Coat of Arms of Australian Capital Territory
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Canberra_coat_of_arms.jpg
Canberra_coat_of_arms.jpg
The Coat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory was created by the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs and Territories in 1927, in response to a request by the Commonwealth Department of Defence, who wanted to use it on the newley commissioned HMAS Canberra.
The Federal Capital Commission (FCC) announced a competition to design a Coat of Arms for both the ACT and the FCC.
In April 1928 the designed of one Mr C. R. Wylie was sent to the College of Arms, in London, for approval. After minor adjustments, the College granted the design, minus an actual Royal Warrant, dated 8 April 1928. The Coat of Arms was officially granted on 7 November 1928, along with a Crest.
Symbolism
The various symbols of the Coat-of-Arms are explained below:
- The crown symbolizes Vice-Regal authority;
- The mace symbolizes the Parliament of Australia;
- The sword symbolizes the Australian Defence Force;
- The castle has three towers, symbolize the three branches of government (executive, legislature and judiciary);
- The white rose is the badge of the Duke of York, who opened the old Parliament of Australia building in 1927;
- The crowned portcullis again symbolizes the parliament, this being the traditional symbol of the Palace of Westminster (which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom);
- Behind the portcullis is a tree, symbolizes Canberra's nickname "The Bush Capital";
- The supporters are the Australian black swan, representing the Australian Aborigines, and the European white swan, representing the white settlers.
- The motto was originally "Pro Rege Lege et Grege" (For the King, the Law and the People), but changed to the current English form following the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.