Coat of arms of the Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms
of the Northern Territory
is the official symbol of the Australian territory. They were officially granted by HM The Queen
on 11 September 1978. The Arms, uniquely in Australia, incorporate all of the territory's floral, animal and bird emblems: the Sturt's Desert Rose
(Gossypium sturtianum), Red Kangaroo
(Megaleia rufa) and Wedge-tailed Eagle
(Aquila audax) respectively.
Unlike other Australian states' arms, the Northern Territory's arms incorporate many reflections of the indigenous Australian
culture and history: the shield itself is a representation of an Aboriginal painting and the crest
shows the Wedge-tailed eagle on top of a tjurunga
, an Aboriginal ritual stone.
, of the arms is:
Tenny, representations in the Australian Aboriginal manner of an Arnhem Land rock painting of a woman with stylised internal anatomy between in dexter chief and base two symbolic representations of camp sites joined by journey or path markings in the manner of the Central Australian Aboriginals and in sinister chief and base the like, all Argent; And for the crest: upon a wreath a Wedgetailed Eagle wings elevated grasping with its talons an Australian Aboriginal stone Tjurunga proper; And for the supporters: On either side a Red Kangaroo guardant, that to the dexter holding in the dexter forepaw a Chiragra Spider Conch (Lambis Chiragra) and similarly that to the sinister in its sinister forepaw a True Heart Cockle (Corculum Carelissa); And for the Compartment: Growing from a Compartment comprising a grassy sandy mound Sturt’s Desert Roses as the same as depicted in the illustration.
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
is the official symbol of the Australian territory. They were officially granted by HM The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 11 September 1978. The Arms, uniquely in Australia, incorporate all of the territory's floral, animal and bird emblems: the Sturt's Desert Rose
Sturt's Desert Rose
Sturt's Desert Rose is a woody shrub, closely related to cultivated cotton, found in most mainland states of Australia and the Northern Territory. It has a life cycle of about 10 years, grows from 1–2 m tall and 1–2 m wide....
(Gossypium sturtianum), Red Kangaroo
Red Kangaroo
The Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests.-Description:This species is a very...
(Megaleia rufa) and Wedge-tailed Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle , sometimes known as the Eaglehawk in its native range, is the largest bird of prey in Australia, but it is also found in southern New Guinea. It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail...
(Aquila audax) respectively.
Unlike other Australian states' arms, the Northern Territory's arms incorporate many reflections of the indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
culture and history: the shield itself is a representation of an Aboriginal painting and the crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
shows the Wedge-tailed eagle on top of a tjurunga
Tjurunga
A Tjurunga or as it sometimes spelled, Churinga, is an object of religious significance by Central Australian Indigenous Australian people of the Arrernte groups...
, an Aboriginal ritual stone.
Blazon
The formal description, or blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
, of the arms is:
Tenny, representations in the Australian Aboriginal manner of an Arnhem Land rock painting of a woman with stylised internal anatomy between in dexter chief and base two symbolic representations of camp sites joined by journey or path markings in the manner of the Central Australian Aboriginals and in sinister chief and base the like, all Argent; And for the crest: upon a wreath a Wedgetailed Eagle wings elevated grasping with its talons an Australian Aboriginal stone Tjurunga proper; And for the supporters: On either side a Red Kangaroo guardant, that to the dexter holding in the dexter forepaw a Chiragra Spider Conch (Lambis Chiragra) and similarly that to the sinister in its sinister forepaw a True Heart Cockle (Corculum Carelissa); And for the Compartment: Growing from a Compartment comprising a grassy sandy mound Sturt’s Desert Roses as the same as depicted in the illustration.
See also
- Flag of the Northern TerritoryFlag of the Northern TerritoryThe current state flag of the Northern Territory was officially adopted by the Northern Territory, Australia in 1978. The Northern Territory has been in existence since 1911, but could not hoist its first flag until self-government in 1978.-History:...
- Government of the Northern TerritoryGovernment of the Northern TerritoryThe Northern Territory is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom...
- Australian Heraldry
- Coat of Arms of NunavutCoat of arms of NunavutThe coat of arms of the territory of Nunavut was granted by a warrant of Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, dated 31 March 1999, one day before the territory of Nunavut, Canada was created. The same document specified the flag of Nunavut.- Overview :...
, for another example of territorial arms reposing heavily on indigenous imagery