414:
402:
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unlike the grants made to the other states and territories. Such a distinction is important, as whilst
Canberra makes up a large part of the ACT, it does not take up the entirety. Conversely, submissions suggesting the arms legitimately represent the territory as whole noted that any distinction between Canberra and the ACT is artificial or pedantic, as Canberra is not a separate legal entity, with no official borders with the rest of the ACT. The ACT government again acknowledged the ambiguity, but concluded that "the City of Canberra Coat of Arms should remain as an official symbol of the City of Canberra but there is no legal impediment to the Territory creating its own Coat of Arms."
31:
332:
456:
as the mammal emblem for the territory in 2018, an inquiry was held into the creation of new coat of arms. In 2019, the inquiry recommending either changing the
Canberra coat of arms or adopting a new territory coat of arms (depending on the legal status of the Canberra coat of arms) and changing the
369:
ARMS Azure, a triple-towered castle between in chief a sword of justice point upwards to the sinister argent pommel and hilt or surmounted by a
Parliamentary Mace head upwards to the dexter gold in saltire charged at their point of intersection with a representation of the Imperial Crown proper and
489:
and an
Indigenous symbol for a meeting place. According to the government consultation website as of May 2024, the government is currently in the process of designing an ACT coat or arms or insignia, with a public vote to be held in 2024 to select the new design, for it to be formally adopted
355:
Additionally, it is disputed whether the arms legally represent only the city of
Canberra or the wider ACT. An inquiry in 2019 heard several views on this topic. Submissions suggesting the arms are limited to the city of Canberra noted that the grant was specifically for the "City of Canberra",
297:
subsequently announced in 1927, on behalf of the
Federal Capital Commissioners (FCC), the creation of a competition for the design of the arms. 35 entries were received, with a modified version of a design by Sydney resident Charles Roxburgh Wylie selected and sent to the
351:
is the legal successor. With the grant of self-government to the ACT in 1989, it is arguable that the ACT Government is now the rightful successor to the FCC. In 2019, the ACT Government acknowledge the ambiguity, however did not conclude either way.
756:
302:
in London for approval. According to the designer, one of the black swans was replaced with a white one after the
College of Arms advised that they had just approved two black swans to be the supporters for the
567:
315:. Subsequently, on 8 October 1928 the arms, without supporters or a motto was granted by royal warrant by King George V. The College of Arms issued the official exemplification (artistic rendition) and
957:
745:
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461:. Following this, in 2019 the ACT government decided to adopt a new territory coat of arms or insignia, and began to consult online with ACT residents and the
1165:
1007:
375:
CREST On a wreath of the colours in front of a gum tree issuant from the mount proper a portcullis chained or ensigned with the
Imperial Crown also proper.
723:
265:
The motto is "For the King, the Law and the People", a modified
English translation of "Pro Rege, Lege et Grege". The motto is the same as that of the
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445:
440:
since 1989, when the newly formed government began using the city arms. For example, it is used as the logo of the government, it is included on the
1098:
1037:
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1160:
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to create the new design. In 2021, the university exhibited coats of arms designed by students. Many of these designs included depictions of
307:. The swans would now symbolise the white and Indigenous inhabitants of Canberra, much like the Aboriginal and seaman supporters on the 1928
958:
ACT Government response to the
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services: Inquiry into a Territory Coat of Arms
294:
1000:
458:
441:
170:
627:
541:
449:
210:
The castle symbolises the dignity, importance and grandeur of the city and is similar to the castle depicted on the arms of the
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1170:
339:
With the disbanding of the FCC in 1930, it is unclear what body has legal authority over the arms. In 1932 the Australian
993:
1185:
1180:
207:, representing national authority and the executive authority of the Commonwealth, exercised in the name of the Crown;
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SUPPORTERS On the dexter side a swan sable beaked gules and on the sinister side a white swan proper.
319:(description) on 7 November 1928. Later, the supporters and motto was granted on 9 November 1928 via
282:
The creation of the coat of arms of the city of Canberra originated in a request in July 1927 by the
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331:
270:
129:
30:
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as a whole. Instead, the Canberra coat of arms have been used to represent the territory and the
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which "represents the growth and progress of Canberra, and the fact that it is garden city";
8:
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233:
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218:
82:
186:
68:
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Our People. Our Symbols. Our Future: Designing a Coat of Arms or Emblem for the ACT
841:
Our People. Our Symbols. Our Future: Designing a Coat of Arms or Emblem for the ACT
204:
78:
46:
937:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services (August 2019).
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in base a rose also argent barbed and seeded proper (being the Rose of York).
154:
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432:
As of May 2024, there is no separate and distinct coat of arms for the
86:
836:
466:
259:
165:(ACT) gained self-government, the arms began to be used by newly formed
251:
244:
100:
52:
858:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services 2019
824:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services 2019
812:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services 2019
800:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services 2019
788:
Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services 2019
427:
335:
Original design for the coat of arms of Canberra, before modification
104:
94:
81:(with a silver blade and a gold pommel and hilt) crossed with a gold
364:
The blazon (formal heraldic description) of the arms is as follows:
229:, thus establishing Canberra as the nation's new seat of government;
150:
56:
707:. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 4 – via
236:, thereby linking Canberra with the then "virtual capital of the
311:. The FCC also stated that the white swan was suggestive of the
316:
74:
771:
769:
169:. A modified version of this coat of arms also appears on the
863:
605:
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
448:
and is depicted on the outside and inside the chamber of the
286:
for a coat of arms to be used on the newly commissioned ship
181:
The various symbols of the coat of arms are explained below:
112:
60:
16:
Coat of arms of Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory
766:
633:
Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory
419:
Exemplification of the grant of supporters for the arms
196:
The mace symbolises the law making authority of the
221:, to recognise the role of the Duke of York (later
428:Proposed Australian Capital Territory coat of arms
753:The Australian Heraldry Society Member's Circular
161:and their successors". In 1989, a year after the
1152:
147:coat of arms of the Australian Capital Territory
724:"[Royal warrant for the grant of arms]"
1015:
952:
869:
775:
743:
1001:
682:. Victoria, Australia. p. 6 – via
648:"Parliament and the new Federal capital 1927"
232:The portcullis is taken from the arms of the
978:on the adoption of Canberra's coat of arms (
407:Exemplification of the initial grant of arms
1166:Symbols of the Australian Capital Territory
568:"Should there be a Territory Coat of Arms?"
542:"Armorial Bearings of the City of Canberra"
385:MOTTO For the King, the Law and the People.
1008:
994:
295:Department of Home Affairs and Territories
73:A blue shield containing a triple towered
29:
536:
534:
532:
530:
528:
526:
524:
522:
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452:. However, following the adoption of the
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171:flag of the Australian Capital Territory
444:, it appears on all acts passed by the
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560:
517:
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185:The crown symbolises the authority of
989:
939:Inquiry into a Territory Coat of Arms
930:
696:
671:
595:
593:
1161:Municipal coats of arms in Australia
622:
620:
618:
475:southern brush-tailed rock wallabies
262:, representing European Australians;
117:For the King, the Law and the People
24:Coat of arms of the City of Canberra
556:from the original on 20 March 2019.
85:under a crown. Below the castle, a
13:
744:Kingman-Sugars, Geoff (May 2013).
590:
454:southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby
284:Commonwealth Department of Defence
250:The supporters are the Australian
14:
1197:
968:
615:
343:to London sought advice from the
103:with a red beak. On the right, a
946:Legislative Assembly for the ACT
762:from the original on 2 May 2024.
755:. No. 159. pp. 11–13.
412:
400:
897:
875:
829:
574:. 21 March 2019. Archived from
326:
976:National Archives of Australia
737:
715:
690:
665:
640:
1:
709:National Library of Australia
684:National Library of Australia
505:
450:Legislative Assembly building
159:Federal Capital Commissioners
1038:Australian Capital Territory
434:Australian Capital Territory
176:
163:Australian Capital Territory
157:in 1928, to be used by "the
7:
1171:Coats of arms with sceptres
731:Australian Heraldry Society
722:George V (8 October 1928).
697:Mowle, P C (20 June 1929).
493:
243:Behind the portcullis is a
10:
1202:
1016:Coats of arms of Australia
672:Wylie, C R (10 May 1929).
