted by Queen Victoria in 1893 and is the oldest state arms in Australia. The coat of arms depicts Queensland's primary industries in the 19th century, including wheat, sugar cane, and the heads of a bull and a ram.
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The brolga is Queensland's official bird
The brolga, a member of the crane family, is Queensland's official bird. It is also known as the Native Companion, a name given to it by naturalist George Perry when he first described the bird in 1810. The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union made the name "brolga" official in 1926. The name comes from the Gamilaraay word "burralga".
Brolgas are native to Australia and are the only crane species solely found in the country. They are common in north and north-east Australia, especially north-east Queensland, and as far south as Victoria. They are also found in southern New Guinea and, rarely, in New Zealand and Western Australia. The population in northern Australia is estimated to be between 20,000 and 100,000 birds, while in southern Australia, there are around 1,000 birds. In Queensland, they are found in grasslands and swamps along the coast from Rockhampton to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Brolgas are wetland birds, often found in large family groups outside of the breeding season. During breeding season, they inhabit shallow marshes, building nests out of grasses, sticks, and mud. They are known for their distinctive mating dances, performed by pairs believed to mate for life. These dances involve energetic displays of dancing, leaping, wing-flapping, and loud trumpeting.
The brolga became Queensland's official bird emblem in 1986. It has been featured on the Queensland coat of arms since 1977, when it was granted by Queen Elizabeth II during her Silver Jubilee. The brolga represents the native population of Queensland.
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The Muttaburrasaurus langdoni is the fossil emblem
Queensland, a state in northeastern Australia, has official flags, emblems, and icons that represent its history and values. The official state emblems are prescribed in the Emblems of Queensland Act 2005. Queensland's state animal or faunal emblem is the koala, which was officially named in 1971 after a newspaper poll showed strong public support.
In addition to the koala, Queensland has several other symbols and emblems. Maroon was named the state colour in 2003, and the brolga is the official bird emblem. The Cooktown orchid is Queensland's floral emblem, and the sapphire is its gem emblem. The Barrier Reef anemone fish was named the aquatic emblem in 2005.
The Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, a big-nosed dinosaur, became Queensland's first fossil emblem in October 2022. The decision followed a campaign by a group of twelve candidates. The Muttaburrasaurus langdoni is native to Queensland, with its name translating to "lizard from Muttaburra", a town in the state. The dinosaur species was first discovered in 1963 by a local grazier named Doug Langdon, after whom the species is named. The Muttaburrasaurus langdoni is estimated to have lived approximately 110 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period. It is known for its distinctive large nose, which is believed to have been used for making loud roars and sniffing out potential food sources. The dinosaur is believed to have been an herbivore, with a diet consisting of leaves, twigs, and other plant matter.
The recognition of the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni as Queensland's fossil emblem highlights the state's rich paleontological history and contributes to its cultural and scientific heritage. The emblem not only serves as a symbol of the state's past but also as a reminder of the importance of preserving and studying Queensland's natural history.
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The Barrier Reef anemone fish is the aquatic emblem
Queensland, a state in northeastern Australia, has several official symbols that represent the state's history and values. These include the state animal or faunal emblem, which is the koala, and the state bird emblem, which is the brolga. In addition, Queensland has an aquatic emblem: the Barrier Reef anemone fish.
The Barrier Reef anemone fish was officially named Queensland's aquatic emblem in March 2005. This emblem is particularly fitting for Queensland, as the state boasts a diverse range of geographical features and climates, including tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges, and white sandy beaches. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the state's most notable natural wonders, is a major tourist attraction and contributes significantly to Queensland's economy.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast. It is home to an incredible diversity of marine life, including numerous species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic creatures. The Barrier Reef anemone fish is just one of the many species that call the Great Barrier Reef home.
The Great Barrier Reef is also of significant cultural importance. It has been a vital part of the Aboriginal Australian culture and heritage in Queensland for thousands of years. The Reef provides a unique and diverse habitat for countless species, and its protection and conservation are of utmost importance. Queensland has recognised the significance of the Reef through its official emblem, the Barrier Reef anemone fish, which serves as a reminder of the state's rich natural heritage and the importance of environmental conservation.
The selection of the Barrier Reef anemone fish as the aquatic emblem of Queensland highlights the state's commitment to preserving its natural wonders and the unique biodiversity found within its borders. This emblem serves as a symbol of Queensland's environmental stewardship and the importance of protecting the delicate balance of its aquatic ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
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Maroon was Queensland's state colour
Queensland, Australia, has several official symbols, including a state animal, bird, fossil, and colour. Maroon was officially named Queensland's state colour on November 13, 2003, by the Governor in Council. This decision came after years of the colour being used unofficially to represent the state, particularly in sports.
Maroon has been associated with Queensland sports teams for a long time, most notably the Queensland Maroons, the Brisbane Broncos, the Brisbane Lions, and the Queensland Reds. The Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions, in particular, use shades of maroon in their team colours, combined with gold and blue, respectively. The Queensland Bulls, the Scorchers and Blades in hockey, and the Brisbane rugby league club also use maroon in their kits.
The choice of maroon as the state colour was also influenced by the fact that it was the predominant colour in Queen Victoria's robes, making it a fitting colour for a state named "Queen's Land".
Today, Queenslenders proudly wear maroon to sporting events and other occasions to show their state spirit. The official shade of maroon for Queensland is Pantone® 202c for coated stocks and Pantone® 201u for uncoated stocks.
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Frequently asked questions
The koala was officially named the state animal or faunal emblem of Queensland in 1971.
The Queensland Government introduced a newspaper poll in 1971 due to a proposal by state tourism ministers for all states to adopt a faunal emblem. The koala received strong public support in the poll.
Queensland has official flags, emblems, and icons that represent the state's history and values. The state flag of Queensland is a British Blue Ensign with the state badge on a white disc added in the fly. Maroon was named the state colour in 2003, and in 2023, it was changed to blue. The state badge is a light blue Maltese Cross with an imperial crown in the centre of the cross. The Cooktown orchid is Queensland's floral emblem, and the sapphire is its gem emblem. The Barrier Reef anemone fish was named the aquatic emblem in 2005.
The current state badge was approved on 29 November 1876 by the Governor of Queensland. The badge was designed by William Hemmant, the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer of Queensland in 1876.
The coat of arms of Queensland is one of the formal symbols of the state of Queensland and represents the King's constitutional authority throughout the state. It was granted in 1893 by Queen Victoria, making it the oldest state arms in Australia. In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II added the red deer and the brolga as supporting animals to the coat of arms.
