South Australia

	SOUTH AUSTRALIA Country : Australia Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"250px","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":7,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-32.27000000000000312638803734444081783294677734375,"lon":136.729999999999989768184605054557323455810546875,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Official blazon
English	(1936) Arms : Azure, issuant from the base a Sun Or, on a Chief Argent three Garbs proper. Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours, in front of a Staff Or, flying therefrom to the sinister a Banner Azure charged with five Stars, four of seven and one of five points Argent (repre senting the constellation of the Southern Cross), a Lion passant guardant Gold. Supporters : On the dexter side a Female Figure vested, holding in the dexter hand a Cornucopia, and in the sinister hand a sheaf of Barley, all proper, and on the sinister side a Farmer, holding in the dexter hand a pair of Shears, and over his sinister Arm a Fleece of Wool, all proper. Motto: 'Faith and Courage'. (1984) Arms: Azure on the rising sun depicted as a roundel or an Australian Piping Shrike displayed and standing on the staff of a Gum Tree proper Crest: on a wreath or Azure and Gules Four sprigs of Sturt's Desert Pea proper Compartment: comprising a grassy mount and in front of two Vines growing therefrom each entwining their stakes proper on either side thereof stalks of Wheat and Barley and the dexter side scattered with Citrus Fruits and lying on the sinister side two Cog Wheels with between them a Miner's Pick also proper together with on a Scroll the name "South Australia

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on April 19, 1984, replacing arms granted from 1936 (image below).

The arms from 1936

The arms show the State's bird, the piping shrike. The bird was already used unofficially before 1936 as well, see below). .The grassy mound and the symbols thereon represents the agriculture, industry and mining in the State. The crest shows four flowers of the State flower, the Sturts desert pea. The initial 1984 design also showed a helmet and koala and wombat supporters, see below.

Image gallery

Arms as shown in a 1895 publication
On a window in government house
The arms as shown on an UK cigarette card from 1910
The arms as shown on an Australian cigarette card from 1910
The arms by Scott, 1914
The arms in the Abadie albums
The arms in a German album +/- 1910
The arms as shown on an German trade card from the 1930s
The proposal of 1984
The arms on a 1986 coin

Literature: Bruce, J.L. : Flags and emblems of Australia. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, 1996.

Australia heraldry portal

This page is part of the Australia heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry: National Arms of Australia Arms of States Arms of cities and municipalities Norfolk Island Heraldic literature of Australia Total pages in the Australia section : 1,513 of which images : 832	Other heraldry: Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Personal arms