Coat of arms of Victoria (state) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of Victoria
Versions
State Badge of Victoria
Armiger	Charles III in Right of Victoria
Adopted	6 June 1910 28 March 1973 (final version)
Crest	Demi-Kangaroo proper, the Crown of St. Edward in its paws (formerly the Tudor Crown)
Torse	Silver and Blue
Blazon	Azure, five stars representing Southern Cross Argent
Supporters	Two Female Figures representing Peace and Prosperity
Compartment	Grassy mound with Pink Heath
Motto	Peace and Prosperity

The coat of arms of Victoria is the official symbol of the Australian state of Victoria. It's like a special badge that represents the state. Victoria was the second state in Australia to get its own coat of arms. It was given to the state on June 6, 1910, by King George V. The state itself was named in 1851 after his grandmother, Queen Victoria. The final version of the coat of arms was approved on March 28, 1973, by Queen Elizabeth II.

What the Coat of Arms Looks Like

The coat of arms has several important parts, each with a special meaning.

The Shield

The main part is the shield. It has a blue background (called azure in heraldry). On this blue background, there are five silver stars (called argent). These stars are arranged to show the Crux Australis, which is also known as the Southern Cross constellation.

The Helmet and Mantling

Above the shield, there is a helmet that faces to the left. This type of helmet is called a closed or tilting helm. Knights used helmets like this in the Late Medieval and Renaissance eras. Around the helmet, there is a decorative cloth called mantling or lambrequin. It is blue and silver, matching the colours of the shield.

The Crest

On top of the helmet, there is a special symbol called the crest. It shows a kangaroo holding St Edward’s Crown. The kangaroo stands on a twisted band of blue and silver, which are Victoria's official colours. Both the kangaroo and the helmet face the left side of the shield.

The Supporters

On each side of the shield, there are two figures that "support" it. Unlike many other Australian states that use animals, Victoria's supporters are human figures.

• The figure on the left (called Dexter in heraldry) represents Peace. She wears a crown of laurel leaves and a silver gown with a blue sash. She holds an olive branch in her outer hand.
• The figure on the right (called Sinister) represents Prosperity. She wears a wreath of corn and a silver gown with a red sash. She holds a cornucopia, which is a horn overflowing with food.

The Motto

Below the shield, there is a scroll with the motto: Peace and Prosperity. This motto is shown by the two supporters. The figure on the left stands for 'Peace', and the figure on the right stands for 'Prosperity'. This was the first motto among Australian coats of arms to be written in English.

The Base (Compartment)

The shield and supporters stand on a grassy mound. On this mound, you can see the pink form of the Common Heath flower (Epacris impressa labill). This flower is Victoria's official floral emblem.

What the Symbols Mean

Each part of the Victorian Coat of Arms has a special meaning.

The Southern Cross

The Southern Cross constellation is a very old symbol for Australia. People have used it to represent Australia since 1823. You can also see this symbol on the Australian National flag. One of the flag's designers, Ivor William Evans, thought the Southern Cross could represent four important values: wisdom, self-control, fairness, and courage. This group of five stars can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere, which helps unite Australians under the same sky.

Peace and Prosperity

The olive branch held by the figure of Peace is a very old symbol of peace, going back to ancient Greece. The word 'Peace' on the motto also helps show this meaning. The cornucopia, held by the figure of Prosperity, is a symbol of plenty and nourishment. It looks like a goat's horn overflowing with food. In ancient Greek stories, it represented the food given to the god Zeus when he was a baby. Together, the figures and the motto remind us of the importance of peace and prosperity for Victoria.

The Pink Heath

The pink heath flower was chosen as Victoria's official floral emblem in 1958. This decision was made because people wanted a flower to represent the state. Governor Dallas Brooks made the official announcement on November 12, 1958.

Colours of Victoria

The colours used in the Victorian Coat of Arms are also found in the Victorian State tartan. A tartan is a special pattern of woven cloth. The Victorian State tartan was designed in 1998 by Betty Johnson. Its colours are blue, white, green, and pink.

• Blue represents the colour of the shield.
• White represents the stars on the Southern Cross.
• Green represents the olive branch.
• Pink represents the pink heath flower.

These colours work together to represent Victoria.

How the Coat of Arms Changed

Victoria's official coat of arms between 1910 and 1973.

The idea for Victoria to have its own coat of arms started in late 1909. This was after Australia got its own coat of arms in 1908. The Victorian Government wanted parts of its State Badge, which had been used since 1877, to be included. These parts were the Southern Cross and an Imperial Crown.

On June 6, 1910, King George V officially approved the first coat of arms for Victoria. This version was used as Victoria's symbol until 1973.

Over time, the coat of arms was updated. The first version did not have the grassy mound or the pink heath flower at the bottom. After the pink heath became Victoria's official floral emblem in 1958, people wanted it added to the coat of arms.

So, on March 28, 1973, Queen Elizabeth II issued a new royal approval. This added the pink heath and the grassy mound to the design. It also changed the crown held by the kangaroo. The older version used the Tudor Crown. The new version changed it to St Edward’s Crown. This change was made to show the royal authority of Queen Elizabeth II.

Using the Coat of Arms

The Victorian Coat of Arms is a very important symbol of Victoria. It shows the state's authority and ownership. Because it's so important, you cannot use the coat of arms without getting permission first. There are rules about how it can be used and copied. For example, you are not allowed to use it for commercial purposes or in advertising.

Victoria is the only Australian state or territory that has a specific law to protect its coat of arms. This law means that if someone uses the coat of arms without permission, they can face a penalty. To use the coat of arms, you usually need to send a formal request to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

See also

In Spanish: Escudo de Victoria (Australia) para niños

• Australian heraldry