Australia’s first Commonwealth Coat of Arms was granted by King Edward VII in 1908. This showed the kangaroo and emu supporting the shield and standing on a grassy mound. Australia’s second Coat of Arms was granted in 1912 by King George V in a document called a Royal Warrant. This made changes to the first Coat of Arms to include the symbols of the states.
The first Commonwealth Coat of Arms
The second Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Symbols of Australia’s 6 states are woven together into the Coat of Arms with a kangaroo and an emu standing on either side of the central shield.
The central shield features the black swan of Western Australia, the lion and stars of New South Wales, Victoria’s Southern Cross, the Maltese Cross and Crown of Queensland, the walking lion of Tasmania and the piping shrike of South Australia.
The border of the shield symbolises Federation, which was the union of the states into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
The Commonwealth Star appears in gold at the top of the Coat of Arms and also appears in white on the national flag. A wreath of gold and blue appears under the Commonwealth Star. These colours are known as the livery colours of the Coat of Arms.
The supporters of the shield (the native animals chosen by Australians to hold the shield) are 2 of our best known wildlife symbols, the kangaroo and the emu. Though chosen because they are familiar and uniquely Australian creatures found in almost all states and territories, some say these animals were chosen because of the common belief that neither can move backwards easily, reflecting a nation’s intent on moving forward.
Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, frames the Coat of Arms, with a scroll reading “Australia”.
Use of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms appears on Australian Government documents, publications and other property, representing Australian Government ownership and authority. The design is the property of the Australian Government.
Our international sports and representative teams may seek Australian Government permission to wear the Coat of Arms on their uniforms. Permission may also be given to use the Coat of Arms in educational publications. Requests to use the Coat of Arms are assessed on a case by case basis.
Permission to use the Coat of Arms is rarely granted to private individuals and organisations.
Requests for permission to use or reproduce the Coat of Arms should be directed to:
Parliamentary and Government Branch
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6271 5601
Email: nationalsymbols@pmc.gov.au