AUSTRALIA, Commonwealth of.

AUSTRALIA, Commonwealth of. Quarterly of six, the first quarter argent, a cross gules charged with a lion passant guardant between on each limb a mullet of six points or ; the second, azufe, 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, both proper.

[Assigned by Royal Warrant, 19th Sept. 191 2.]

The bordure makes this one indivisible coat, and the separate quaiterings are not herein assigned to the several states. The first quarter is the device formerly in use in New South Wales and now superseded ; the second quarter is the device incorporated in the Royal Warrant for Victoria, g.v. ; the third quarter is the device formerly in use in Queensland and incorporated in the crest assigned to that state ; the fourth quarter is a device recently adopted by South Australia ; the fifth quarter is the device in use in West Australia ; and the sixth that in use in Tasmania.

This Royal Warrant supersedes an earlier one, namely, argent, on a cross gules, cottised azure, five mullets of six points of the field, a bordure of the third charged with six escutcheons also argent, each charged with a chevron of the second. Crest — On a wreath of the colours (argent and azure) a star of seven points or. Supporters — On a mount vert, on the dexter side a kangaroo and on the sinister an emu both proper. Motto — " Advance Australia."

[Assigned by Royal Warrant, 7th May 1908.]

The banner carried for Australia at the Coronation of King George Vshowed the arms assigned in 1908. Some years previously, as the result of a public competition, an " Australian flag" had been adopted and was most improperly recognised by the Colonial Office. The flag is blue, and at the hoist a canton of the Union, and below this a large star, and in the fly a representation of the five stars of the Southern Cross. The Governor-General of Australia flies the Union flag, and in the centre a seven pointed yellow star, surmounted by the crown, and within a wreath of foliage.

A floral badge — the Wattle — is sometimes claimed and used as emblematical of Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia consists of the States of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia, to which refer. See also City of Sydney.

Original Source bookofpublicarms00foxd_djvu.txt near line 2400.