National Symbols
This tool provides information and guidelines about our national symbols. Australia uses a number of symbols to represent the country internationally and to provide a focus for its people.
Our symbols represent what is unique about the nation, reflecting different aspects of our cultural life and history. They include: the Australian National Flag, the National Anthem, our National Floral Emblem, our National Gemstone and our National Colours.
This tool includes:
There are separate tools on two other national symbols: The Australian National Anthem tool and the Australian National Flag and flag flying tool.
Why use this tool?
You may be able to add interest and inspire pride by incorporating these national symbols into your Australia Day events and activities.
RESOURCE ONE — Our National Floral Emblem
The golden wattle
Australia’s National Floral Emblem is the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth). It has been used in the design of Australian stamps and many awards in our honours system.
The golden wattle is an evergreen, spreading shrub or small tree. It grows in the under storey of open forest, woodland and in open scrub in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. When in flower, the golden wattle displays the national colours, green and gold.
As one species of a large genus of flora growing across Australia, the golden wattle is a symbol of unity. Wattle is purpose-built to withstand our country’s droughts, winds and bushfires. The resilience of wattle represents the spirit of the Australian people.
In recent times, the golden wattle has been used as a symbol of remembrance and reflection. On national days of mourning, for example, Australians are invited to wear a sprig of wattle.
National Wattle Day
The first day of September is National Wattle Day. It builds on a long unofficial tradition of wearing the wattle blossom on 1 September. The day was introduced in 1913 by an association called the Wattle Day League and formally recognised on 23 June 1992. Australians can celebrate their floral heritage by planting wattles.
History
The golden wattle was unofficially accepted as the National Floral Emblem to mark Federation in 1901. In 1912 the Prime Minister, the Hon Andrew Fisher, suggested that the wattle be included as a decoration surrounding the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Use of the National Floral Emblem
Permission is not required to reproduce the National Floral Emblem.
RESOURCE TWO — Our National Gemstone
The opal
Australia’s National Gemstone is the opal. Opals are famous across the world for their brilliant colours. There are common and precious opals—most of Australia’s opals are precious. Australia’s opal fields eclipse deposits in the rest of the world. They provide more than 90 per cent of the world’s supplies of opal and almost all the highest quality, precious opal.
The black opal is almost only found in Australia. It has a colour play of red, green, blue, violet, magenta or yellow flecks against a dark background of black, blue or grey. The world’s supply of quality black opal comes from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales.
The brilliant colours of white or light opal stand out from an opaque background. These opals come from White Cliffs in New South Wales and Coober Pedy and Andamooka in South Australia. White opal is the most common of the precious opals. Boulder opal is usually a variety of white opal. The colours of fire opal are against a translucent red or orange background.
Most opals in Australia are formed in deeply weathered rocks in arid areas. Opal is a member of the silica group of minerals. It is a unique gemstone because it has little or no true colour of its own. Opals are made up of regular planes of microscopic spheres. The spectacular colours are created when light rays hit these planes of spheres.
Australian opals are renowned for their stability as well as their brilliance. Opals from other parts of the world are associated with volcanic rock and have high water content. These opals tend to crack or craze during cutting or polishing and during dry or hot conditions.
History and cultural meanings of opals
In Indigenous storytelling a rainbow created the colours of the opal. Opals are also known as the fire of the desert. Governor-General Bill Hayden proclaimed the opal the National Gemstone on 27 July 1993.
Use of the National Gemstone
Permission is not required to reproduce images or illustrations of the National Gemstone.
RESOURCE THREE — Australia’s National Colours
Green and gold
Three colour combinations traditionally claim to be Australia’s National Colours: red, white and blue; blue and gold; and green and gold.
Red, white and blue were featured in the first Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth in 1908 and are the colours of the Australian National Flag.
The colours blue and gold have heraldic significance as they are the colours of the crest in Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Green and gold gained wide popularity and acceptance in sporting events, both here and internationally. They were proclaimed Australia’s National Colours by the Governor-General on 19 April 1984. Prior to that there were no official colours.
Use of National Colours
Australians are unrestricted in their use of the National Colours. Green and gold may be used in any design or arrangement of colour, emphasising the green or gold. To use them correctly, the two colours are placed together, unbroken by another colour.
Green and gold are also the colours of Australia’s National Floral Emblem, the golden wattle.
Related tools
The Australian National Flag and flag flying
Australian National Anthem
URLs
Australian Government, It's An Honour website, Awards and National Symbols
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/index.cfm
