Coat of arms of Queensland
Coat of arms of Queensland | |
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![]() State Badge of Queensland | |
Adopted | 1893 |
Shield | Wheat sheaf, gold rising from a pile of quartz, the heads of a bull and a ram |
Supporters | Red deer and brolga |
Motto | Audax at Fidelis 'Bold but Faithful' |
The coat of arms of Queensland is one of the formal symbols of the Australian state of
History
The original coat of arms were designed by
In 1963 the heraldic depiction of the British Imperial Crown was switched to a depiction of
The final and current addition to the coat of arms was created in 1977, the
Heraldic description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Ammorial_Ensign_of_Queensland_-_Coat_of_Arms_1893.jpg/220px-Ammorial_Ensign_of_Queensland_-_Coat_of_Arms_1893.jpg)
The blazon of the coat of arms is:[4]
For arms, per fesse the Chief Or, the Base per pale Sable and Gules, in Chief a Bull’s head caboshed in profile muzzled a Merino Ram’s head respecting each other proper, the dexter Base harged with a Garb also Or and the sinister Base on a Mount a Pile of Quartz issuant therefrom a Gold Pyramid in front of the Mount a Spade surmounted by a Pick saltirewise all proper.
And for the crest, on a wreath of the Colours, a Mount thereon a Maltese Cross Azure surmounted with a Royal Crown between 2 sugar-canes all proper.
And for the Supporters, on the dexter side a Red Deer and on the sinister side a Brolga wings elevated and addorsed both proper, below on a scroll this motto, 'Audax at Fidelis'.
Modernised, this means:[5]
Across the top of the shield a gold panel on which there is a bull's head in profile muzzled, cut off at the neck and a merino ram's head, facing each other, both naturally coloured. In the lower portion of the shield on the left hand side on the black background a golden sheaf of wheat; on the right side on a red background and on a green mound, a golden obelisk standing on a pile of quartz with a crossed pick and shovel in the foreground.
Symbolism
Industrial influence
The symbols on the shield represent what Queensland's largest industries at the time the arms were designed. The wheat industry's origins belong with the first settlers in 1788, as the farms were worked by the convicts brought over from England, an idea of Governor Phillip.[6] During the years till 1795, the wheat industry slowly gained popularity and by the late 19th century was a strong force in the agricultural industry of the state. The sugar industry became established by 1868 in Mackay which was a mere four years after the first commercial sugar mill was opened in Cleveland, south of Brisbane.[7] Sugar and Coffee regulations were brought in by Parliament later that year as the industry spread rapidly and with the creation of the Mackay Central Sugar Mill Manufacturing Company ten years later in 1878, the sugar industry had reached its colonial peak.[8]
The sheep industry had been in existence since the early 1820s within Australia and by the early 1880s the geographical expansion of this industry had hit Queensland in which major wool auctions were held throughout the state.[9] The mining industry began with the discovery of copper on 20 May 1867 by Ernest Henry in Cloncurry and the industry climbed with the Gold Rush which occurred on 3 September 1873 when gold was discovered in Georgetown.[10] The beef industry was quite prevalent by the late 1880s and by 1890, Queensland had exported Australia's first major export overseas which consisted of 1500 tons and by the 20th century that number had exploded to 43,000 tons.[11]
Supporting animals
The brolga is one of Australia's two native crane species and the only one solely found in Australia.[12] They stand 1 m tall with a wing-span of up to 2.4 m. They are generally grey and are known for their distinctive energetic mating dance as well as their loud trumpeting garooo call.[13] They are mostly found along the coast from Rockhampton to the Gulf of Carpentaria. They became the official bird emblem of Queensland in January 1986.[14]
The red deer is a traditional beast of heraldry and was introduced into Queensland from the royal herds near London.[15] Despite their position on the coat of arms, deer are a declared feral pest in Queensland with it being illegal to distribute, trade, release into the environment, move or feed any deer under the Biosecurity Act 2014.[16]
Maltese Cross
The
Gallery
Below is a visual evolution of Queensland's coat of arms.
References
- ^ a b "Coat of Arms". Queensland Government. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Elvery, Niles (23 July 2013). "Queensland Coat of Arms". State Library Of Queensland. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "State badge". www.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Emblems of Queensland Act 2005 (Qld) s ch1 (schedule 1)
- ^ "State and territory arms of Australia". The Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc. 25 March 2003. Archived from the original on 22 February 2005.
- ^ Dunsdorfs, Edgars (1956) 'The Australian Wheat Growing Industry 1788–1948', University Press, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, pp6
- ^ Kerr, John (1988) 'A Century of Sugar', Watson Ferguson, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, pp10
- ^ Kerr, John (1988) 'A Century of Sugar', ibid., pp16
- ^ Ville, Simon (2000) 'The Rural Entrepreneurs', Cambridge University Press, Victoria, Australia, pp42
- ^ Carroll, Brian (1977) 'Australia's Mines and Miners', Macmillan Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, pp30
- ^ Kelly, JH (1971) 'Beef in Northern Australia', Australian National University Press, Canberra, Australia, pp11
- ^ "Brolgas". Bush Heritage Australia. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Brolga". BirdLife Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Bird emblem". Queensland Government. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ISBN 0 642 47131 2.
- ^ Brisbane City Council. "Feral deer". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ Randall, Brian (2 December 2011). "Why is the Maltese Cross included in Queensland's Badge and Coat of Arms?". State Library of Queensland.