In 1927 the Commonwealth Department of Defence requested a Coat of Arms for the newly commissioned Australian warship the HMAS Canberra. The Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs and Territories announced a competition to design a coat of arms for both the City of Canberra and the Federal Capital Commission.
The Canberra Times - 9 September 1927
National Library of Australia (here)
Around thirty entries were received with only a few being deemed suitable as there seemed to be some confusion by contestants as to whether the arms were for the city of Canberra or for Australia. The coat of arms submitted by Mr. C. R. Wylie was eventually selected in April 1928 with the design being picked primarily for it's heraldic qualities that were a competition requirement of the FCC. The design was then sent to the College of Arms in London for approval.
The winning proposal for the City of Canberra Coat of Arms - 1929
Image National Archives (here)
A Royal Warrant for the arms was issued on the 8th of October 1928 and the coat of arms and a crest were officially granted on 7 November 1928. The various heraldic features for the arms are as follows:
- The crown symbolises Royal authority;
- The mace symbolises the Parliament of Australia;
- The sword symbolises the Australian Defence Force;
- The castle has three towers, symbolise the three branches of government (executive, legislature and judiciary);
- The white rose is the badge of the Duke of York (later King George VI) who opened the old Parliament House in 1927.
- The crowned portcullis again symbolises the parliament, this being the traditional symbol of the Palace of Westminster.;
- Behind the portcullis is a tree, symbolises Canberra's nickname of "The Bush Capital";
- The supporters are the Australian black swan, representing the Australian Aborigines, and the European white swan, representing the white settlers.
The Sydney Morning Herald - 7 August 1929
National Library of Australia (here)
Online translators suggest that "For the King, the Law and the People" to Latin should read - "Pro Rex Lex Quod Populus" - Pro (for) Rex(King) Lex(Law) quod(and) Populus(People).
The following is an article from the Brisbane Courier newspaper dated 30 April 1929 which explains the Canberra coat of arms structure and symbolism. When describing the black and white swans supporting the crest there is a mention of the White Australia Policy that was in force in the early 20th century. Was this Mr. Wylie, the designer's sentiment of reconciliation? (info). I don't know, it is however a good description of the coat of arms.
"The supporters on either side consist of two swans, one white, one black, which according to reports of the day "suggests the White Australia policy, and the associating of the white race with the original black race"...
"The supporters on either side consist of two swans, one white, one black, which according to reports of the day "suggests the White Australia policy, and the associating of the white race with the original black race"...
National Library of Australia (here)
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