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Symbols of Queensland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thesymbols of Queenslandrepresent the Australian state ofQueenslandand theQueensland Government.[1]The different symbols and emblems represent both thestate(theCommonwealth monarch,represented by theState Governor) and thegovernment(thePremierand Governor-in-Council). The official state emblems of Queensland are prescribed in theEmblems of Queensland Act 2005.

State flag of Queensland[edit]

Main article:Flag of Queensland

The state flag of Queensland is a BritishBlue Ensignwith the state badge on a white disc added in thefly.The badge is a light blueMaltese Crosswith an imperial crown in the centre of the cross. The flag dates from 1876, with minor variations, and the badge was designed byWilliam Hemmant,the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer of Queensland in 1876.[2]

Queensland Badge[edit]

The current State Badge was approved on 29 November 1876 by the Governor of Queensland. The badge is officially described as “On a Roundel Argent a Maltese Cross Azure surmounted with a Royal Crown”.[3]

Coat of arms of Queensland[edit]

Main article:Coat of arms of Queensland

Queen Victoriagranted the Queensland coat of arms to the Colony of Queensland in 1893, making it the oldest state arms in Australia.[4]It depicts Queensland's primary industries in the 19th century with a sheaf of wheat, the heads of a bull and a ram, and a column of gold rising from a heap of quartz. Two stalks of sugar cane which surround the state badge at the top, and below is Queensland's state motto,Audax at Fidelis,which means "Bold but Faithful". In 1977,Queen Elizabeth IIgranted the supporting animals, thebrolgaand thered deer.[5]

Queensland Government crest[edit]

Since August 2012, the Queensland coat of arms has been used as the state government's corporate logo.

Queensland state motto and colour[edit]

Motto[edit]

"Audax at Fidelis" (Bold but Faithful)

Colour[edit]

In November 2003,maroonwas officially named as Queensland'sstate colour,after many years of association with Queensland sporting teams (most notably theQueensland Maroonsand theBrisbane Broncos).

Emblems[edit]

Aquatic emblem[edit]

Barrier reef anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos)

TheBarrier Reef anemone fishwas officially named as Queensland's aquatic emblem in March 2005.[6]

Animal emblem[edit]

Koala(Phascolarctos cinereus)

Thekoalawas officially named the animal or faunal, emblem of Queensland in 1971, after a newspaper poll showed strong public support.[5]The Queensland Government introduced the poll due to a proposal by state tourism ministers for all states to adopt a faunal emblem.[7]

Bird emblem[edit]

Brolga(Grus rubicunda)

In January 1986 the brolga was announced as the official bird emblem of Queensland, after being on the coat of arms since 1977.[5][8]

Floral emblem[edit]

Cooktown orchid(Dendrobium phalaenopsis)

TheCooktown orchidbecame known as Queensland's floral emblem in 1959, during celebrations to mark the state's centenary.[9][10]In 1968 the Cooktown orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp.[11]

Fossil emblem[edit]

Muttaburrasaurus Muttaburrasaurus

Following a campaign from a group of twelve candidates,[12]theMuttaburrasaurus langdonibig-nosed dinosaur became the state's first fossil emblem in October 2022.[13]

Gemstone emblem[edit]

Sapphire

The sapphire, of any colour, is the state's gem emblem.

State tartan[edit]

Queensland tartan

Designed by Jack Allen using seven basic colours to depict the State of Queensland.[14]Colours: white represents the small amount of cloud in the winter time; azure represents the clear blue winter sky; royal blue represents the Coral Sea, blue in Hervey Bay, Whitsunday Passage and Hinchinbrook; yellow represents the tropical beaches of Queensland, sun and sand; green represents the mountain forests, hardwood forests, pine forests, the grazing fields and farms; lilac represents the flowers of the sugar cane; crimson represents the state's floral emblem, the Cooktown orchid.[15]The thenPremier of Queensland,Peter Beattie,"officially approved" the tartan in May 2000,[16]and the registration notes in its entry in theScottish Register of Tartans(SRT) as a district tartan declare that the thenGovernor of Queenslandrecorded itsthreadcountin theLyon Court Books(writs section) on 6 February 2001.[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Premier of Queensland."Corporate identity and State Emblems"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 19 March 2018.Retrieved18 March2018.
  2. ^"Queensland flag | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 10 December 2021.Retrieved18 November2021.
  3. ^"Flying the flag- the State of Queensland flag"(PDF).premiers.qld.gov.au.Archived(PDF)from the original on 20 November 2021.Retrieved18 November2021.
  4. ^"Coat of Arms | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2021.Retrieved26 August2021.
  5. ^abc"Queensland Flags & Emblems".Queensland.Archivedfrom the original on 26 August 2021.Retrieved26 August2021.
  6. ^"Aquatic emblem | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 18 November 2021.Retrieved18 November2021.
  7. ^"Animal (faunal) emblem | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 22 March 2012.Retrieved18 November2021.
  8. ^"Bird emblem | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 18 November 2021.Retrieved18 November2021.
  9. ^"Floral emblem | State flags, emblems, and icons".www.qld.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 28 October 2021.Retrieved26 August2021.
  10. ^Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Parks."Floral Emblems - Australian Plant Information".www.anbg.gov.au.Archivedfrom the original on 26 August 2021.Retrieved26 August2021.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^"Australian Plants on Stamps".Australian National Botanic Garden.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2019.Retrieved16 November2018.
  12. ^"Queensland's new State fossil emblem".Queensland Government.The State of Queensland.Retrieved7 April2023.
  13. ^"The dinosaur Queenslanders dig".Media Statements.The State of Queensland. 22 October 2022.Retrieved7 April2023.
  14. ^"Tartan Details - The Scottish Register of Tartans".www.tartanregister.gov.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 11 October 2021.Retrieved11 October2021.
  15. ^"International Tartan Day and the Queensland Tartan | State Library Of Queensland".www.slq.qld.gov.au.16 June 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2021.Retrieved11 October2021.
  16. ^Newsome, Matthew (May 2007)."Tartan" Wont & Usage "".The Scottish Banner.Marrickville South, NSW.Retrieved26 September2022.
  17. ^"Tartan Details - Queensland (STA ref: 2618 STWR ref: 2618; SRT ref: 3431)".Scottish Register of Tartans.Retrieved26 September2022.

External links[edit]

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