| Commonwealth Coat of Arms | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Versions | |
 Escutcheon-only version | |
| Adopted | 19 September 1912 |
| Crest | The Commonwealth Star: A seven-pointed star, or (gold) |
| Torse | Or and azure (blue) |
| Shield | see below |
| Supporters | Dexter (left) a red kangaroo, sinister (right) an emu, both proper (natural colours) |
| Compartment | none, golden wattle is depicted in its place in commonly used versions |
| Motto | none, the name of the country is written on a scroll in commonly used versions |
The coat of arms of Australia, officially the Commonwealth Coat of Arms,[1] is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia.[2] It depicts a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu.[3] The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star surmounting the crest also represents the states and territories, while golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.[3]
The first arms were authorised by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the reverse of the sixpenny coin.
- ^ "Commonwealth Coat of Arms". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dpmc.gov.auwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "National symbols - Parliamentary Education Office". peo.gov.au. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.