The Gum Tree: Australia's Coat Of Arms Emblem

what is the tree on the australian coat of arms

The Australian Coat of Arms features a wreath of golden wattle, the country's national floral emblem. The wattle is not part of the armorial bearings and is not mentioned in the official description of the Coat of Arms. However, it was included in the design on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, as a symbol of unification, as species of this genus occur throughout Australia.

Characteristics Values
Tree species Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
Tree type Native Australian tree
Significance National floral emblem of Australia
Symbolism Unification of Australia
Occurrence Found throughout Australia

shunvogue

The golden wattle is Australia's national floral emblem

The golden wattle is not a botanically accurate representation of Acacia pycnantha, which is now the official Australian floral emblem. The illustration on the coat of arms may not represent any particular species, but it does have some characteristics in common with Acacia buxifolia subsp. buxifolia and its relatives. The depiction shows a species with clusters of spherical, yellow flower heads arranged in racemes and having short, green phyllodes.

The coat of arms of Australia, officially the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. It depicts a shield containing the badges of the six states of the Commonwealth, supported by a kangaroo and an emu, which are native Australian animals. The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star above the shield also represents the states and territories, while the golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield. The scroll below the shield, which bears the name "Australia", is an artistic flourish and is not described in the Royal Warrant for the arms.

The coat of arms is used to authenticate documents, indicate ownership of property, and for other identification purposes. It is used by Australian government departments and agencies, as well as by senators and federal members of the Australian Parliament. The coat of arms should not be used by private citizens or organisations without permission, as it may breach the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, section 145.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, or section 39(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1995.

Black Hair, Tan Skin: Best Coat Colors

You may want to see also

shunvogue

The tree is not part of the armorial bearings

The Australian Coat of Arms is the recognised symbol of the country. It was initially granted to Australia by King Edward VII in 1908 and then granted again in 1912 by King George V. The Coat of Arms consists of major floral and faunal symbols of Australian nationhood, including the Golden Wattle, on which the kangaroo and emu are posed.

The Coat of Arms is used as a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and signifies Commonwealth authority and ownership. The Arms are used by Australian Government departments and agencies, statutory and non-statutory authorities, the Parliament and Commonwealth courts and tribunals.

The Australian Coat of Arms consists of the badges of the six states of the Commonwealth arranged on a shield in two rows of three columns. The shield is enclosed by an ermine border, signifying the federation of the states into the Commonwealth. The crest of the Arms is a seven-pointed gold star on a blue and gold wreath. Six points represent each of the states of the Commonwealth, and the seventh point represents the Commonwealth Territories.

The supporters of the Coat of Arms are the kangaroo, to the left, and the emu, to the right. These Australian endemic fauna hold up the shield and symbolise progress and the nation moving forward, as neither animal can easily walk backwards. The wreath of golden wattle, the official national floral emblem, and the scroll with the word "Australia" on it, are not part of the armorial bearings. They are optional artistic flourishes, as they are not described in the royal warrant for the arms.

The wattle was introduced into the design of the Coat of Arms on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher. One reason for including the wattle was that species of this genus occur throughout Australia, thus serving as a symbol of unification. The wattle depicted on the Coat of Arms appears to be a stylised illustration, and it is not a botanically accurate representation of Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle).

Spring Trench Coats: Lightweight Styles

You may want to see also

shunvogue

Wattle was added to the design on the recommendation of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher

The Australian Coat of Arms, also known as the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Coat of Arms consists of symbolic faunal and floral representations of Australian nationhood. The design features a shield, held up by a kangaroo and an emu, which are native to Australia. The shield contains the badges of each Australian state, and above it is a seven-pointed Commonwealth Star, also known as the Star of Federation, which represents the states and territories of Australia.

The Coat of Arms was first granted to Australia by King Edward VII in 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912. The 1912 design incorporated symbols of the six Australian states on a shield, supported by a kangaroo and an emu. The border of the shield symbolises the union of the states into the Commonwealth of Australia, which occurred in 1901. The Commonwealth Star appears above the shield, and a scroll reading "Australia" appears below it.

Branches of Wattle, tied with a ribbon, frame the Coat of Arms as an ornamental accessory to the shield. Wattle was added to the design on the recommendation of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. Wattle was chosen because species of this genus are found throughout Australia, making it a symbol of unification. Although it is not mentioned in the official description of the Coat of Arms, it was depicted in the coloured illustration that appeared in the Commonwealth Government Gazette on 18 January 1913.

