Australian heraldry

Australian heraldry

Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Heraldic tradition	Gallo-British
Governing body	Disputed

Australian heraldry is the style and tradition of using armorial achievements, sometimes known as coats of arms, and other heraldic bearings and insignia in Australia. It largely follows the Gallo-British tradition of heraldry also followed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

Heraldic authority

Australia does not have its own heraldic authority which grants or records arms, though the College of Arms in London claims to be "the official heraldic authority for ... Australia".^[1] Its authority is disputed by the Australian Heraldry Society.^[2]

The Australian Heraldry Society argues that the heraldic authority for Australia is vested in the King of Australia, who can delegate that authority to whomever they choose.^[2] In response to questions submitted by the Society, on 7 February 2018 prime minister Malcolm Turnbull stated:^[3]

The practice of the College of Arms in England granting armorial bearings to Australians is well established as one way Australians can obtain heraldic insignia if they wish to do so.

There is nothing preventing any person or organisation from commissioning a local artist, graphics studio or heraldry specialist to design and produce a coat of arms or identifying symbol. Those arms would have the same standing and authority in Australia as arms prepared by the College of Arms in England.

Grants of heraldic arms to Australian residents or institutions may be made, depending on their eligibility, by the English College of Arms, Scottish Court of the Lord Lyon, Chief Herald of Ireland, Chief Herald of Canada, State Herald of South Africa or the various authorities in Spain, Belgium, Russia or other places.^[4]

Coats of arms

The heraldry of Australia has added indigenous Australian animals to the existing heraldic bestiary, along with native plants and occasionally traditional motifs of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.

National arms

Main article: Coat of arms of Australia

• 
  Coat of arms of Australia (1912–present)^[5]
• 
  Coat of arms of Australia (1912–present), escutcheon only
• 
  Coat of arms of Australia (1908–1912)

Arms of states and territories

• 
  Coat of arms of New South Wales^[6]
• 
  Coat of arms of Victoria^[7]
• 
  Coat of arms of Queensland^[8]
• 
  Coat of arms of South Australia^[9]
• 
  Coat of arms of Western Australia^[10]
• 
  Coat of arms of Tasmania^[11]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Northern Territory^[12]
• 
  Coat of arms of Norfolk Island^[13]

Civic arms

• 
  Coat of arms of Sydney^[14]
• 
  Coat of arms of Melbourne^[15]
• 
  Coat of arms of Brisbane^[16]
• 
  Coat of arms of Adelaide^[17]
• 
  Coat of arms of Perth^[18]
• 
  Coat of arms of Hobart^[19]
• 
  Coat of arms of Canberra,^[20] also used as the de facto coat of arms of the ACT^[21]
• 
  Coat of arms of Darwin^[22]
• 
  Coat of arms of Launceston, Tasmania^[23][24]
• 
  Coat of arms of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales^[25]

Personal arms

See also: Armorial of the governors-general of Australia

• 
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Sir Ninian Stephen
• 
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Sir Paul Hasluck
• 
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Lord Richard Casey

Corporate/Institutional arms

• 
  Coat of arms of Monash University^[26]
• 
  Coat of arms of ANZ^[27][28]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Bank of New South Wales^[29]
• 
  Coat of arms of David Jones Limited
• 
  Coat of arms of CPA Australia

Badges

• 
  Badge of the Governor-General of Australia
• 
  Badge of the Royal Australian Navy
• 
  Badge of New South Wales
• 
  Badge of Victoria
• 
  Badge of Queensland
• 
  Badge of South Australia
• 
  Badge of South Australia (1876–1904)
• 
  Badge of Western Australia
• 
  Badge of Tasmania
• 
  Badge of the Northern Territory

Heraldry Society

The Australian Heraldry Society was founded in Melbourne in 1992, originally as Heraldry Australia before changing its name in 2008. The society has its roots in the Australian branch of The Heraldry Society of England, which was established in Melbourne in 1973.

The object of the society is "to promote the advancement of education in the science, art, history, practice and development of heraldry and allied subjects and the encouragement of their study and practice in Australia". They produce a bi-monthly newsletter, called The Red Escutcheon, and a triannual journal, called Heraldry in Australia.^[30]

References

1. "The College of Arms". College of Arms. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
2. "Australian Heraldic Authority". The Australian Heraldry Society Incorporated. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
3. Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister (7 February 2018). "QUESTIONS IN WRITING - College of Arms (Question No. 806)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives.
4. "Your Own Coat of Arms". The Australian Heraldry Society Incorporated. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
5. "Commonwealth Coat of Arms". www.pmc.gov.au. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
6. "The State of New South Wales". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
7. "The State of Victoria". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
8. Sugget, Thomas. "The State of Queensland". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
9. "The State of South Australia". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
10. "The State of Western Australia". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
11. "The State of Tasmania". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
12. "The Northern Territory". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
13. "Norfolk Island". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
14. "Symbols of the city". www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. City of Sydney. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
15. "Coat of arms - City of Melbourne". www.melbourne.vic.gov.au. City of Melbourne. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
16. "Symbols used by Council". www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
17. "History". www.adelaidecitycouncil.com. Adelaide City Council. 31 July 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
18. "History of the Council". perth.wa.gov.au. City of Perth. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
19. "Hobart Coat of Arms". www.hobartcity.com.au. City of Hobart. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
20. "ACT Flags and Emblems". www.cmtedd.act.gov.au. ACT Government. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
21. "The Australian Capital Territory". www.heraldryaustralia.org. The Australian Heraldry Society. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
22. "Council overview". www.darwin.nt.gov.au. Darwin City Council. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
23. "Coat of Arms". www.launceston.tas.gov.au. Launceston City Council. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
24. "LAUNCESTON'S COAT OF ARMS:: WHAT IT REPRESENTS". trove.nla.gov.au. The Examiner. 25 August 1936. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
25. "Our History". wagga.nsw.gov.au. Wagga Wagga City Council. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
26. "Monash University Calendar 1964" (PDF). www.adm.monash.edu.au. Monash University. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
27. "Report to Shareholders 1990" (PDF). www.anz.com. ANZ. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
28. "70 years since the formation of the "modern ANZ"". news.anz.com. ANZ. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
29. "A BANK'S NEW EMBLEM". trove.nla.gov.au. The West Australian. 27 July 1931. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
30. "About Us". The Australian Heraldry Society Incorporated. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

External links

• The Australian Heraldry Society
• The College of Arms
• Australian heraldry on Heraldry of the World