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National symbols of Australia

Overview

National symbols of Australia are the symbols that are used in Australia to represent what is unique about the nation, reflecting different aspects of its cultural life and history.

Icons of Australian culture are almost as well known by Australians and visitors as official symbols.

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Encyclopedia

National symbols of Australia are the symbols that are used in Australia to represent what is unique about the nation, reflecting different aspects of its cultural life and history.

Official symbols

	Symbol	Adopted	Remarks
Flag Flag A flag is a piece of fabric, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signaling or identification. It is most commonly used to symbolize a country...	Flag of Australia Flag of Australia The flag of Australia is the national flag of Australia. It was chosen in 1901 from entries in a worldwide design competition held following Federation. It was approved by Australian and British authorities over the next few years, although the exact specifications of the flag were changed several...	3 September 1901
National anthem National anthem A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...	Advance Australia Fair Advance Australia Fair "Advance Australia Fair" is the official national anthem of Australia. Created by the Scottish–born composer, Peter Dodds McCormick, the song was first performed in 1878, but did not gain its status as the official anthem until 1984. Until then, the song was sung in Australia as a patriotic...	19 April 1984
National colours National colours National colours are frequently part of a country's set of national symbols.Many states and nations have formally adopted a set of colours as their official "national colours" while others have de facto national colours that have become well-known through popular use...	Green and gold Green and gold Green and gold are the national colours of Australia, as proclaimed by Sir Ninian Stephen, the Governor-General of Australia on 19 April 1984. The exact colours were specified as being Pantone Matching System numbers 116C and 348C. Green and gold are also the traditional team colours of Australian...	19 April 1984
National Floral Emblem Floral emblem In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to adopt these symbols - some are conferred by...	Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha	19 August 1988
National Gemstone Gemstone A gemstone or gem is a piece of attractive mineral, which—when cut and polished—is used to make jewelry or other adornments...	Opal Opal Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl and basalt...	27 July 1993	Opal production was worth $71.4 million to Australia in 2003 and supports many communities in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
Coat of arms Coat of arms A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways. Historically, they were used by knights to identify them apart from enemy...	Coat of arms of Australia Coat of arms of Australia The Coat of Arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...	19 September 1912	Originally granted by King George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 through World War I until his death in 1936...

Unofficial Emblems

	Symbol	Remarks
National animals National animals -America:-Europe:-Asia:-Africa:-Oceania:...	Red Kangaroo Red Kangaroo The Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial... Macropus rufus	Unofficial national mammal emblems
National bird	Emu Emu The Emu , Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is also the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. The soft-feathered, brown, flightless bird reach up to in height... Dromaius novaehollandiae	Unofficial national Bird emblems
National personification National personification A national personification is an anthropomorphization of a nation or its people; it can appear in both editorial cartoons and propaganda.Some early personifications in the Western world tended to be national manifestations of the majestic wisdom and war goddess Minerva/Athena, and often took the...	Boxing Kangaroo Boxing Kangaroo The boxing kangaroo is a national personification of Australia, frequently seen in popular culture.The image of the boxing kangaroo Jack is known since 1891. Fifty years later it became a national symbol in the Royal Australian Air Force. The design was inspired by a travelling boxing show which...	Unofficial national personifications

Australian Icons

Icons of Australian culture are almost as well known by Australians and visitors as official symbols.

	Image	Remarks
Sydney Opera House Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre on Bennelong Point in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who in 2003 received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honour...		The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognisable buildings of the modern world. Open since 1973, it has come to represent ' Australia'.
Uluru Uluru Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park...		Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural icons
Akubra Hat Akubra Akubra is an Australian brand of hat, whose wide-brimmed styles are a distinctive part of Australian culture, especially in rural areas. The name is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word for head covering....		Akubra captures Australia like no other item of clothing.
Vegemite Vegemite Vegemite or /ˈvɛdʒiˌmaɪt/ is a dark brown Australian food paste made from yeast extract. It is a spread for sandwiches, toast, crumpets and cracker biscuits, and filling for pastries such as Cheesymite scroll...		Many Australians love Vegemite - it is a unique and well-loved icon.