Coat of arms of Australia
Details
Armiger	Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia
Adopted	1912
Crest	Commonwealth Star
Torse	blue and gold
Escutcheon	Symbols of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania
Supporters	Red Kangaroo and Emu
Motto	English: AUSTRALIA

The Coat of Arms of Australia (formally known as Commonwealth Coat of Arms) is the official symbol of Australia. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy The Commonwealth Star (sometimes known as The Federation Star, The Seven Point Star or Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass The Red Kangaroo ( Macropus rufus) is the largest of all Kangaroos the largest Mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 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. A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Australian Sixpence was a coin used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalization Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.

Design

The Coat of Arms out the front of Parliament House, Canberra. Parliament House is the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia.

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. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent In the bottom half, from left to right: South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Above the shield is the seven-pointed 'Commonwealth Star' or 'Star of Federation' above a blue and gold wreath, forming the crest. The Commonwealth Star (sometimes known as The Federation Star, The Seven Point Star or Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms. 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. The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South

The Red Kangaroo and Emu that support the shield are the unofficial animal emblems of the nation. The Red Kangaroo ( Macropus rufus) is the largest of all Kangaroos the largest Mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus They owe this recognition to the fact that they are native to Australia, and are found only on that continent. 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. Golden Wattle ( Acacia pycnantha) is Australia 's Floral emblem. ^[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.

The official blazon in heraldic terms is:

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. In Heraldry and heraldic Vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of most often a Coat of arms or Flag, which enables a person to Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. Naiant is a term in Heraldry which means swimming to the viewer's left. ^[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 7 May 1908. The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South ^[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. The complex Bowman Flag with its swallow-tail fly was designed by John and Honor Bowman of Richmond NSW in 1806 ^[4]

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". A kangaroo is a Marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods meaning 'large foot' The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus The selection of the kangaroo, the Emu and the words, "Advance Australia" was tied together symbolically as both the kangaroo and the emu are unable to walk backwards. . . they could only "Advance". 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 St George's Cross (or the Cross of St George is a centred red cross on a white background Escutcheon (ɪ'skʌtʃən (also called scutcheon) is the term used in Heraldry for the Shield displayed 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. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These arms were used by the government and appeared on the sixpence coin from 1910 until 1963, and the threepence, shilling and florin from 1910 to 1936.

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. Sir William Kelly ( 1 December 1877 – 27 January 1960) was an Australian politician "^[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 Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government In Heraldry, a badge is an Emblem or Personal device used to indicate allegiance to or property of an individual or family 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. Golden Wattle ( Acacia pycnantha) is Australia 's 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. The Trade Practices Act 1974 is an act of the Parliament of Australia. 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.

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. TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy The Queen's 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

The coat of arms is used as badge of rank for Warrant Officers Class 1 (Army) and Warrant Officer (Navy and Air Force). A more stylised version is used as a badge of rank for Warrant Officer of the Navy, Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army and Warrant Officer of the Air Force.

References

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