Andrew Fisher was Australia's fifth Prime Minister, serving from 1908 to 1909, 1910 to 1913, and 1914 to 1915. He was a founding member of the Australian Labor Party and held the seat of Wide Bay from 1901 until 1915. During his time in office, Fisher oversaw several important projects, including the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, the founding of the federal capital of Canberra, and the start of construction of the trans-Australian railway line. He also introduced maternity allowances and acknowledged the need for greater political equality for women.

Captain Jack's Coat: Redefined

You may want to see also

shunvogue

The tree is not a botanically accurate representation of the golden wattle

The tree depicted on the Australian coat of arms is not a botanically accurate representation of the golden wattle. While the coat of arms features a wreath of wattle, the spherical flowers and green leaves are not a true depiction of the acacia pycnantha. The acacia pycnantha, commonly known as the golden wattle, is characterised by flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes, rather than true leaves. These phyllodes are shiny and dark green, sickle-shaped to oblanceolate in form, and range from 9 to 15 cm in length and 1 to 3.5 cm in width. In contrast, the wreath of wattle on the coat of arms appears to be a stylised illustration.

The coat of arms of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, serves as the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. It was initially granted to Australia by King Edward VII in 1908 and later authorised by King George V in 1912. The coat of arms features a shield containing the badges of each Australian state, supported by a kangaroo and an emu, which are endemic fauna symbolic of the nation. Above the shield is a seven-pointed Commonwealth Star, representing the states and territories, and a wreath of golden wattle, the national floral emblem.

The golden wattle, or acacia pycnantha, is a tree native to southeastern Australia, typically growing to a height of 3 to 8 metres. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and is known for its profuse, fragrant, golden flowers that bloom in late winter and spring. The species was first described by botanist George Bentham in 1842, based on a specimen collected by explorer Thomas Mitchell in northern Victoria.

The golden wattle holds cultural and historical significance for Indigenous Australians, who have utilised the tree for various purposes for thousands of years. The wood, pollen, and sap of the wattle tree were used to create food, medicine, weapons, tools, musical instruments, dyes, and perfumes. Additionally, the blooming of the golden flowers signified seasonal events, such as the arrival of whales on the coast or the appearance of eels in rivers.

Despite its symbolic value, the depiction of the golden wattle on the Australian coat of arms is not botanically accurate. This inaccuracy underscores the artistic interpretation and stylisation employed in the design of the coat of arms, emphasising the symbolic representation of the nation rather than strict botanical precision.

shunvogue

The tree represents unification as species of the genus occur throughout Australia

The Australian Coat of Arms is the recognised symbol of the country. It was initially granted to Australia by King Edward VII in 1908 and then updated by King George V in 1912. The Coat of Arms features a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by two native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu. The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star above the shield represents the states and territories, while the golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.

The golden wattle, or Acacia pycnantha, is a significant symbol on the Coat of Arms. Wattle does not form part of the official Armorial Bearings and was not mentioned in the blazon, but it was included in the coloured illustration of the gazettal of the Bearings published in the Commonwealth Government Gazette on 18 January 1913. The inclusion of the wattle in the design was recommended by the then Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher. One of the reasons for including the wattle was that species of this genus occur throughout Australia, making it a symbol of unification.

The wattle depicted on the Coat of Arms is a stylised illustration. It does not represent any particular species but appears to have some characteristics in common with Acacia buxifolia subsp. buxifolia or one of its relatives. It is not a botanically accurate representation of Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), which is now recognised as Australia's official floral emblem. The illustration shows a species with clusters of spherical, yellow flower heads arranged in racemes and having short, green phyllodes.

The tree, or specifically the golden wattle, on the Australian Coat of Arms, thus represents unification. The occurrence of the wattle species throughout Australia makes it a fitting symbol of unity and togetherness for the nation. This choice of symbol is especially meaningful given that the Coat of Arms also includes representations of the six Australian states, emphasising the idea of a unified country. The wattle, with its widespread presence across the country, serves as a reminder of the shared identity and connection among all Australians, regardless of their state or territory.

Frequently asked questions

The tree on the Australian coat of arms is the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha).

No, there is no official national tree of Australia. The Golden Wattle is the national floral emblem.

The Golden Wattle was chosen as it is a symbol of unification, with species of this genus found throughout Australia.

The coat of arms features a shield, supported by a kangaroo and an emu, which represent the national identity. The shield contains the badges of the six Australian states, and the border symbolises their union into the Commonwealth.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment