The Northern Territory Coat Of Arms: History And Symbolism

The Northern Territory's coat of arms is the official heraldic symbol representing the Australian territory. It was officially granted by royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II on 11 September 1978. The coat of arms incorporates the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems: the Sturt's desert rose, the red kangaroo, and the wedge-tailed eagle. It also reflects the indigenous Australian culture and history, with the shield representing an Aboriginal painting and the crest showing the wedge-tailed eagle perched atop a tjurunga, an Aboriginal ritual stone.

The Northern Territory's coat of arms was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978

The Northern Territory's coat of arms, officially granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978, is the official heraldic symbol representing the Australian territory. The arms incorporate the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems: the Sturt's desert rose, the red kangaroo, and the wedge-tailed eagle, respectively. The inclusion of these emblems creates a unique representation of the territory's people, history, and landscape.

The Northern Territory's coat of arms is distinctive not only for its symbolic content but also for its artistic style. The shield itself is designed in the manner of an Aboriginal painting, reflecting the indigenous Australian culture and history. This artistic choice is a powerful recognition of the Aboriginal peoples of the area and their artistic traditions.

The central element of the coat of arms is an Arnhem Land rock painting of a woman with stylised internal anatomy. This female figure is derived from a sacred rock in Arnhem Land and holds cultural and spiritual significance for the indigenous people of the region. On either side of the woman are symbolic representations of camp sites, joined by journey or path markings in the style of Central Australian Aboriginals.

The crest of the coat of arms features the wedge-tailed eagle, the territorial bird, perched atop an Aboriginal ritual stone called a tjurunga. The eagle is shown grasping the stone with its talons, reflecting the importance of this bird in the region's ecology and cultural symbolism. The red kangaroo, the territorial animal, stands on either side of the shield, further emphasising the unique wildlife of the Northern Territory.

The Northern Territory's coat of arms, granted by Queen Elizabeth II, serves as a powerful symbol of the territory's identity and heritage. It brings together the floral, faunal, and cultural emblems that characterise the region, creating a cohesive and meaningful representation of the Northern Territory. This coat of arms is a testament to the richness of the territory's natural environment and the cultural significance of its indigenous heritage.

The arms feature the Sturt's desert rose, the red kangaroo, and the wedge-tailed eagle

The Northern Territory's coat of arms features Sturt's desert rose, the red kangaroo, and the wedge-tailed eagle, all of which are the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems, respectively. These symbols are incorporated into the design of the coat of arms, which was officially granted by a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II on September 11, 1978.

Sturt's desert rose (Gossypium sturtianum) is a unique plant that grows in the arid regions of the Northern Territory. It typically thrives in stony or rocky environments, such as dry creek beds. The plant was named after Charles Sturt, who first discovered it during his exploration of Central Australia in 1844-1845. The desert rose has been the floral emblem of the Northern Territory since 1974 and is also featured on the territory's flag. Its petals are mauve with a deep red marking at the base, and it is believed to resemble the hibiscus flower.

The red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa), the largest living marsupial, is an iconic animal of Australia. Adult males can stand over 2 meters tall and weigh up to 75 kilograms. They are known for their long, thin limbs and ability to travel vast distances through harsh conditions. The red kangaroo is endemic to the very dry areas of the Northern Territory and is a symbol of the region's unique wildlife.

The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax), also known as the Eaglehawk, is Australia's largest bird of prey, with an average wingspan of 2.5 meters. It is easily recognisable by its long wedge-shaped tail and dark brown colouration with a chestnut neck. The wedge-tailed eagle is a skilled hunter and can often be found in the arid centre of the Northern Territory.

Together, these three symbols on the Northern Territory's coat of arms represent the territory's people, history, and landscape. They are a source of pride and identification for the people of the Northern Territory, reflecting the region's natural beauty and diverse flora and fauna.

The shield is decorated with Aboriginal motifs and holds significant meaning

The Northern Territory's coat of arms holds significant meaning and is decorated with Aboriginal motifs. The shield itself is a representation of an Aboriginal painting, with an x-ray-style drawing of a woman as seen in rock art in Arnhem Land. The female figure is derived from a sacred rock in Arnhem Land. The Aboriginal motifs are a unique feature of the coat of arms, reflecting the indigenous Australian culture and history of the region.

The designs on either side of the central figure symbolise camp sites joined by path markings of the Central Australian Aboriginal people. These simplified churunga, or sacred map-like drawings, have a special meaning to their owners. The shield is held by two red kangaroos, the territory's animal emblem, which stand on a grassy, sandy mound of Sturt's desert roses, the official plant emblem.

