Each Australian capital city adopted formal Arms, some as early as 1843 (Melbourne) and some as late as a revised version in 1996 (Sydney). There are currently debates under way about changing the Arms of both Darwin and Canberra. The Arms reflect a mixture of British heritage, early colonial settlement and economic growth and recognition of unique Australian symbols. Are these representations fair, contemporary, relevant and accurate? Should they be? What is the role of Indigenous Australian’s representation? Why do we still have to go to the English College of Arms for formal approval? Or do we?
- Symbols of Australia – Imaging a Nation, edited Melissa Harper and Richard White (Newsouth, 2021, ISBN 9781742237121)
- We will examine each of the State and Territory Coat of Arms to decipher what the symbolism is and means and what is the history behind it all.
- Some of the Arms have been recently revised and some are the source of contemporary controversy – we will explore what issues are at stake.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Appreciate how symbolism can be important and help us decipher the history and values of the bearer.
- Reflect of the extent to which our historical symbols may, or may not, need revision in the light of contemporary values and mores.
