AUSTRALIA
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Records show that the discovery of Australian continent by European
expeditions date back to the early 17th century. The first known sighting was
in 1606 by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, who in his ship Duyfken
navigated the Gulf of Carpentaria, sighting and making landfall on the
western coast of Cape York Peninsula. In 1616, another Dutchman Dirk Hartog
left a pewter plate commemorating his landfall at Shark Bay in Western
Australia. Other 17th century European voyagers (predominantly Dutch, but
also French and English) were to follow suit, and by the start of the 18th
century all but the eastern coastlines of what had become known as “New
Holland” had been charted. No attempts to establish settlements were made,
however. The expedition of the Endeavour under command of British Royal
Navy Lieutenant James Cook navigated and charted the east coast of Australia,
making first landfall at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770. Here he formally
claimed the eastern coastline he had discovered for the Crown, naming it New
South Wales. The British Crown Colony of New South Wales ended with the establishment
of a settlement at Sydney Cove by Captain Arthur Phillip on 26 January 1788.
These land masses included the current islands of New Zealand, which was
administered as part of New South Wales. Van Diemen's Land, now known as
Tasmania, was settled in 1803 and became a separate colony in 1825. Britain formally claimed the western part of Australia in 1829. Separate
colonies were created from parts of New South Wales: South Australia in 1836,
New Zealand in 1840, Victoria in 1851, and Queensland in 1859. The Northern
Territory was founded in 1863 as part of the Province of South Australia. In 1879, the Swan River Colony was declared by Charles Swan for Britain,
which later became Western Australia, with Albany coming under the authority
of the governor at Perth. A first step to independence was set with the Australian Constitution Act
(1850) by which the colonies were granted the right to make their own
constitution. Between 1855 and 1890, the six colonies individually gained
responsible government, managing most of their own affairs while remaining
part of the British Empire. The Colonial Office in London retained control of
some matters, notably foreign affairs, defence and international shipping. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies was achieved after a decade
of planning, consultation and voting. The Commonwealth of Australia was
formed as a result of an agreement between six self-governing British
colonies, which became the six states. It is a federal constitutional
monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Sovereign of Australia, is currently Queen Elizabeth II. Section 61
of the Constitution provides that ‘The executive power of the Commonwealth is
vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor‑General as the
Queen’s representative, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this
Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth’. Section 2 of the Australian
Constitution provides that a Governor-General shall represent the Queen in
Australia. In practice, the Governor-General carries out all the functions
usually performed by a head of state, without reference to the Queen. |
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As Australia
was for a long time a British possession, initially the British royal arms
and the British Royal achievement were also used in Australia. The British
Royal achievement can still be seen on the façade of the old parliament house
in Canberra. Officially this situation was changed when new arms for
Australia were adopted.
Royal U.K. achievement on Old Parliament House,
Canberra, 1927. Æ About this paragraph and the
officiality of the present arms Richard d’Apice AM KCSG aih, President of the
Australian Heraldry Society, remarks the following (quote): “Inevitably and regrettably, the position
(and the constitutional development of Australia) is neither so simple nor so
clear-cut as this [last] statement suggests. Until they were
federated for limited purposes in 1901, the various parts of Australia were
separate colonies of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This
federal body, the Commonwealth of Australia, gradually separated from the UK
and the previously indivisible Crown of the UK became divisible and divided
into separate Crowns including the (federal) Crown of Australia and Elizabeth
II eventually became the Queen of Australia with, in that capacity, powers
relating exclusively to the Commonwealth. Australia was
granted separate arms of dominion and sovereignty in 1908 and in 1912 (the
present arms). The present coat of arms did not achieve universal and
exclusive use to represent our sovereignty. Even after the grant of the
present arms of Australia in 1912, the sovereign of the UK remained the
sovereign of Australia and the change to independent sovereignty and title
was an almost imperceptibly slow process. The façade of Old Parliament House (erected
in 1927 – 15 years after the assignment of the present arms of Australia)
displays both the arms of the sovereign of the UK and what we now recognise
(but not in 1927) as the arms of the sovereign of Australia. The UK arms are
in the heraldically superior (dexter) position. The style and title
of the sovereign of Australia remained that of the UK until the Royal Style
and Titles Act 1953 (Aust) when the federal Queen became “Elizabeth the
Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other
Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the
Faith.” Pursuant to the Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Aust) she became
“Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other
Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth” as she remains. Upon federation in 1901, the constituent
parts of Australia were renamed as States but legally they remained colonies
of the UK. The Queen of the UK remained their sovereign. Arms of dominion and
sovereignty of particular purpose were assigned to each of the States
(Queensland’s arms were assigned in 1893, eight years before federation). Until the Australia Acts 1986 (UK &
Aust), the Australian States remained colonies of the UK. Those acts
separated their Crowns from the Crown of the UK but did not clearly (or at
all) combine them with the Crown on Australia. There is much disagreement as
to whether this resulted in separate Crowns for the States or in a federal
Crown which the States shared with the Commonwealth and each other. I favour
separate Crowns but the debate is not finished in any definitive manner. So, the situation did not officially
change in 1908 but officially continued unchanged until 1986. At the
beginning of the 19th century some achievements were brought into vogue in
New South Wales for use by corporations and individuals. These achievements
are known as the Advance Australia achievements because of the motto on a
ribbon below. The Advance Australia example was followed by New South Wales
(1906) and also by the Commonwealth for its first achievement adopted in 1908. A design from 1821 shows
the stars of the Southern Cross, an emu (Dromiceius
novæ-hollandiæ - Dromiceidæ) and a kangaroo (Macropus rufus - Macropodiæ)
as supporters, and the motto Advance Australia. |
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Coat
of arms of the diocese of Australia, granted in 1836. (College of Arms,
London: Grants 41 p. 229) |
The
Southern Cross, the constellation that dominates the Australian sky, occurs also
in the coat of arms of the Anglican diocese of Australia, founded in 1836 in
New South Wales. This coat of arms was granted in the first year of the
existence of the diocese and consists of
four eight-pointed stars on a blue field. On the shield is a mitre.