The crest of the coat of arms features a wedge-tailed eagle, the territory's bird emblem, grasping an Aboriginal tjurunga stone. The eagle rests on a wreath above the shield. The tjurunga is a ritual stone used in Aboriginal culture. The crest symbolises the importance of both the natural world and spiritual beliefs in the region's history and present-day culture.

The coat of arms was officially granted by a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II on 11 September 1978. It is the official heraldic symbol representing the Australian territory and incorporates the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems. The Northern Territory's coat of arms is a powerful representation of the region's people, history, and landscape, with a strong emphasis on honouring and celebrating indigenous Australian culture and heritage.

The crest depicts a wedge-tailed eagle perched on an Aboriginal ritual stone

The crest of the Northern Territory's coat of arms depicts a wedge-tailed eagle, the territory's official bird emblem, perched atop an Aboriginal ritual stone known as a tjurunga. This stone rests on a wreath, or a helmet, symbolising the NT's war history. The eagle's elevated wings and powerful talons gripping the tjurunga stone represent strength and dominance. The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is Australia's largest bird of prey, with an impressive average wingspan of 2.5 metres. It is a dark brown bird with a chestnut-coloured neck and a distinctive long, wedge-shaped tail.

The wedge-tailed eagle is native to Australia and is an important cultural symbol, particularly for the indigenous people of the Northern Territory. It is known for its agility and hunting prowess, often preying on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The eagle is also noted for its strong pair bonding and territorial behaviour. Pairs of eagles will vigorously defend their nesting and breeding grounds.

The tjurunga stone held by the eagle is a sacred object in Aboriginal culture. These stones are often engraved with intricate patterns and are believed to possess spiritual power. They are used in rituals and ceremonies, playing a vital role in connecting the spiritual and physical realms for Aboriginal people. The inclusion of the tjurunga stone in the coat of arms recognises the deep-rooted history and cultural significance of the Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

The crest, along with the other elements of the coat of arms, was designed to symbolise the people, history, and landscape of the Northern Territory. The coat of arms incorporates the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems, reflecting the unique character and natural beauty of the region. The Northern Territory's coat of arms is a heraldic symbol that proudly showcases the territory's identity and pays homage to its indigenous heritage.

The coat of arms symbolises the people, history, and landscape of the Northern Territory

The coat of arms of the Northern Territory symbolises the people, history, and landscape of the region through its incorporation of the territory's floral, animal, and bird emblems, as well as indigenous Australian culture and history.

The floral emblem of the Northern Territory is Sturt's Desert Rose (*Gossypium sturtianum*), which is depicted at the centre of the coat of arms. This plant typically grows in stony or rocky ground and has dark green, round to oval-shaped leaves. The flowers are mauve with deep red markings at the base and resemble a hibiscus. The Desert Rose was named after Charles Sturt, who discovered it during his journey to Central Australia in 1844-45. It became the territorial floral emblem on July 12, 1961, and its general shape recalls the Commonwealth Star on the Australian national flag.

The red kangaroo (*Megaleia rufa*) is the animal emblem of the Northern Territory and is featured on the coat of arms. The red kangaroo is the largest living marsupial, with adult males standing over 2 metres tall and weighing up to 75 kg. They are found in very dry areas of the territory and are known for their ability to travel large distances through harsh conditions. The long, thin limbs of the kangaroo are also symbolic of the people of the Northern Territory, reflecting their resilience and ability to endure challenging conditions.

The wedge-tailed eagle (*Aquila audax*), Australia's largest bird of prey, is the bird emblem of the territory. It has an average wingspan of 2.5 metres and is dark brown with a chestnut neck. Its long, wedge-shaped tail and broad wings make it easily recognisable. The wedge-tailed eagle is depicted on the crest of the coat of arms, perched atop an Aboriginal ritual stone called a tjurunga. This eagle is commonly found in the arid centre of the Northern Territory and is known for its hunting prowess.

The shield held by the kangaroos on the coat of arms is a representation of an Aboriginal painting, featuring an x-ray-style drawing of a woman as seen in rock art in Arnhem Land. The designs on either side symbolise camp sites joined by path markings of the Central Australian Aboriginal people. The inclusion of these motifs recognises the indigenous Australian culture and history that is integral to the territory's identity.

Overall, the coat of arms of the Northern Territory serves as a symbolic representation of the territory's unique flora and fauna, its indigenous heritage, and the resilience of its people, all of which contribute to shaping the region's distinct landscape and history.

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