628:"Symbols of our democracy"
277:
1186:Coats of arms with crowns
1181:Coats of arms with swords
1132:
1081:
1030:
1024:Commonwealth of Australia
1021:
883:"Creative Work Shortlist"
359:
347:, which advised that the
258:, and the European white
121:
111:
93:
67:
45:
37:
28:
23:
1176:Coats of arms with birds
974:Documents stored by the
572:ACT Legislative Assembly
143:coat of arms of Canberra
130:ACT Legislative Assembly
652:Parliament of Australia
601:"ACT Flags and Emblems"
349:Commonwealth Government
267:city of Perth, Scotland
198:Parliament of Australia
191:Commonwealth Government
1031:States and territories
909:Your Say Conversations
891:University of Canberra
845:University of Canberra
746:"The Arms of Canberra"
463:University of Canberra
388:
336:
313:white Australia policy
256:Aboriginal Australians
203:The sword depicts the
485:, representations of
366:
334:
149:) was granted to the
134:ACT Magistrates Court
1133:External territories
446:Legislative Assembly
227:Old Parliament House
225:) in the opening of
217:The white rose is a
905:"Territory emblems"
870:ACT Government 2019
776:ACT Government 2019
611:. 27 February 2023.
511:Specific references
500:Australian heraldry
471:gang-gang cockatoos
309:Sydney Coat of Arms
234:city of Westminster
173:, adopted in 1993.
145:(also known as the
1048:Northern Territory
931:General references
860:, pp. 30, 74.
704:The Canberra Times
636:. 21 October 2020.
578:on 6 November 2019
337:
305:Perth Coat of Arms
219:White Rose of York
83:parliamentary mace
1148:
1147:
1073:Western Australia
980:NAA: A1, 1932/215
956:(November 2019).
826:, pp. 21–22.
790:, pp. 11–15.
699:"Canberra's Arms"
674:"Canberra's Arms"
552:. November 2008.
490:later that year.
341:High Commissioner
139:
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487:Parliament House
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392:Exemplifications
205:sword of justice
151:City of Canberra
79:sword of justice
33:
21:
20:
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872:, pp. 3–4.
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483:Federation Star
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345:College of Arms
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300:College of Arms
280:
271:Ponsonby family
254:, representing
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99:On the left, a
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5:
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1140:Norfolk Island
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1082:Capital cities
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969:External links
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913:ACT Government
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479:royal bluebell
438:ACT government
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223:King George VI
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59:, topped by a
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89:(white rose).
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55:, covering a
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19:
916:. Retrieved
908:
899:
893:. June 2021.
886:
877:
865:
853:
847:. June 2021.
840:
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819:
807:
795:
783:
778:, p. 3.
752:
739:
730:
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702:
692:
677:
667:
655:. Retrieved
651:
642:
631:
604:
580:. Retrieved
576:the original
571:
562:
545:
467:bogong moths
431:
384:
383:
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368:
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327:Legal status
289:
281:
180:
146:
142:
140:
87:rose of york
18:
546:ArchivesACT
1155:Categories
1053:Queensland
944:(Report).
679:The Herald
582:6 November
506:References
252:black swan
101:black swan
95:Supporters
77:beneath a
53:portcullis
1114:Melbourne
963:(Report).
260:mute swan
177:Symbolism
105:mute swan
1099:Canberra
1094:Brisbane
1089:Adelaide
1068:Victoria
1063:Tasmania
918:30 April
757:Archived
657:30 April
554:Archived
494:See also
459:ACT flag
442:ACT flag
290:Canberra
269:and the
245:gum tree
187:the King
57:gum tree
837:"About"
278:History
189:in the
38:Adopted
1124:Sydney
1109:Hobart
1104:Darwin
481:, the
360:Blazon
317:blazon
293:. The
238:empire
75:castle
69:Shield
1119:Perth
961:(PDF)
942:(PDF)
760:(PDF)
749:(PDF)
727:(PDF)
288:HMAS
113:Motto
61:crown
47:Crest
920:2024
659:2024
584:2019
477:, a
141:The
153:by
122:Use
1157::
982:).
911:.
907:.
889:.
885:.
843:.
839:.
768:^
751:.
729:.
701:.
676:.
650:.
630:.
617:^
607:.
603:.
592:^
570:.
548:.
544:.
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661:.
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214:;
200:;
193:;
107:.
63:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
