The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia, the official badge of the authority of the Commonwealth Government. It is used by all Government departments, and is on Commonwealth Government buildings.

This is Australia's first coat of arms,1908 In May 1908 the first coat of arms was approved by King Edward VII. The large seven-pointed star on top is the gold star of Federation, each point representing the six states and the territories that together make up the nation. At the bottom is the motto 'Advance Australia'. This coat of arms was later changed because the states were not represented on it.

In 1912 the new design was approved by King George V, and is the Coat of Arms we know and use today. The shield in the centre was divided into six, each with the badge of a state. The shield and 'supporters', the kangaroo and emu, are now surrounded by golden wattle, the national floral emblem. At the bottom, the scroll simply says 'Australia'. There is a colour version and several variations in simpler form.

Read about the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and the badges of each state that appear on it: http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms/

The Australian National Flag flies over federal and state parliament buildings, and is carried by Australian defence forces/

The Union Jack in the upper left corner acknowledges that Australia was once a British colony. Below it is the seven-pointed Federation Star. The other stars are the Southern Cross, a constellation seen only in the southern hemisphere.

The Aboriginal Flag is divided in two: the top half is black, symbolising the Aboriginal people, the red half represents the red earth, the golden circle is the sun, the lifegiver. The Aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of the continent, have lived here continuously for over 50 000 years. To read about the Aboriginal flag and its creator, Harold Thomas, go here: http://www.indigenousaustralia.info/culture/the-flag.html

Floral and Faunal Emblems

The floral emblem of Australia is the golden wattle, the animal emblem is the red kangaroo and the bird emblem is the emu. Each of these are unique to Australia, and all are represented on our Coat of Arms.

Golden Wattle, the national floral emblem

Each state and territory has a flower, an animal and bird emblem. These represent the state because they originate there, are found only there or are exceptionally noted there.
These are the floral emblems :

Australian Capital Territory: Royal Bluebell
New South Wales: Waratah
Victoria: Pink Heath
Tasmania: Tasmanian Blue Gum
South Australia: Sturt's Desert Pea
Western Australia: Kangaroo Paw
Northern Territory: Sturt's Desert Rose
Queensland: Cooktown Orchid

To find out about the floral emblems of the Commonwealth of Australia and of each state and mainland territory, go here: http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/index.html

Find out more about your state or territory floral emblem here:
http://www.environment.gov.au/education/publications/emblems.html

To find out about the state faunal emblems, animals and birds, go here:
http://www.australianfauna.com/faunaemblem.php

Here are the kidcyber pages about some of the emblem animals:

Some states also have a marine emblem: http://www.mesa.edu.au/resources/marine_emblems.asp

Western Australia's marine emblem is a fossil fish, the Gogo fish
http://www.dpc.wa.gov.au/SymbolsofWA/Pages/FossilEmblem-GogoFish.aspx

Click here to find out more about Australian emblems, Flag and National Anthem

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge it in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. Symbols and Emblems of Australia. [online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2010)

Back to Australia

February 2010 ©kidcyber