Very soon this coat of arms became obsolete because the diocese was divided
into four smaller dioceses in 1847. [2] The Southern Cross is also the
main charge on the flag of Australia of 1909, the flags of New Zealand
(1869/1902) and of Papua New Guinea.(1971).
It occurs also on the coat of arms and flag of Victoria (1871) and on the
flag of the Northern Territory (1978). In these cases the Southern Cross
always consists of five stars, four big ones and one smaller. The
supporters, of course represent the particular fauna of Australia.A design of
Charles Costantini from 1857 closely follows the design of 1821. In his
design the blue cross is exchanged for the St. George’s cross of England, red
on a white field, charged with five golden five-pointed stars. In the four
quarters are the symbols of sheep-breeding, the trade, the shipping and of
agriculture, all identical with the symbols of 1821. A like achievement is on the tokens minted
in 1857, the symbols somewhat changed. |
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The earliest Advance Australia Arms, presented to
Captain Silk c.1821 |
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Image Source: State Library of NSW. [4] This is the oldest known example of the
'Advance Australia' Coat of Arms. The 'Advance Australia Arms' (named because
of the motto inscription) became widely used in the Australian colonies by
private corporations and individuals. Although they never had any official
status, they formed the basis for several official coats of arms. This
representation was reputedly painted for Thomas Silk, the son of the Captain
of the Prince of Orange, a convict ship that visited Sydney in 1821. The Prince of Orange was a
frequent visitor to Sydney, being used to transport convicts to NSW and Van Diemen's
Land, as well as other cargoes. It arrived in Sydney on one of these voyages
in February 1821, discharging convicts that were sent to Parramatta and
Liverpool, before proceeding on to Batavia (Jakarta). Why such a
representation of the Advance Australia Arms should have been made to Captain
Silk at this time is not clear. There are other references to voyages of the Prince
of Orange until at least 1847. Thomas Silk, a free settler at Richmond in
the Hawkesbury District, arrived and received land there in 1816, and was
still there in 1825 (Colonial Secretary's Papers). The connections with
Captain Silk are not clear, but the residence of Thomas Silk at Richmond may
suggest some connection with the Bowman family (see Bowman Flag). The artist who painted this
representation is not known, although the style of application of paint onto
the panel is reminiscent of coach painting. The reverse of the panel appears
to have been prepared as a cribbage board. The achievement can be blasoned as
follows:
Crest: on a wreath of the colours a demi-sun
in his splendour. Supporters: dexter an emu statant to the dexter
regardant contourné, sinister a kangaroo to the sinister regardant dexter,
both proper; Motto: Advance Australia. [5] |
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A variation on
the Advance Australia Arms: miner's
arms of the 1850s |
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Image source: Darragh (1990), plate 25. The Advance Australia Arms never had any
official status, and they were readily varied and adapted by different groups
in the colonial period, as in this example from the goldfields of the 1850s. The notable variations from the usual
form of the Advance Australia Arms are the absence of a cross and stars,
although the four quarterings suggest a cross-shape; the placing of the
shovel and pick in saltire (or crossed) in the prestigious first and fourth
quarters; the introduction of a dolly or cradle (a device for washing ore to
separate it from soil) in the second quarter; and of a miner's lamp in the
third quarter; the replacement of the rising sun in the crest with what
appears to be an earthenware demijohn, which might contain either water or
liquor; and the figures of two miners as supporters. Overall, the
choice of the images in this 'Miner's Arms' version of the Advance Australia
Arms indicates their use in a community of alluvial miners, operating
independently and on a small scale. The image of the Arms is taken from a
promissory or bank note printed by Thomas Ham in Victoria about 1853, and
gives some indication of how familiar the Advance Australia heraldic imagery
was by that time. [6] |
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Title: Advance
Australia [Design for an Australian coat of arms] Creator: Costantini, Charles
Henry Theodore, *ca. 1803-†1860 Date: 1857 Description: 1 painting:
watercolour; 9 x 7 cm. within mount. Notes: Signed and dated lower right., Framed in
contemporary Huon pine frame with gilt slip., Conservation: 12/8/1983 and 23/7/1997.,
Exhibited: Island Exile in Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, August -
November 1997. Location: W.L. Crowther Library (State Library of Tasmania) [7] |
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Australian Tokens of the 1850-ties |
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The Adelaide Arcade Coat of Arms |
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Photo Gerard J.
