Australian heraldry

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

Australian heraldry
Present coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, since 1912
 
Heraldic traditionGallo-British
Governing bodyCollege of Arms (disputed)

Heraldic authority

Australia does not presently have its own independent heraldic authority which grants or records arms, though the College of Arms in London claims to be "the official heraldic authority for...Australia".[1]

Heraldic authority for Australia is officially vested in the Queen of Australia, who can delegate that authority to whosoever she chooses. However, the Australian government has not confirmed that such a delegation to the College of Arms has been made.

In response to questions submitted by the Australian Heraldry Society, on 7 February 2018 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stated:

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.[2]

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.[3]

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)
  • Coat of arms of Australia (1912–Present), escutcheon only
  • Coat of arms of Australia (1908–1912)

Arms of states and territories

Civic arms

Personal arms

Corporate/Institutional arms

Badges

Heraldry Society

The Australian Heraldry Society Inc. (AHS) was founded in Melbourne in 1992, originally as Heraldry Australia Inc. 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.[5]

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. "Your Own Coat of Arms". The Australian Heraldry Society Incorporated. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. "Coat of arms (crest) of Christmas Island". Heraldry of the World. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. "About Us". The Australian Heraldry Society Incorporated. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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