Lexi Webster
Australia has a rich array of official symbols, from the national to the local level. Each state and territory has its own unique set of official symbols, including state colours, bird emblems, mammal emblems, and tartans. The national Coat of Arms, designed in 1912, is the symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and is used by all government departments and on government buildings. The Coat of Arms features a shield divided into six sections, each bearing the badge of a state, surrounded by golden wattle, the national floral emblem. The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu, and the scroll beneath reads 'Australia'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coat of Arms | Symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and the official badge of the Commonwealth Government |
| Used by all Government departments and is on Commonwealth Government buildings | |
| The shield in the centre is divided into six, each with the badge of a state | |
| The shield and 'supporters', the kangaroo and emu, are surrounded by golden wattle, the national floral emblem | |
| At the bottom, the scroll says 'Australia' | |
| National Anthem | "Australians all let us rejoice..." |
| "Advance Australia Fair" | |
| Aboriginal Flag | Designed by Harold Thomas in 1971 |
| The top half is black, symbolising Aboriginal peoples, the bottom half is red, representing the red earth, and the golden circle is the sun | |
| State Flag | Comprises the Blue Ensign and the State Badge |
| State Badge | The Rising Sun Or (gold) with an Australian Piping Shrike (also known as a White-Backed Magpie) standing on a staff of a gum tree |
| South Australia Emblem | Sturt's Desert Pea, adopted on 23 November 1961 |
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What You'll Learn
The Coat of Arms
The design of the Coat of Arms was approved by King George V in 1912 and has remained largely unchanged since. It is an important symbol of Australia's identity and is used extensively by the government to represent the country.
While the Coat of Arms represents the entire country, each state and territory also has its own unique set of official symbols, including state badges, flags, floral emblems, and even tartans. These symbols are often used to represent their respective states in various contexts and are registered in official capacities.
The process of designing and approving state insignia is rigorous. For instance, in South Australia, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet assesses applications for the use of state insignia, including the state badge and coat of arms. The Unauthorised Documents Act 1916 prohibits the use of these symbols for commercial purposes without explicit permission.
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The Aboriginal flag
The colours of the flag are symbolic and represent the Aboriginal people of Australia and their connection to the land. Harold Thomas, the designer of the flag, stated that the black represents the Aboriginal people of Australia, the yellow disc represents the sun, the giver of life and protector, and the red represents the red earth and the spiritual relationship between the Aboriginal people and the land. The red also represents the ochre used in ceremonies.
Thomas also explained the reasoning behind his design choices, saying that he wanted to make the flag "'unsettling'. Typically, a flag with a darker colour would have that colour at the bottom and a lighter colour on top. By reversing this convention, Thomas wanted to create a visually striking and unique design that would stand out and be easily recognisable.
The flag holds a special legal and political status worldwide and has been adopted by all Aboriginal groups. It is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia and is often flown together with the Australian national flag. The flag is a powerful symbol of Aboriginal strength and pride, representing the Aboriginal people and their ongoing spiritual connection to the land.
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State tartans
Australia's states and territories have their own unique sets of official symbols, including state tartans. Each state tartan is registered in the Scottish Register of Tartans as a district tartan, though only some have been officially adopted by their respective states.
The New South Wales tartan, designed in 1998, includes green, representing the saw-toothed green leaves of the Waratah flower, the state's floral emblem. It also features black, symbolising the uniqueness of the Black Opal found in the mines of North Western NSW. Red is included to symbolise the Union Jack first raised on Australian soil by Captain James Cook in 1770.
The Victoria State Tartan includes dark blue, representing the blue azure of the shield on the Victoria Coat of Arms and the background of the Victorian State flag. White is used to represent the five white stars of the constellation of the Southern Cross, which is also depicted on the Victorian Coat of Arms. Green is included to represent the live branch and grassy mount on which two female figures stand, supporting the state motto, "Peace and Prosperity".
The South Australia tartan features blue, representing the defaced Union Jack (British Blue Ensign) proclaimed as the state flag in 1904. Green represents the grassy mount and a symbol of agriculture, upon which rests South Australia's official Coat of Arms. Black depicts the dark colours traditionally used by the constabulary, and grey represents all the unsworn, admin and support staff that support the Australian Police Service.
The Western Australia tartan includes black, symbolically linked to the black swan, an emblem of the state since 1830. Red and green represent the floral emblem, the Red and Green Kangaroo paw. White reflects the Southern Cross Constellation, unique to Australia. Blue is linked to the defaced Blue Ensign of the Australian Flag and represents water within the Coat of Arms, upon which the black swan floats.
The City of Canberra tartan is registered in the Scottish Register of Tartans as a fashion tartan. It has not been officially adopted by the government of the Australian Capital Territory, but it does have their support.
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The national floral emblem
Australia comprises six states and two major territories, each with its own unique set of official symbols, in addition to the national symbols of Australia. The national floral emblem of Australia is golden wattle, which surrounds the shield and 'supporters', the kangaroo and emu, on the Coat of Arms.
The Coat of Arms is the symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and the official badge of the Commonwealth Government. It is used by all government departments and is displayed on Commonwealth Government buildings.
The state floral emblem of South Australia is Sturt's Desert Pea, which was adopted on 23 November 1961. The state badge of South Australia is a piping shrike, also known as a white-backed magpie. The piping shrike stands on the staff of a gum tree and is displayed on the state flag, which is flown from government buildings and vessels.
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The state badge
Australia is a country that takes pride in its national symbols. Each state and territory has a unique set of official symbols, including state colours, bird emblems, and mammal emblems.
The Coat of Arms is the symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and is used by all government departments. It is also featured on Commonwealth Government buildings. The Coat of Arms features a shield divided into six parts, each bearing the badge of a state. The shield is surrounded by golden wattle, Australia's national floral emblem, and 'supported' by a kangaroo and an emu.
The ACT does not have its own arms, but as the territory's government is unified with that of the city of Canberra, the city's arms are used as the territory's.
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Frequently asked questions
The Coat of Arms is the official badge of the Commonwealth of Australia. It features a shield divided into six sections, each bearing the badge of a state. The shield is surrounded by golden wattle, Australia's national floral emblem, and 'supported' by a kangaroo and an emu.
Each state and territory has its own unique set of official symbols. For example, South Australia's state emblem features a piping shrike (also known as a white-backed magpie).
The national symbols of Australia include the Coat of Arms, the national colours, the kangaroo and emu, and the golden wattle. The Aboriginal Flag, designed by Harold Thomas, is also a significant symbol, representing the Aboriginal peoples, the red earth, and the sun.