Boon The Adelaide Arcade was built in
1885, 16 years before federation and 24 years before a Coat of Arms was
officially proclaimed (1908). At that time many people were wondering what a
Coat of Arms for Australia would be. Various competitions were conducted
and the promoters of the Adelaide Arcade decided to adopt the one design they
thought would eventually win the competition. As it turned out this particular
design was not adopted for Australia, however it remains a symbol of the
Adelaide Arcade's unique character. The Adelaide Arcade's Coat of Arms
is still similar to Australia's official one in a few respects. It has a
Kangaroo and Emu on each side, although opposite to the final Australian
design. Above these symbols you will note
the sun setting over the ocean. Australia has often been referred to as the
“Land of the setting sun”. Below the design is situated a scroll in which are
written the words “Advance Australia”. Again the arms are quarterly but
the symbols in the four quarters differ from the former designs. They are
now: 1 A sheep (sheep breeding); 2 A sailing ship (trade); 3 An anchor
(shipping) 4 Pick and shovel (mining) Next to the Emu and Kangaroo are
sheafs of corn and below them are grape-vines, symbolizing Australia as the
land of opportunity. The Coat of Arms was produced by Messrs W Pett &
Son, however the castings have been unable to be traced. [8] |
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The first official achievement of the Commonwealth of Australia was granted by King Edward VII. The geographic position and the relation with the motherland are symbolized by the red cross of St. George and the five stars of the Southern Cross. This central motif is surrounded by six escutcheons representing the six provinces of the Commonwealth. On the shield is a seven-pointed star, representing the six provinces and the teriitories of the Commonwealth. This achievement remined in use on coins until 1963.
Arms: Argent, a cross Gules fimbtiated Argent and Azure,
charged with five six-pointed stars Argent, within a bordure Azure, charegd
with six escutcheon Argent, a chevron Gules. Crest: A seven-pointed star Or on a
wreath Azure and Or. Supporters: D. a kangaroo and S. an emu
proper standing on a grassy ground. Motto: advance australia. By R.W. 7th May 1908 |
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A new
achievement was adopted on 19 September 1912.
On the shield are the six badges of the states surrounded by the
‘sweet bond of the federation’, symbolized by a bordure ermine. The supporters
are the same as before but are standing now on two branches of the Australian
wattle (Acacia oxycedra - Mimosaceæ)
(not mentioned in the official warrant). The motto became in short AUSTRALIA.
The warrant reads: Arms: 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 Proper. By R.W. 19th September 1912 Æ See illustration in the head of this essay This achievement was displayed on the façade
of the old Parliamant House in Canberra together with the Royal Achievement
of Great Britain, symbolizing that Australia is a dominion of Great Britain
and also that the king or queen of Great Britain is also the sovereign of
Australia. |
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Initially
the royal arms, implicitely also in force in Australia, were the arms of the kings of the United Kingdom. These
consisted of the crowned arms of England, Scotland and Ireland surrounded,
for example on this half-crown of Queen Victoria, by the strap and collar of
the Order of the Garter:
After the
accession to the throne of George VI a new achievement appeared which can be
considered to be the royal arms for Australia. It consisted of the crowned
arms of Australia supported by a kangaroo and an emu and surrounded by some
branches of wattle. It was printed on half-crown coins and is in the
tradition of the royal arms on half-crown coins of Great Britain and the
United Kingdom before. At about the same time royal arms appeared for New
Zealand, Southern Rhodesia and South Africa, also printed on half-crown
coins. The resemblance of these royal arms is that the strap of the Order of
the Garter is lacking. This is a consequence of the fact that the Order of
the Garter is a British order. As the King of the United Kingdom was not a
Grandmaster of any Australian, South-African, Southern-Rhodesian or New Zealand order, no collars or straps
are surrounding these arms. The difference is that the Australian royal arms
have supporters which, in fact, makes them a royal achievement.
In 1962
the Queen's Personal
Australian Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Australia was
approved for use. It is the flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen
of Australia. It is only used by the Queen when she is in Australia, or
attending an event abroad in her role as head of state of Australia. The flag
consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia, charged in the middle with a golden seven-pointed federation star
with a blue disc of the Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by a
garland of golden roses.
After the
introduction of the royal standard the royal arms for Australia disappeared. |
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The Queen's
representative, the Governor-General of Australia has a separate flag,
consisting of dark blue cloth charged with the royal badge and a listel with
the name COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. Before
1936 the governors flag consisted of the Union Jack charged with the
governor’s badge:
The 1909 Governor
General’s Standard.
Present standard of the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief (1936) |
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![Full size image of Advance Australia [Design for an Australian coat of arms]](Australia_bestanden/image035.jpg)
© Hubert de Vries 2006.10.16. Updated
2008.10.14; 2010-03-05; 2012-07-25; 2014-01-23
Heraldry of the World