| Commonwealth Coat of Arms | |
| Middle: | Shield of arms of Australia.svg |
| Middle Width: | 100px |
| Middle Caption: | Escutcheon-only version |
| Year Adopted: | 19 September 1912 |
| Crest: | The Commonwealth Star: A seven-pointed star, or (gold) |
| Torse: | Or and azure (blue) |
| Shield: | see below |
| Supporters: | Dexter (left) a red kangaroo, sinister (right) an emu, both proper (natural colours) |
| Compartment: | none, golden wattle is depicted in its place in commonly used versions |
| Motto: | none, the name of the country is written on a scroll in commonly used versions |
| Commonwealth Coat of Arms 1908–1912 | |
| Year Adopted: | 7 May 1908 |
| Crest: | Commonwealth Star |
| Torse: | Argent and azure |
| Shield: | Azure on an Inescutcheon Argent upon a Cross of St. George cottised of the field five six pointed Stars of the second (representing the Constellation of the Southern Cross) all within an Orle of Inescutcheons of the second, each charged with a Chevron Gules |
| Supporters: | Red kangaroo and emu, both proper |
| Compartment: | Grassy field proper |
| Motto: | Advance Australia |
| Until: | 19 September 1912 |
The coat of arms of Australia, officially the Commonwealth Coat of Arms,[1] is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. It depicts a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu.[2] The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star surmounting the crest also represents the states and territories, while golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.
The first arms were authorised by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the reverse of the sixpenny coin.
The escutcheon is the focal point of the coat of arms, contained within is the badge of each Australian state, the whole surrounded by an ermine border representing the federation of the states.
| State | Badge | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | the cross of St. George with lion and stars | ||
| Victoria | St Edward's Crown and Southern Cross | ||
| Queensland | a blue Maltese cross and St Edward's Crown | ||
| South Australia | the Australian piping shrike | ||
| Western Australia | a black swan | ||
| Tasmania | a red lion passant |
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.
The red kangaroo and emu that support the shield have never been designated as official animal emblems of the nation.[3] They owe their unofficial recognition to the fact that they are endemic Australian fauna (found only on that continent), and likely chosen because they are the most well-known native Australian animals large enough to be positioned together in scale holding up the shield. They symbolise progress and the nation moving forward as neither animal can easily walk backwards. Director of the Parliament House Art Collection, Justine Van Mourik has claimed that the kangaroo is, and must be seen to be, male, and this requirement led to a interpretation by John Coburn of the coat of arms for Parliament house to be rejected.[4]
In the background is a wreath of golden wattle, the official national floral emblem, though the representation of the species is not botanically accurate.[5] At the bottom is a scroll that contains the name of the nation. While almost always depicted, these elements are technically optional artistic flourishes as they are not described in the royal warrant for the arms.[3]
The official blazon of the Commonwealth was included in a royal warrant of King George V on 19 September 1912, that officially granted the arms. The blazon is as follows:The following is the blazon for the 1908 coat of arms:[6]
Following the federation of Australia, the first official coat of arms of Australia was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908.[7] [8] The original design is thought to have been inspired by the 1805 Bowman flag, which showed the rose, shamrock and thistle supported by a kangaroo and emu.[9]
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 using its foot to help the kangaroo to support the shield, all on a bed of green grass with a scroll containing the motto "Advance Australia". The selection of the kangaroo, the emu and the words, "Advance Australia" were tied together symbolically. 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 shield's design, noting that it should display the Union Jack to represent British and Irish settlers.[10] 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 spurred much debate in Parliament. The member of Parliament for Wentworth, Willie Kelly, said:[11]
Despite objections, the kangaroo and emu now not having its leg up remained the shield bearers in the new coat of arms and were modified to appear more realistic. The principal reason for the redesign was the concern that Australia's states were not individually represented; that was achieved by showing each state's heraldic badge on the shield. The new coat of arms removed the bed of grass 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, but it has never been an official part of the armorial bearings,[3] although later golden wattle was proclaimed Australia's national flower on 19 August 1988.[12]
The use of each state's badge had been a feature of the first Great Seal of Australia, introduced on 21 January 1904, where they surrounded the UK Royal Arms; according to Charles R. Wylie, badges were used because South Australia and Western Australia did not yet have coats of arms.[13]
In 1954, the Menzies government engaged several artists (including Alistair Morrison, Alfred Cook, Cedric Emanuel and Eileen Mayo) to consider a redesign of the arms. While not wishing to change the major elements, the government "was anxious" to add a crown and remove the golden wattle (for ease of reproduction). Bill Taylor MP also suggested that the arms be reissued as a version of the royal arms, like the Canadian royal arms of 1921, to accord with Australia's greater independence following the Statute of Westminster 1931.[14]
The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia that signifies Commonwealth authority and ownership. The Arms are used by Australian Government departments and agencies, statutory and non-statutory authorities, the Parliament and Commonwealth courts and tribunals. Senators and Federal Members of the Australian Parliament may also use the Arms in the course of their duties as Parliamentarians. The coat of arms should never be used where it could wrongly imply a formal guarantee, sponsorship or endorsement by the Commonwealth.[15] 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 breach the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, section 145.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 or section 39(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1995.[16] The import of goods bearing the arms is also illegal according to the 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 was the basis of Queen Elizabeth's Personal Australian Flag,[17] and since 1973 a slightly modified version has formed the basis of the Great Seal of Australia.[18]
The coat of arms has appeared on Australian coinage since the coins for the Australian pound were minted in the early 20th century. Until 1936, the 1908 coat of arms featured on the reverse of all silver coins in regular circulation(3d, 6d, 1'/, 2'/). After 1936, the current coat of arms was featured on the reverse of the Florin (2'/), while the 1908 arms remained on the sixpence (6d). Since decimalisation in 1966, the current coat of arms has featured on the reverse of both variants of the 50-cent coin.
The coat of arms is used as badge of rank for Warrant Officers Class 1 (Army)[19] and Warrant Officer (Navy[20] and Air Force[21]). 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.
Australians are sometimes erroneously claimed to be the only people who eat the animals on their coat of arms,[22] and the combination of both kangaroo and emu meat in a single dish such as pie[23] or pizza[24] is known as the Coat of Arms.